NONTECHNICAL PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Question 1

executive producer

Answer 1

in charge of one or several program or program series. coordinates with client, station or corporate management, advertising agencies, investors, and talent and writer’s agents. approves and manages the budget

Question 2

producer

Answer 2

in charge of an individual production; responsible for all personnel working on the production and for coordinating technical and non-technical production elements; often doubles as a writer and director

Question 3

line producer

Answer 3

supervises daily production activities on the set

Question 4

studio and field producers

Answer 4

in large operations, studio and field producers are assigned different producing responsibilities; the studio producer takes care of all studio productions, and the field producer handles all field productions

Question 5

associate producer (AP)

Answer 5

assists producer in all production matters; often does the actual production coordination jobs, such as telephoning talent and making sure all deadlines are met

Question 6

production assistant (PA)

Answer 6

assist producer and director during the actual production; takes notes of comments made by the producer or director during rehearsals, which serve as a guide for the crew to fix minor production flaws before final recording

Question 7

director

Answer 7

in charge of directing talent and technical operations; ultimately responsible for transforming a script into effective video and audio messages (often doubles as producer)

Question 8

associate, or assistant, director (AD)

Answer 8

assists director during the actual production; often does timing for director; in complex multi-camera productions, helps to “ready” various operations (such as presetting specific camera shots or calling for a graphic effect)

Question 9

talent

Answer 9

refers, not always accurately, to all performers and actors who regularly appear on video

Question 10

actor

Answer 10

someone who portrays someone else on-camera

Question 11

performer

Answer 11

someone who appears on-camera in nondramatic activities; always portrays him/herself

Question 12

announcer

Answer 12

reads narration but does not appear on-camera

Question 13

writer

Answer 13

writes video scripts; in smaller-station operations or in corporate video, the writer’s function is often assumed by the director or producer or someone freelance

Question 14

art director

Answer 14

in charge of the creative design aspects of show (set, location, graphics)

Question 15

music director/conductor

Answer 15

responsible for music group in large productions, such as the band that plays on a variety show; can also be the person who chooses all the recorded music for a specific show or series

Question 16

choreographer

Answer 16

determines all movements for dancers

Question 17

floor manager (floor director, stage manager)

Answer 17

in charge of all activities on the studio floor such as setting up scenery, getting talent into place, and relaying the director’s cues to the talent; basically responsible for preparing the location for the shoot and for cueing all talent

Question 18

floor persons

Answer 18

set up and dress sets; operate cue cards and other prompting devices; sometimes operate booms, assist camera operators in moving dollies and pulling camera cables, small productions can double as wardrobe and makeup (grips, stagehands, and facilities persons)

Question 19

makeup artist

Answer 19

does all the makeup for talent (large productions only)

Question 20

costume designer

Answer 20

designs and sometimes constructs costumes for dramas, dance numbers, and children’s shows (large productions only)

Question 21

propert manager

Answer 21

maintains and manages the use of set and hand properties, such as tables, chairs, and office furniture (set properties) and telephones, coffee cups, and flashlights (hand properties) - for large productions only, in smaller productions this is done by the floor manager