In this section, we’ll cover various facets of the director role and the importance of the role.
A good director must see the big picture and be focused on all the details of a service. They must have the answers, or know how to find the answers, to questions that may be posed before, during, or even after a service. Transitions are a key part of the director’s role and knowing the difference between a good transition and a mediocre one will set directors apart.
Every campus may have their own take on the terminology used by a director to his or her team, but a good standard practice is video-industry terms:
Directors must ensure that communication, especially at transition points, is concise and clear. After giving a cue, they need to ensure that the cue was fully executed and, if not, know how to resolve the issue. For example, if a LD completely a lighting cue but missed taking a wash out, a director needs to know how to address the situation.
Sometimes a transition doesn’t go as expected. Perhaps a lighting cue was supposed to happen and it was missed or a video transition didn’t happen. Regardless of fault (operator or director), it’s important that the director know the best course of action. Sometimes, it may be better to leave a failed transition while other times it’s important to immediately fix. An example of when it may be better to leave a failed transition is when there was supposed to be a house lighting change but “the moment” had passed. Sometimes, a transition like this may be resolved by adding extra-long transition times, while other times, this may not be possible.