Camera cards

These are the primary reference for the camera crew during rehearsals. They are also available during transmission as a reminder of their shots, which is why they are also known as crib cards.

Standard layout

Again it makes sense for everyone to lay out camera cards in the same way. The top of the page must contain the camera number and the programme name. Underneath that should be four columns, allowing for the shot number, the area of the set, the shot description and a space for the operator to make their own notes.

Accuracy

Information is transferred to the camera cards from the shooting script once the director has finished with it. It is absolutely vital that the cards are accurate. If shot descriptions are inaccurately copied over, you will receive the wrong shots.

If shot numbers are erroneous you will receive total mayhem.

Short and sweet

When a camera operator becomes busy they will not have time to read long complicated instructions, so shot descriptions are kept short and to standard abbreviations.

We also need to allow enough space on the cards for extra shots to be added during rehearsals.

As directed

Demonstrations and interviews obviously don’t use pre-determined shot numbers, and a camera card for these types of ‘As directed’ sequences would simply state the primary role of each camera.

Typical camera card