Camera Operation

When you are a camera OP you always have to be thinking ahead to offer up a variety of shots to the director .Here are a few different shots :

MCU:(Medium close up)This shot should be just above the Pecs of the talent and there should be about three fingers head room.

Over shoulder Shot:Looking over the shoulder of one contestant with the opposite contestants in shot. The shot should include the shoulder and head of one contestant and the two other contestants full in shot.

2 shot:This shot should include 2 panellists with about three fingers head room and looking room for the contestants(towards host).

CU:(Close up)This shot should show the tips of the talents shoulders with about three fingers head room.

WS:(Wide Shot) This shot should include all of the talent and most of the set and sometimes could include pole cameras depending on the directors call.

The camera Operator is not static when getting these shots and here are some of the technical terms for moving around to get the right shots:

Crab:Moving the pedestal left or right.

Track:Moving the pedestal Backwards or Forwards

Pan:Moving the camera left or right

Tilt:Moving the camera up or down.

Depending on what camera you are on your shot types will change for example pole cameras get over shoulder shots and two shots,and the cameras at the back of the studio get wide shots ,three shots MCUs of the host and a Pan of the audience and set.