Have you ever driven with cruise control? Going up a hill or around a curve with cruise can be an exhilarating and sometimes frightening experience, because the cruise setting has no concept of time. In fact, drivers using cruise for the first time are often amazed how often they unwittingly slow down their rate of speed when approaching a difficult section of highway.
A live production is much like driving with cruise control engaged. As much as we’d sometimes like, there is no way to stretch time to fit a complicated section of the event “highway.” Just as there are times when things seem slow, there are times in any production when it seems there are four or five things to do at once.
When these moments happen, the only way to get through them without a massive wreck is to lead the production crew with a steady and calm voice, speaking a language that everyone understands. Effective communication in this manner is paramount to a successful live production. Instilling in your leadership a common set of director’s commands provides consistent language, regardless of the crewmember or the director. Commands internalized make for quick reaction time, which is helpful when the mistakes become twenty feet large!
Go dark/Fade to Black: In the event of a crisis, sometimes the only solution is to get rid of whatever is on the screen.
Advance Mac/PC/CG, or Next Slide: To computer operators, move to the next graphic image in the sequence of the event. (Command many vary depending on computer being used. CG stands for “Computer graphics”).
Center the Shot: To camera operators, compose the subject in frame using the rule of thirds. This is used in IMAG situations when the subject moves off frame.
Cut to _____: To crew, take previewed shot immediately without dissolves or effects.
Fade out/to black: To technical director, fade displayed image to black using video mixer.
Gain [up/down]: To camera operators, adjust camera gain control to compensate for too much/too little luminance as directed.
Iris [up/down]: To camera operators, adjust camera aperture to compensate for too much/too little light in frame as directed.
Pan: To camera operators, move frame left/right as directed.
Ready: To crew or individual operators, alert upcoming command/action. For example, “Ready camera 2… Take camera 2. Camera 2 is live.”
Take: To technical director, perform standard cut or dissolve to previewed image. See “Ready” above.
Tilt: To camera operators, move camera up/down as directed.
Zoom: To camera operators, adjust focal length as directed.
Do you use any more live event commands in your media ministry? Add them in the comments section below.
