Today in class we practiced the different hand signals that are used by a floor director to communicate with staff. These include: 

Raising your palm flat in the air

Counting down from five ( by putting a finger down)  

Crossing your arms to indicate 30 seconds 

Raising a closed fist to indicate 15 seconds 

Slashing your hand diagonally to indicate a cut 

Cupping your ear to indicate a need for louder volume 

Cupping your mouth to indicate a need for a softer volume  

And lastly, moving your finger in a circular motion to indicate a wrap up. 

We also learned a 3 point lighting system that is standard for most productions. In this setup there is a key light, a fill light, and a back light. 

Learning how to use an audio board was a first for me. It was my first time working with that sort of equipment. I did not realize how difficult it was to get a quality sound and connect to the mics without sounding too soft or giving feedback.  Although it was an interesting experience, I know I have a lot more to learn and I definitely need to practice. The buttons and sliders were intimidating. I was also surprised at how little movement the studio cameras actually needed when trying to position them for a shot.  Production as a whole has turned out to be a lot more intricate than I initially thought, and I have a new found appreciation for it. I must admit I do not see a lot of it in my future though. This class has been extremely challenging so far, and frankly a little overwhelming. However,  I am learning a lot about the industry.