AS LIVE unit: Job roles

Assistant Floor Manager

   A floor manager has a liaising and co-ordinating role between the many people involved in a production, such as guests, the audience, presenters and the director. The floor manager ensures that events go according to a set plan and that people taking part know their particular roles and how it fits in with whatever else is happening. They also have responsibility for ensuring that the studio is a safe working environment for all those taking part.
   Assistant Floor Manager is a junior member of the production team involved with the practicalities of the production. In drama, will collect actors, look after them, prepare props, reset them after takes, wash up etc. as necessary. On studio shows will look after contributors and assist the floor manager with similar duties to those above.
   An Assistant Floor Manager (frequently abbreviated to AFM) is responsible for setting a stage and prompting contributors on the studio floor and ensuring that everyone knows their place in the script, freeing the Floor Manager for other duties. They often oversee a team of Runners. Increasingly, Assistant Floor Managers are being asked to assist with the design and preparation of props, as well as setting and resetting the action on the studio floor.
   The main qualities required to be an AFM is stamina, interpersonal skills, the ability to remain calm under pressure, understanding of drama and entertainment industries.

VT (On Tour with The Soundcasters) Producer

VT operators can be found in many video and television production environments. The duties of this position can include:

•Recording a master tape of the production

•Recording specific events, shots, camera angles, etc.
•Editing video footage
•Cueing and playing video items at set times, or at the director's instruction
•Slow Motion Replays

My role was to organise, shoot and edit the VT showing the band The Soundcasters on tour and have the presenter Jess Coote interview them. We caught-up with them on Thursday 19th April at a gig at Pizza Express where they were headlining.