So, we’ve all run into the inevitable problem where we dont have enough wireless to distribute per needs onset. On commercials in town I usually am asked for a handheld monitor for director, a RX to onset 17” for DP/Director, and a RX to the 1st AC. So my question is who should get the last signal, the DIT or VTR and why? What else is there to be cognizant of with signal flow design on a small, medium, or large set?
If there’s a VTR and DIT on the job, the DIT will usually want the receiver and feed his corrected signal to VTR. The VTR will feed to everyone else.
A feature or commercial, here in the Netherlands its moreless the same size of crew. I usually have a sidekick for the director on a 7", being close to set. A receiver for me on a 7" or 10" and a 17" for the gaffer and dp and one left for VTR, which provides a signal to all with a Servpro/qtake or similar system. The luxury of a DIT is very rare, and if so, this person still isnt on set all the time and doesnt do the Iris. In terms of a new normal....i kind of like the qtake. Spreads the crowd.
Something ive learned today is that if the DIT isnt onset monitoring the image then theyre more of a glorified loader doing transcodes rather than actually judging the image for picture quality etc. but if course theyre not on every job