Studio Personnel

     The following is a partial list of key studio personnel:


  • Director - this person is the creative force behind the production. They are responsible for selecting shots and audio to create a compelling presentation. At small stations, directors can be producers as well.
  • Assistant Director - during the production, this person usually does timing for the director, helps "ready" various operations, calls out scene numbers or pre-sets certain camera shots.
  • Technical Director (TD) - this is the person who presses the buttons on the video switcher according to the director's cues.
  • Floor Manager (or Floor Director) - the director's liaison to the talent in the studio. Floor managers help put microphones on the talent and do sound checks. They also give cues to the talent using hand signals.
  • Audio Operator - this person is skilled with sound design and makes sure that all the audio sources are prepped with the correct levels for mixing in the show.
  • Camera Operator(s) - typically there are three cameras that are used in a studio production. The operators run the cameras, setting up shots according to camera aesthetics.
  • Character Generator Operator - this person builds the graphic elements that get inserted into the program by the TD. These elements include talent identifiers, full-screen graphics, credit rolls, and other textual references.
  • Prompter Operator - this person rolls the script that is read by the talent in the studio. The script appears on a monitor that is attached to the front of the camera so that anchor can read while looking into the lens. 
  • Video Playback and Recording Operator(s) - depending on how elaborate the production, this position may require several people. They operate the machines to record and also to play back video that gets inserted into the show.
  • Talent - these are the people who appear on-camera usually in the form of anchors or hosts.They are familiar with the floor director's hand-signals.
  • Producer(s) - the people in charge of the production. There are several forms, including executive producer, associate producer, line producer and even field producer. Producers coordinate the technical and non-technical personnel and can often serve as writer for the show.
  • Associate Producer(s) - these people assist the producer, often coordinating jobs, telephoning talent and confirming schedules.
  • Production Assistant(s) - assists the producer and director during the actual production, sometimes taking notes or helping to put the set together.