Multi-camera directors plan camera positions and shots during pre-production and lead the production team during filming. They are responsible for personnel like floor managers, camera operators, and sound technicians. Multi-camera shoots are used for live events like sports, news, talk shows, and sitcoms where scenes cannot be re-shot. Directors need patience, enthusiasm, strong communication skills, and the ability to envision shots from a distance in the control gallery. Most directors receive training in film school before gaining experience in the television industry.

1. MULTI CAMERA
DIRECTOR

2. WHAT THEY DO
 During pre-production the multi camera director will plan camera
positions and shots. During the shoot the director leads the team and
is in charge of the personnel on the studio floor and in the gallery.
This includes the floor managers, camera and sound
teams, production assistant and vision mixer.

3. WHEN THEY ARE USED
 Multi-camera shoots are commonly used for sports and news
programmes, soap operas, talk shows, game shows, some sitcoms and
live events where action cannot be repeated or replicated. These may
be studio or location based.

4. SKILLS YOU MAY NEED
 The main requirements for a multi-camera director are
patience, enthusiasm and good spatial awareness. The director is often
sitting in a gallery a long way from the cameras, so must be able to
envisage how each camera is positioned in relation to others, and what
shots each is able to get. Good communication skills are also crucial. The
team in the studio can only hear the director’s voice over talkback. So the
director must be able to communicate quickly and clearly what is
needed, while also encouraging all of them to work together as a team.

5. H OW T O B E A M U LT I C A M E R A
DIRECTOR
 Camera directors are usually trained at film schools and universities
in media studies with specialization in camera operations or film
directing. This usually is followed by work experience in the television
industry. Depending on skill, experience and talent, they have to work
from a few months to several years within the television industry to
reach the position of camera director.

6. ABOUT 75% OF THE WORK
IS DONE BEFORE YOU SIT
INFRONT OF THE
MONITORS