CUFCAM401A Shoot a wide range of television content

Revision Number: 1

CUFCAM401A Shoot a wide range of television content

Modification History

Not applicable.

Unit Descriptor

Unit descriptor	This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to shoot a wide range of content for television programs. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the Unit

Application of the unit	This unit describes the skills and knowledge required by a camera person who usually works without supervision to shoot television content using professional video equipment. The person undertakes the preparation and technical aspects of a shoot, including camera, sound and lights. On occasion, the camera person works with a sound recordist or lighting technician and may coordinate their operations. Other duties may include manipulation of cameras, e.g. on dolly tracks and cable control. Program styles covered by this unit include news and current affairs, corporate videos, coverage of events and relatively complex documentary materials. Typically the camera person contributes creatively to outcomes and works collaboratively with producers or directors, either as an employee of a production house or as a freelancer on assignment. More complex skills associated with shooting material under special conditions are covered in: CUFCAM501A Shoot material for screen productions under special conditions.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not applicable.

Pre-Requisites

Prerequisite units

Employability Skills Information

Employability skills	This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Prepare for shoots	1. Attend pre-production briefings and contribute creative ideas for the visual interpretation of intended productions 2. Appraise ideas for shots, taking into account the potential impact on costs, timelines, scripts and technical feasibility 3. Survey locations prior to shoots as required 4. Plan, prepare and pack required equipment and accessories for shoots, including special requirements, such as lenses and filters 5. Ensure equipment is in working order and fix minor faults or arrange to have them fixed 6. Select capture media that is appropriate and sufficient to meet production requirements 7. Anticipate OHS requirements as they apply to the preparation and implementation of shoots 8. Complete required documentation
Set up shoots	9. Survey sites and determine camera positions to achieve shots and compositions best suited to production requirements 10. Generate a range of ideas that offer creative solutions for particular productions 11. Appraise ideas for potential impact on cost, schedules, technical feasibility and suitability to meet production requirements 12. Set up and implement lighting plans, and install required cables 13. Confirm light temperature and exposures are sufficient for production requirements by utilising appropriate light meters 14. Position microphones and conduct audio checks 15. Liaise and collaborate with other production personnel and talent to maximise creative outcomes 16. Rehearse shots as required
Shoot content	17. Check camera movements to implement planned and rehearsed shots where applicable 18. Ensure captured shots meet editing and other post-production requirements 19. Employ photographic and composition techniques to achieve aesthetic requirements and to capture well-composed and well-focused shots 20. Collaborate with other production personnel where applicable and respond to directions as required 21. Coordinate inputs from other crew members as required to achieve the desired images 22. Ensure safe work practices are applied at all times 23. Record audio using appropriate microphones or coordinate sound operations as required
Wrap up shoots	24. Pack and store equipment using safe lifting practices 25. Ensure recorded content is identified, labelled and available for post-production 26. Ensure locations are left in original state 27. Brief editors and producers on post-production issues as required 28. Complete necessary documentation 29. Review and reflect on own performance and note areas for improvement

Required Skills and Knowledge

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.
Required skills
communication skills sufficient to interpret and discuss creative requirements for productions ability to work and communicate effectively as a team member technical skills sufficient to: operate a range of professional camera, lighting and audio equipment in the context of a range of program styles manipulate and move cameras and cables as part of a team initiative and enterprise in the context of: making creative contributions to program ideas and outcomes troubleshooting and solving operational problems quickly and efficiently as they arise during shoots self-management and planning skills sufficient to: work under pressure balance creative and technical requirements evaluate own contribution to creative solutions literacy skills sufficient to provide written and verbal instructions, e.g. shot lists, labelling numeracy skills sufficient to make decisions that take account of budgetary constraints
Required knowledge
industry knowledge, including: roles and responsibilities of production and post-production team members broad understanding of the creative and technical elements of a range of television productions broadcast language and terminology issues and challenges that arise in the context of shooting a wide range of television content features of a range of cameras and equipment framing techniques and shot composition well-developed understanding of photographic principles, such as: exposure focus tonal relationships light sources sensitivity and balancing camera interpretation of colour colour correction techniques colour temperature and compensation and how this determines the selection of gels and filters features of different types of light-measuring devices basic principles of lighting, e.g. key, fill and back light types of artificial/introduced light sources available to camera operators OHS and public health and safety procedures, particularly as they relate to shooting on location characteristics of commonly used microphones and their application in a range of environments characteristics of audio signals under variable conditions, e.g. pitch, wavelength, frequency, dynamics and distortions

Evidence Guide

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the following is essential: ability to work within production deadlines and to plan and organise all aspects of camera shoots ability to contribute creative interpretations and ideas in the context of planning shots to meet production requirements collaborative approach to work, including ability to work under direction ability to operate a range of cameras and ancillary equipment knowledge and application of photographic principles.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure: access to professional equipment based on items listed in the range statement access to facilities to produce a show tape, which demonstrates aptitude across a reasonable spectrum of program types and the ability to gather content across a variety of locations, conditions and subject matter access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance evaluation of a range of screen content shot by the candidate to determine whether production requirements have been met observation of the candidate setting up and operating camera and lighting equipment on location written or verbal questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: BSBCRT402A Collaborate in a creative process CUFCAM402A Shoot television content in a multi-camera environment CUSSOU406A Record sound on location.

Range Statement

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Productions may include:	animations corporate videos documentaries drama EFP (electronic field production) ENG (electronic news gathering) events or performances infotainment life style programs news and current affairs pieces to camera training videos.
Locations may include:	on location (interior, exterior) outside broadcast studio.
Shoots may include:	combined video and audio function fixed/supported hand-held operation separate video and audio record functions single-camera.
Equipment and accessories may include:	autocue monitor AVCHD (high definition) batteries - lead/acid Ni-Cad/lithium ION Betacam Betacam SP cables cue card holders digital Betacam digital DVC Pro DV Cam DVD camcorder headphones lighting kit microphones fixed pole lapel Mini DV mobile phones mounts talkback facility tape recorder tripod two-way intercom video split monitor.
Lenses may include:	fixed lens hood macro micro wide-angle wide-angle adaptor zoom.
Filters may include:	chromatic colour colour correction correction filters enhancers graduated: hard-edge, soft-edge, attenuated coloured, neutral density non-specific colour polarising ultraviolet.
Capture media may include:	CD DVD flashcards P2 solid-state drive small hard drive videotape.
Documentation may include:	computer generated/manually written emails/SMS fault reports film and battery labels production schedule running sheets script shot lists stock order forms.
Shots may include:	close-up cutaway shot establishing or master shot extreme close-up eye-level shot hand-held high-angle long shot low-angle mid shot pan point-of-view shot static tilt track wide shot zoom in zoom out.
Lighting may include:	back light bounced light colour temperature effect light, e.g. on backgrounds fill light flood light HMI (hydrargyrum medium arc-length iodide) interior lights key light light meters spot light tungsten types of luminaries.
Production personnel may include:	animator camera assistant director/producer editor floor manager journalist/reporter researcher safety officer sound mixer/designer sound recordist supervisors technical producer.
Talent may include:	actors general public, e.g. vox pops interviewees interviewers journalists/reporters performers presenters.
Camera movements may include:	dolly hand-held pan tilt tracking zoom in/zoom out.

Unit Sector(s)

Unit sector

Competency field

Competency field	Media and entertainment production - Camera/cinematography

Co-requisite units

Co-requisite units