Analysis Of Roles

 

Role Descriptions

 

Videographer 

This person is responsible for the workings and manoeuvring of all cameras, working in alignment with the relevant manager to ensure that all of the necessary shots are being covered. A key skill of this is a necessary and in depth understanding of the workings of the cameras so that issues can be troubleshooted.

 

Video Mixer

This person has to be very reactive and quick to fix issues that arise, they need to have an artistic eye to ensure that shots are framed nicely and are giving across the intended feelings. A key skill of this person is the ability to tie in managerial abilities with having an artistic eye for detail to ensure framings of cameras are good.

 

Presenter/Shoutcaster

This person's job is to speak over everything that the players are doing, highlighting major turning points of the match and giving an unbiased view as to the position of both teams. A key skill of this person is the ability to speak in detail about something which maybe isn't that interesting in order to fill in awkward gaps when filming.

 

Floor Manager

This person is the anchor point and middle ground for all of the moving parts, this person ensures that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing and that different areas are supporting each other correctly. A key skill for this role is the ability to view the wider picture and therefore identify possible issues and solve them quickly.

 

Journalist

This person's role is very research heavy, the responsibilities consist of covering different stories and areas around the event and publishing the findings for the viewers to see. A key skill of this person is the ability to imagine and then execute interesting stories that will grab the audience's attention but also have it relate to the topic at hand in the show.

 

Social Media Admin 

It is the responsibility of this person to action all of the requests made by the marketing manager, they are responsible for writing all of the posts and collating all of the images to be approved and released out. A key skill of this person is the ability to identify areas of interest that the audience would want to see in an event, cover it and then finally publish it.

 

Marketing Manager 

This role oversees the social media admin and is responsible for approving or denying what content gets posted in alignment with the intentions set out by the team as a whole. A key skill for this role is the ability to ensure that all content is in accordance with a predetermined intention set out in a meeting to decide what is wanting to be shown in the online presence as a whole.

 

Team Manager

This is the person in charge of the logistics and in game tactics etc of the actual gaming team themselves. They implement strategies to ensure the best outcomes for the team. A key skill for this person is to identify areas of weakness within a gameplay strategy, come up with a solution and then ensure all members of the team follow it and play their part.

 

Video Technician 

This is the problem solver who is responsible for the technical issues that may arise, they have to have a good knowledge in all of the equipment so that if something fails it can be fixed quickly with little disruption to overall runnings. The skills required for this person are an in-depth knowledge of all equipment so that any technical issues can be troubleshooted and solved quickly.

 

What do I want to do?

 

Out of all of the 9 roles that are available I feel that I would be best suited to one of these 2 roles: Video Mixer and Floor Manager. I feel that my skills and abilities best suit these roles because I have a managerial ability and keen eye for detail. This means that I feel I would be good at ensuring all of the camera angles are covering what's intended but also that they are also all slightly different. It would be my job to ensure that the angles aren't just the exact same shot but from different positions, i would utilise skills such as blur from objects to give the shots character.

 

It is important for me to link this all to an overview of my skills and abilities such as my SWOT analysis. One of these skills that I have (as evidenced in my SWOT analysis) is that I have a good ability to work under pressure, this is important when working in the role that I am interested in. This highlights that what I am saying is true and that I have a previous portfolio of work that backs up the fact that I have what it takes to effectively undertake these positions. As well as this it links to my character, i have a keen eye for detail and also an ability to take charge in stressful situations and manage them for the best overall outcome.

 

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Detailed Look At My Roles Of Choice

 

The core differences between my roles of choice are the separation between managerial responsibilities and then artistic responsibilities. I like that I have chosen roles with two opposing areas of responsibility as it gives me a good range of options so that if I don't get either of the two I know that I still have the abilities necessary for something else similar such as video technician or team manager. The skills required for both are very similar however, which is why I chose them. However, the video mixer role requires a combination of both areas of responsibility because you require artistic ability and subsequently manager skills in order to coordinate your intentions out to the videographers. 

 

The responsibility of the video mixer is that they: “Select what the viewers see on their televisions at home” [ScreenSkills, 2023]  this is especially important when it comes to a live show as it requires quick thinking and the ability to remain calm in high stress situations.

 

The responsibilities of the floor manager is that they must have the ability to take charge in a situation and give instructions to people without reservation to ensure that the runnings remain as intended. They are described as 

“The eyes and ears of the director in the studio”  [ScreenSkills, 2023] and it is said that “If they are good, the floor manager will be ahead of the director, liaising with cameras”  [ScreenSkills, 2023] this tells us the importance of getting this role right and therefore the skills that are required to undertake it and remain that all standards are held to a good enough standard.

 

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Bibliography

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ScreenSkills (2023) What does a vision mixer do? Available at: https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/unscripted-tv/editorial/vision-mixer/#:~:text=What%20does%20a%20vision%20mixer,pictures%20available%20in%20real%20time  (Accessed: 13 December 2023). 

ScreenSkills (2023) What does a floor manager do? Available at: https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/unscripted-tv/floor-or-location/floor-manager/  (Accessed: 13 December 2023).