Camera & sound equipment 101

As part of our Step Up strand, we're offering training to help individuals coming back into the industry after a break, moving into a new role or responsibility level, or improving skills in unscripted TV. 

Looking to take your first steps with camera and sound equipment?

This gentle beginners guide covers the basics you need to know before taking responsibility for equipment or learning to shoot. This includes familiarisation with standard kit and typical tasks a beginner can be given to help a self-shooter on location.

Once you've attended this, you may be interested in Dan's other courses: Introduction to the FS7 and The seven deadly sins of self shooting.

Who it's for

For those with little or no experience with camera kit, and who are now beginning to come into contact with the equipment as part of their job. This could be runners, researchers, PMA’s or anyone who needs to prepare for dealing with kit in the office or on location in unscripted TV.

The majority of the USF online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least 3 credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help.

Speaker

Dan Donnelly is a veteran self-shooting director, presenter and trainer. He spent 15 years at the BBC, working as a director, presenter and camera operator in factual formats such as observational documentary, food, consumer and current affairs. While at the BBC he began training staff in self-shooting skills. Now freelance, Dan teaches self-shooting and directing skills as well as working as a camera operator and director.

What it covers

• A first look at a standard self-shooters kit. Recognising what’s in the bag, how to check it and prepare it for a shoot.
• Handling kit correctly and avoiding losses or damage.
• Setting up tripods.
• Handling radio mics and other basic sound equipment.
• Basic monitoring of a second camera.
• Dealing with media cards.
• Tips to avoid common mistakes made by first-timers. 
• Aimed at beginners, no complicated technical terms, and an ideal chance to ask basic questions.

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply for ticket’ and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

Places on these free online courses are limited and applications are often highly competitive. To stand the best chance of securing a place, please be sure to consider the following:

• When asked to list your three most recent credits, please include the programme title and your job role.
• When asked what you hope to gain from the course, please be concise but ensure you cover the specific elements of the topic you would like to gain knowledge of and what gaps in your skillset you believe the course may address. A rewording of the course title or a general comment on career progression does not tell us much about how this course would benefit you.

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the “decline ticket” function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.