Being Eve

Behind the Scenes: Production roles

See Being Productive for ways of presenting these roles.

Non technical vocabulary for ESOL students - students can add those words with an asterix to their vocabulary rings. (Words with an asterix are in first 3000 words and should be learnt.)

The words with an asterix beside them are words you should know, or they are related to words you should already know. They are within the first 3000 words of English.	
substitute *	To use something instead of, or in the place of another thing.	
the cast, to cast* (to cast metal, or an anchor should be known. Here is another meaning)	The cast is all the actors who are in a play or movie. To cast is to find or choose the best actors for the parts.	
to keep track of *(to track is in first 3000 words)	To pay attention to things so you know where they are or what is happening.	
an agent *	Someone who gets work for actors.	
an audition to audition * (same root as auditory which is in first 3000 words)	A short performance an actor gives for a director so the director can decide whether they are suitable for a part. To audition is to go for an audition.	
to detail *	 To list things, giving full information.	
to depict	To describe something, or to show it in a painting or even in a film.	
to ensure *	To make sure.	
to collate	To gather together.	
a convention *	The accepted way of doing something.	
to focus,* focal (adj)	To adjust your eyes or the camera so you can clearly see the picture you are looking at.	

Art department
In television, the art department takes responsibility for "dressing the set" with props that will suggest the period, social class, season, and place of the action. (In theatre, the props department works under the stage manager.) Being able to find, rent, borrow, and look after things is high on the list of skills. Some props have to be practical (working) props; others, impractical (not working) props. Some props, for example, food, will be substitutes made from papier m'chÈ or polystyrene so that they last through many performances.

Casting
In television, a casting director conducts the auditions, which actors mostly hear about through agents. The auditions are recorded on video tape. In theatre, the director will hold auditions. Actors come to auditions having thoroughly researched the role and learnt the scene.

Continuity
In television, someone has to keep track of what happens in every shot so that the next shot makes sense. This person ensures that props, hairstyles, and makeup are the same from shot to shot. They take lots of Polaroid camera shots and write notes detailing where everything is.

Dialogue coach
A dialogue coach will explain the required style to actors and help them with their lines.
Filming on location

Director
In television and theatre the director works with the production team, writer, and actors to shape the production, artistically.

Filming on location

Director of photography (DoP)
In television, this is the person who controls the image quality, the lighting, exposure, and filters in shot.

Focus puller
In television this person adjusts the focal length of the lens and measures distances so that the shot stays in focus as the camera moves.

Producer
Some would say the most important person in a television production is the producer. It is the producer who controls the budget and makes sure the entire vision of the project is carried out successfully. It's the producer who hires the director, who will carry out the artistic vision. It is the director, writer, and producer together who determine how to depict the chosen themes and stories on the screen. Being Eve's producer is Vanessa Alexander.

Sound designer, sound technician, sound recordist
In television, the sound recordist checks out the levels of sound, and looks after the boom operator who operates the overhead microphone. In theatre, the sound designer/technician will collate the sound effects and music and often put them onto a CD or DAT tape.

Best boy, grip, lighting designer, lighting technician
In television, the best boy is an experienced technician who rigs lights and adjusts them on instructions from the gaffer who is the lighting expert. Of course, the best boy can be a girl.

The grip will have responsibility for setting up the dolly to carry the camera to and fro and organise the crane shots for the camera.

In theatre, the lighting designer communicates with the head electrician who instructs the lighting technicians on how to position and focus the lights and plot the show using a lighting board.

Stage manager, set builder, production manager, set construction
In television, the production manager or line producer controls everything. Interior shooting occurs over a period of days, weeks, or months, either inside a studio with purpose built sets, which may be reused or on location in an existing building. Exterior shooting occurs outside the studio. In the theatre plays will mostly be performed in one place either indoors or outdoors so that the sound and lighting conditions can be controlled.
In the classroom

Director of photography, camera operator, focus puller, gaffer, key grip
In television, the work of the photographer and camera operators is all-important. In television the focus puller works with a tape measure to ensure the length from the object being shot to the camera is correct and that the required focus is worked out accordingly. In Being Eve most of the series is shot on a Steadicam, which allows for a lot of movement and creates the feeling of a documentary.
In the classroom

In television the grip sets up the camera under the instruction of the director of photography. The gaffer is the person who sets up the lighting for the shot. In the theatre, television or still footage may be projected onto screens to form a backdrop to the action.

Pyrotechnics (guns and explosions) coordinator, editor, visual effects (FX) person
In television the editor will decide with the director on the shot order and will work with the special effects person to create digital images such as the Wheel of Fortune with Eve at its centre, and the side wipes to change scenes. These are new conventions in television.

Wardrobe, wardrobe standby
In television, the wardrobe is always an important way of giving a programme a particular look. In Being Eve the wardrobe often uses "hot colours". In theatre, wardrobe design involves clever use of materials to recreate a period. Looking after wardrobe is an art in itself.