On Location Workshop

Course Tutor: Jeremy Humphries
Duration: 1 day
Scheduled Dates: See Calendar of Courses
This course is also available as a Bespoke Workshop (delegates set the date and decide the topics).

Overview:
How does it work? What is it like to be on location as a Cameraman? How do you know what gear you need if you are abroad and have not done a recce? You will be surprised how many times I get asked these questions. Indeed I was reminded of this recently when I re read an article I wrote while shooting a drama doc about Stalin. The article I called ‘In Lenin’s Bath’ and I wrote about all the ins and outs of working on location. Everything from how everyone expects the DoP to have an answer, to filming in minus 25 degrees of frost, to working with a crew who spoke no English! Don’t worry, I won’t be conducting this workshop in Russian, but you will see how a location functions through the eyes of a cameraman who has seen one or two locations over the years!

Topics include:
• How a crew works.
• Who is Who.
• What does a DoP do and what role does he play?
• The language and what does it all mean?
• The Director as key.
• Communication/Co Operation/Collaboration.
• The Script in drama…..and documentary.
• The Schedule……and what happens when it all changes!
• Formats and cameras.
• Logistics of crew and equipment in the right place at the right time.
• Filming aboard.
• Working with translators.
• Presenters and contributors working as a team with a crew.
• Hiring of correct equipment.
• The weather (don’t film an East facing cliff on a winter’s afternoon and expect to be sunny!)
• The seasons.
• Dealing with the public.
• Keeping the office back home up to date.
• Dealing with problems.
• Basic technical stuff: lenses, reflectors, monitors, bars, timecode.
• What are rushes and at the end of the day where do they go and how?

What experience you might have had beforehand:
You might be changing career and be keen to know how a location works; you might be a production manager and never been on set, or you might just be intrigued- nothing wrong with that! So experience is not as essential as simply wanting to see how it all works.

What job this workshop might help you apply for:
We have had such a variety on this workshop that the answer probably is Any Job!

Who has attended this type of course?
South West Screen Next Generation Induction Students; Production Coordinators, Researchers and Assistant Producers about to direct a crew for the first time.

How do I book on the course?
Contact Angela (our Course Administrator) for more information about how to book and how to reserve your place.