A recording set is the set of elements necessary to record in a specific space. In this place, all the teamwork must be harmonious and cohesive, as everyone must fulfil their task so that everything works correctly and that the recordings are carried out according to plan. Now we'll tell you more.
who are the regular members of a recording set?
- direction: It is formed by the director or head of the studio and the assistant directors. The first one is responsible for the rhythm of the action, the scenery, the artistic part and the aesthetics of the film. He is the one who has to talk to the actors to explain them the characters, the interventions and the actions in each scene; and the second ones are the ones who carry out some technical functions of the director, acting as a bridge between him and the production. There are usually a first and a second assistant.
- sound: A sound engineer checks the capture of sound effects and dialogue and works with technicians, assistants and microphone operators, as well as setting up the microphones in the scene.
- cinematographer: The cinematographer is the director of photography, who defines the type of lighting to be used on set, camera lenses, camera movements and camera shots to be used; and the camera operator, who assists the director of photography. He is the one who does the actual filming.
- art: The art director is in charge of taking care of the visual aesthetics of the video. He takes care of elements such as the use of colours, set design, costumes and make-up. Therefore, he also needs the help of assistant art directors, costume designers, make-up artists and set designers, who are the ones who build the scenery. The art director works directly with the cinematographer, because both deal with the image of the filming.
- production: This is the production manager, who is in charge of the logistics and all the practical organisation of the filming, such as equipment hire, salaries, budgets, schedules and so on.
- cast: Actors and extras, but this also includes the people who audition for the right actors for the roles, i.e. the casting directors.
what elements should a good film set contain?
- Camera: Without a camera, how will the filming be done?
- Lights: Lighting, or lack of it, can seriously compromise image quality.
- Microphones: So that the audio is captured well and can be heard with clarity and quality.
- Costumes: Learn how to dress correctly for the story you are trying to tell.
- Cast: Make sure the entire cast arrives on time to prepare for the shoot.
- Clapperboard: This is the board that is tapped at the beginning of each scene. It is important for the demarcation of each scene, which makes post-production easier.
- Scene props: These make up the scenery and can be relevant to the goal you want to achieve with the video.
- Office objects: Such as papers, clipboards, tape... to work with the bureaucratic part.
- Snacks for the team: Keeping people well fed is a must, otherwise you will have people working with low energy and a bad mood. Leave a table with water, coffee, juices, fruits, etc. Check if there is anyone with dietary restrictions, such as lactose intolerance, vegetarians, etc.
- Chairs: Because not everyone is going to work standing up all the time, you will need to rest properly.
4 tips for filming time
- Silence: During the recording, external noises cannot come out in the audio of the video, mainly because the microphones are powerful and pick up any noise coming from outside. Moreover, editing or dealing with these noises is a job that can be avoided.
- Do not use a mobile phone - the reason for not using a phone is that there may be electrical interference and the vibration may attract attention and distract the team.
- Do not interrupt filming unless there is an emergency. Finding a cut-off point for scenes when editing footage is not as simple as it sounds. It is not surprising that the clapperboard is used to define the beginning and end of each scene. If you are going to interrupt, make sure it is for a really good reason.
- check that all equipment is in working order. For everything to go as expected, on schedule and without major complications, all equipment must be in perfect working order. So take a moment to talk to each professional to confirm that no one has technical problems with their equipment. Also, transport it carefully, so that nothing goes wrong, and if possible, consult a professional audiovisual equipment transporter.
We hope that everything we have told you today has helped you and that you get down to work. Thank you!
