Job description: Digital Imaging Technician (DIT)

"The BvK have led the way in drawing a much needed job description of the role of the DIT on increasingly complex and challenging Digital Film location shoots.
This will be a useful initial guide for all of our Societies. Imago is grateful to the BvK for this English version and for the work which has gone into its preparation and for sharing it with fellow cinematographers around the World..
It marks an important start towards an International understanding of the function of the DIT and the skill and complexity involved in their work."

Job description: Digital Imaging Technician (DIT)
(also Digital Film Technician (DFT), Camera Supervisor, Camera Consultant, Digital Camera Consultant (DCC), Digital Camera Supervisor (DCS), HD Supervisor (HDS), Digital Imaging Supervisor)
Preliminary remarks:
The increasing digitalisation of individual steps, as well as of the whole of the process of image recording or image processing, and the corresponding changes in means and forms of production have an influence on the work of the director of photography that is not to be underestimated. At the same time there is increasing pressure on all departments to produce ever more quickly and efficiently.
Digital production often needs an additional, appropriately specialised, person in the camera department who takes over new additional tasks and advises the team.
If necessary, s/he can carry out preliminary technical quality checks of the recorded material already on location. This does not replace the final technical control of the image material in post-production but can contribute greatly to production safety with the aim of assuring the best possible technical quality of the digital film records.
The DIT is an independent specialised technician and adviser of the camera department. S/he supports the camera crew in their technical creative work using an electronic camera. S/he works during preparation as well as during production and can act as a link between location and post-production.
Professional background and prerequisites
Up to now, no recognised training exists in Germany.

The DIT has
• knowledge of the processes of film and TV production, as well as of possible differences in respective production and post-production techniques
• extensive knowledge of customary cameras, storage media and their respective possibilities and limitations
• basic knowledge of lighting, optics and filters, colour theory and technical and creative light exposure
• in-depth knowledge of video and digital technology and of measurement technology used in practice, such as waveform monitors, vectorscopes, histograms
• good knowledge of use of computers and relevant accessories, e.g. to be able to assess the data security of different storage media for image recording or to be able to make camera-specific adjustments
• basic knowledge of possibilities and work flow in post-production, e.g. of colour correction and transfer to film

Duties and activities:
Preparation:
• Advising the DOP in the choice of the production system
• Planning the work flow
• Testing the visual concept of the DOP with respect to its feasibility during production and post-production
• Intensive testing and preparation of the equipment in collaboration with the first assistant cameraman and post-production
• If required, calibration and look management of the equipment
• If required, fine-tuning of data structures / data management in consultation with post-production
• Assembly and choice of equipment in collaboration with the first assistant cameraman
• Carrying out and if necessary correcting the set-up of the equipment, controlling technical functioning, e.g. adjustment (matching) when working with several cameras
• Planning and organisation of equipment in consultation with the first assistant
During shooting:
• The DIT supports the DOP in the implementation of the desired image character using the appropriate technical options
• First technical checks on location (digital gate check)
• Responsibility for maintenance of the technical work flow during shooting and data storage, during filming at difficult (e.g. high contrast) locations or while working with chroma key (blue / greenscreen)
• Data management on location / checking samples, if necessary data storage
• Operation of special equipment, e.g. recorders, signal converters
• Close collaboration with the first assistant cameraman e.g. for control of focus and exposure, as well as with other departments (e.g. sound)
• Repairing small technical defects, as far as possible on location
• Setting up and adjusting the set-up of equipment (video village, measurement technology, monitoring, recording) in collaboration with the first assistant cameraman / video operator
• Changing the recording parameters for optimising the desired image charateristics
Post-production:
• If required, technical/visual check of the image material at the post-production facility using appropriate equipment
• If desired, preparing the production of dailies/rushes or of working copies or similar in consultation with post-production
• Equipment logistics, e.g. for handing the recordings over to post-production, data storage, data transfer etc.
• Return of equipment in collaboration with the first assistant cameraman
The job description of the Digital Imaging Technician was elaborated by a committee set up in the General Meeting of the bvk - German Society of Cinematographers - in January 2009. The Members of the Board voted in August 2009 unanimously to publish this job description and to establish defined quality standards in the professional field of the DIT.

Copyright: bvk – Bundesverband Kamera, German Society of Cinematographers, Brienner Str. 52, 80333 München, Germany, 2009