Programmers Should Scout Locations

By 4 commentsCategory: Film, TipTags: , , , , , ,

I literally have no idea if this is a controversial take to anyone but the UPM, but I feel this in my bones: Programmers should be on the scouts.  We should be there at the very least with an RF scanner to get a vibe for how rough the location may be.  But going further, I’d love to see the terrain, where I have space to hide, where there are giant obstructions that prevent RF from traveling, etc. 

Besides prevention, it gives us the chance to strike up conversations about handling of RF conflicts between departments.  I’m not sure what your world is like, but in my communities, there is no one in charge of RF coordination (and there should be).  So I attempt to take on the ice breaker of discussion to try to get some sort of agreement between departments so we don’t all crash and burn day one on set.  This attempt to coordinate is greatly hampered by trying to have it one the first day as we set up.  I’m not sure why, but there is a “cards to your vest” feel a lot of people convey when I bring up coordination.  Which really could be it’s own blog post, if I actually had any helpful insights to share.  I’m simply baffled when this happens.  We all rely on a significant amount of RF for our success, don’t we?  Why would someone not want to try to get all of our stuff to agree?

Back on topic- I can also discuss with my Rigging Gaffer where they plan to set the Ring of Fire so I can make my network strategy.  I can’t count how much time I waste when my Rigging Programmer calls me at a tough location just getting caught up.  “We’re WHERE?!?”  “How far is it?!?”  Though I have the official satellite images we use in planning, that is a far cry from seeing and walking the area myself.

I could go on, but I’d just end up repeating myself in some “old man yells at cloud” rant.  If there is no RF coordinator, we 100% should be there.  

What other parts of the process do you wish Programmers were allowed to join in on?  Hit me in the comments.

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Mark LaPierre is a programmer in film and television based out of Albuquerque.  He grew up in live entertainment and has been a designer/programmer for musicals, concert dance, live music, circus and corporate.  Mark is a proud member of IATSE, an ETC Eos trainer and an enthusiastic trainer of many other platforms and subjects.  He offers Zoom console training as well as in person.  If you enjoy his content, please consider commenting on his posts on the website to appease the Algorithm.  

Photo by mostafa meraji on Unsplash

4 comments

  1. Kevin Campbell - Reply

    I agree with having programmers on prep but I dont think it will happen. I think what will happen is the person who is on the scout will have to learn the knowledge of what a programmer needs done: RF, Data runs, board placement (network placement), etc.

    I wish that we are involved with more prep. (help drafting lighting designs or access to them). I find myself asking the rigging gaffer or rigging techs as many questions as I can in order to figure out what is going to happen. Also with almost all of our gear being programmed, it would be nicer to get more time to update and test lights, rather than patch it in and hope for the best with a day to get in our boards.

    I do think with we should start to incorporate other departments into our managed network, it’ll make it easier for video to send video through the stage and also give us the budget to get proper networking gear (lumenix) to strengthen our own network. I think having someone who manages this network and RF frequencies can bring balance to our sets, the programmer should not have to add this onto his own daily duties. With the verge of NDI and video mapping our lights, it’ll make this process much more fluid.

    • admin - Reply

      Interesting point about shared networks, though I fear being on anyone else’s than my own. And yeah- prep is the most important thing to success after being good at what you do.

  2. Jessica Dean - Reply

    Sometimes I feel like IATSE has to drag companies kicking and screaming to get operators for basic things. Like RF coordinators or separate automation operators in theatre or that maybe asking the head electrician to also be in charge of the 40×30′ LED wall and 4 short throw projectors/mapping, etc in addition to all of the lighting and programming the show is a bit much. It shouldn’t be that hard. But here we are.

    • admin - Reply

      Full agreement. Companies don’t even act out of self interest any more, which you can at least argue with. They only act to maximize shareholder profits. They don’t understand that RF problems cost production time and money. Sigh.

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