Recently, we were tasked with a group project, requiring a team to plan, manage and distribute a collabrative project on a defined theme. In my groups case, climate change.
During this project, we were tasked with creating a flowchart detailing the roles and processes that each individual team member will do, as well as detailing an understanding of roles and responsibilities associated to each team member.
Therefore, I decided to create a flowchart detailing the assigned roles within our team and the processes we had decided upon so far.
At that moment, we believed we would be creating a small, climate change based video game, to teach people about what causes climate change, what we can do about it, and what the effects of climate change are.
This was soon subject to change, though at that moment, the first flowchart was limited to the pre-production phase of development, as we had not decided on what target audience or format our final product would be produced as.
I believe I did well on this initial flowchart because, while complicated, it clearly shows the flow of tasks and who has what task to do.
Some of the roles in the Media, Video-game and VFX industry include:
Camera-man/Filmers - this role consists of (often on sight) people who are responsible for the filming/shooting of different scenes and shots while also working with other roles such as the Producers or Layout TDs.
Editors - this role is responsible for editing together the final edit of a project, often working as or working with compositors, this role is mostly attributed to the VFX and Film industries.
Modelers / 3D Artists – this role creates 3D models such as environments, animals and characters. The modeler/ 3D Artist role mostly works with the Texture artist, animator, compositor, Layout 'Technical Director' (TD) and motion graphics artist.
VFX Artist – this role is responsible for creating CGI effects such as water particles, explosions, destruction of objects.
Programmers – creates code for a video-game production, making the physics, movement and other functions within the game.
Texture Artists – creates textures for models and adds them to the scene, often these must be photo realistic. Texture Artists also must be able to UV map models and characters for the textures to work.
Animators – uses the rigged character models to create their animations, often makes a pre-visualisation, so they can accurately create the full animation using correct camera angles.
Compositors – have multiple processes in their role. They add composites of objects and people to a scene and they put multiple layers of scenes on top of each other, including animated ones, into one scene. Therefore, compositors are tasked with creating the final image of a frame, sequence or shot; this is often done through taking digital elements and adding them to a scene such as animations or backgrounds, while adding special effects (SFX) to make a believable image/video.
Motion Graphics Artists/ Graphic design artists – uses visual design or video to communicate concepts or some form of story. This role normally has people who have higher digital skills and are proficient with interactive media software including 3D animation and graphical design e.g. 2D animation and drawing. They also create posters, trailers, commercials and title sequences etc. etc. alongside other roles like the animators and concept artists for marketing purposes.
Matte Painters – one of the first VFX techniques used regularly in movie making. Originally the technique was used in photography, however, it evolved from painted glass panels shown over a camera lens into being 2D plains/panels of entire 3D digital environments. A matte painting is often a plane or panel used to show a large landscape or set piece that can be a render of a 3D model/area.
Rigging TDs – creates Riggs for 3D modeled animals and characters. This is so that they can be re-positioned, animated and moved using the character’s skeleton.
Lighting TDs – creates lighting for the environments and scenes. Often goes to places and areas to examine the lighting in the area and any added lighting that is used.
Roto Artists – often works with the compositor, rotoscopes objects and characters from different scenes so that they can fit into a scene without having their backgrounds show. This is normally done with a green screen background, however, it can also be done with a blue screen.
Pipeline TDs – works with creating a pipeline of events and tasks for the different roles and processes. This role also ensures a smooth rendition of workflows and sometimes provides technical support to other roles in the industry.
CG Supervisors/ Supervisors – are involved in the production of the computer-generated imagery in either animation or VFX . They are practically always interlinked with the modelling role, animation role, rigging role and texturing role. Most CG supervisors have specialized skills in certain areas, for example; management, art or even programming.
VFX Producers/ Producers/ Directors – manages all aspects of the project and is sometimes regarded as the “heart of a production”. This role typically involves planning and scheduling resources, monitoring work during the production processes and managing the VFX teams.
MatchMovers – integrates CGI/VFX into live action footage and normally is linked with the Roto TD and compositor roles. MatchMoving is often referred to as motion tracking and is mostly used in the film industry using tracking suits and green screens.
Concept Artists – creates the initial ideas and images of characters, environments, animals and in film and animation, scenes including camera angels and story direction.
And Layout TDs – determines the layout and position of the camera/ virtual camera and determines the positions of the characters. This role mostly works with the concept artist and modeler. However, Layout TDs normally have a large assortment of skills alongside their role leading to them often working as other roles.
For our project, we decided to create a video detailing the effects and causes of climate change, with what can be done to help slow or stop climate change.
In this project, our tasks included:
Toby Roberts - Editor/Announcer
Being an Editor, I am responsible for editing together the final footage of a project and adding any extra effects or graphics that had been made during the project. On top of this, I also volunteered to do a voice over, if we decide to have someone talk over the footage being shown as an Announcer.
Ryan De-ritis - Director/
Acting as the Director, Ryan is responsible for managing the project, being responsible for planning and scheduling resources and monitoring work during the production processes while also contributing to other roles periodicaly.
Scott Thomas - Researcher/Camera-Man (Filmer)
As a Researcher, Scott was tasked with creating a primary research survey using secondary research that himself and the rest of us gathered, leading to us receiving the feedback we needed to Establish a target audience.
Also, due to Scott being part of the Media class, Scott has more experience with cameras than the rest of the group, therefore, we decided that if we require filming Scott will be responsible for handling the camera and filming the different shots we need, making Scott also have the role of Camera-man.
Frank Samuels - Graphic Designer/Designing the Brief
As a Graphic Designer, Frank is responsible for the visual design of the project, such as the title sequence or graphic elements such as pie-charts and information graphs. As well as this, Frank also was tasked with designing the group brief and is therefore most responsible for the project's group designed brief.
Adam Johnston - Editor/
Once again being an Editor, Adam is also responsible for editing together the final footage of a project and adding effects.
This can be seen in the updated preproduction flowchart:
Overall I believe I did well on the second flowchart because, while again complicated, it clearly shows the flow of tasks and who has what task to do, while also explaining what each colour represents.
