Maidstone Television Production
Maidstone TV studios is the UK’s largest independent live TV
studios, the recording facility covers areas of television production needs,
offering everything from studio hire, camera hire, a fully saturated lighting
grid, edit suites, dubbing facilities and more, also offering crew services if
the client coming in doesn’t bring in outside sources to cover these areas.
The Maidstone Television Production student’s recording was
run as a ‘normal’ production would be, with students filling the roles and
hiring in professional lighting and sound technicians where appropriate for
them.
Roles within production (Filled by
students unless stated otherwise);
Producer –
The producer in this production was filled by a student
(Rebecca Bennett) It’s the producers who coordinates and controls the
production, including the contracting of outside companies and the budget. They
are involved throughout the entire process. I believe that in this production
the producer also played the part of production manager.
Director –
The director was also filled by a student (Joshua Jones) the
director is responsible for the creative side of the production, they control
the aesthetic and contents of the production, managing the technical side,
overseeing, lighting, sound, and camera angles. In this production, Josh was
the creator of the productions founding idea.
Sound –
Sound Mixer - The sound mixer for this production was a
hired in professional from outside the studios. – Hired outside professional.
Sound Recordist – Recording sound on location or in studio,
recording the ‘real’ live action sound at the time of recording.
Sound Assistant – Record sound at time of recording, working
closely with boom operators and sound supervisors.
Sound Supervisor – In control of all sound personnel, and
oversee multi-camera productions
Boom operator – In control of the boom, positioning where
appropriate to achieve high quality sound recording.
Camera –
Camera operator – ensures cameras and equipment are all
ready and operational for required timings.
Camera assistant – offers support to the camera operator
Lighting – All
lighting was covered by hires professionals that I believe are hired on a semi-
freelance basis by Maidstone studios.
Lighting Director – Designs the lighting required for each
shot, based on the script given.
Gaffer – In charge of the practical side of lighting a set.
Art Department – UCA,
Rochester Students -
Editing –
Assistant Editor – Provides editors, colourists and other
staff with basic technical and practical support.
Vision Mixer – Edit live, using cuts, frame manipulation and
other methods.
Colourist – Make sure each shot is balanced and flows from
scene to scene in colour.
Overseeing the production was Freelance Television Director
and Vision Mixer Del Brown with over 20 years of industry experience that
ranges from Live sports, outside broadcasting, the News and more. Hired on a
freelance basis, he works as a television director, vision mixer as well as a
university lecturer and consultant for various Universities including UCA,
Ravensbourne, Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of
Bedfordshire. In 2007 he founded his own short course in “Live Directing &
Vision Mixing” which is now delivered at TrickBox TV Studios.
For this production, Del Brown was an overseeing consultant
whilst the students carried out the jobs as would be done in the industry. The
production lasted 30 minutes in total, this included, filming and editing Live,
with a live audience watching. Ultimately every department went to the Producer
and Director and then internally of their departments the heads of their
section for directions as is standard to the industry. However unlike a large
scale industry production there were less hands for the production and so
multiple roles were filled by one person in places.
Farnham Popup Festival
Popup Festivals have become ever more popular over the last
few years. Traditionally pop up events utilise empty and unused spaces, these
pop up events can last anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks. Some
festivals and events having lasting effects on the place they visit. Known as ‘deliberately
temporary’ the experience is supposed to disrupt the everyday norm.
The Farnham Students are devising their own pop up festival based
around ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘lived’ experiences working under independent
producer Bridget Floyer to develop their event, located on the Farnham campus
there is 6 different performances in 6 different locations, unlike many pop up
festivals many of these are happening in places with heavy foot traffic whilst
only a few are happening in locations that are relatively unused.
Bridget floyer is an independent producer, she deals with
projects that she feels suit her values, projects that ‘encourage equality and
diversity’ she has worked on many different projects around the world of
theatre, including; dance, cabaret, film, performance, clowning, storytelling and
so on, she largely works on festivals and popup festivals. Her work in these
events is dependent on the others working with her, and so can include,
overseeing the financial side of the event, handling budgets, and fundraising,
as well as communication with others, community engagement and the handling of
contracts, as well as creative strategies for the festival, however her role
can include a variety of other tasks as she is actively involved in the work
and event itself. Her work looks to actively involve the community and help
bring change around the subject the event looks into. Initially she started out
as a production assistant and PA at Adam Spiegel Productions, and before
becoming a freelance producer, Bridget Floyer had 9 years of experience working
in theatre.
Roles in general festivals –
Event Director – Oversees entire project from start to
finish
Programme co-ordinator – control of event and the contents
of the event.
Venue Co-ordinator – Books Venues, manages the installation of
event, Risk assesses, manages event signs and information.
Equipment co-ordinator – oversees all lighting, sound,
technical equipment, it’s maintenance, and transport etc.
Promotions co-ordinator – Oversees media, advertising, and
publicity.
Roles in Farnham festival -
Producer/Events manager – manages budget and organises
event.
Director – In control of aesthetic and contents/performances
in festival.
Actors – Devising performances
Art Department – UCA ROCHESTER STUDENTS
In this festival is seems that the acting students have
taken on the roles of Producer, events manager, Director as a group, from the
communication with the group it is seeming to be that decisions are made as a
group.
Fort Amherst
Fort Amherst is an important part of Chatham’s local history
and heritage, built in Napoleonic times, to ward of the threat of invasion it
was used as a civil defence in both world wars. Set on 20 acres of parkland
with a network of underground tunnels the fort has over 300 years of history,
though has been in a constant state of restoration since the 1980’s, having
just won its bid for funding for more restorations and now future development.
Nicola Moy is heading the project which aims to establish
the fort as a ‘sustainable gateway to Chatham Dockyards defence land’ one that
will educate the community and those further afield on the impacts the fort had
on the country’s history. Whilst transforming the neglected land into a more
family friendly destination that will likely draw back visitors and extend
participation and learning opportunities.
Nicola Moy is project officer. Her job is to oversee the
completion of the project, making sure the project is finished to deadline and
on budget, her job requires her to have regular meetings to check on the
progress of the project, communicating regularly with both team and board,
including communicating any issue as it may arise, and setting up meetings with
the relevant bodies to pass on any information as necessary. As project officer,
it is required that they track the project’s progress throughout, from start to
finish, detailing each activity until the outcome is accepted, this will also include
detailing any possible danger or risks to the project, being able to identify
anything that needs to be included to later discuss at team and board meetings,
with suggestions on how to rectify possible issues.
Nicola Moy is also currently acting as a stand in Learning
and Participation Officer. The job of the L&P Officer is to help bridge
links between the fort and the local community helping to partner with
organisations and groups through innovative learning and participation projects.
The job of the L&P officer includes developing projects and selecting
projects that will draw in a wide range of participants throughout the year. To
monitor and evaluate all L&P projects and be responsible to reporting back
to the relevant bodies about these projects. To Prepare and control budgets, to
fundraise and source funding as well as fill in relevant applications for
funding. Organise any business documents, including drafting, updating and
revising these documents. It’s important the L&P officer can work as a team
and work strategically and imaginatively, with excellent communication skills
and an ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
For outside artists trying to get involved in putting on
events or getting involved in events at the fort they would be required to go
through the L&P officer getting any plans laid out with them with the
agreement of higher beings at the Fort once a suitable possible idea has been
developed.
