2 Working in the Television Production Industry

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Explain how the responsibilities of each production staff position are dependent on the functions of other production staff positions. Identify the primary responsibilities of each production staff position. Recall the activities in each step of a production workflow. Objectives

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Staff

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Staff (Cont.) Staff Behind the scenes Creative, department heads Crew Equipment operators Not seen on camera

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Staff (Cont.) Talent or CastTalentCast Anyone seen by camera Anyone whose voice is heard on program

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Executive Producer Provides funding for program Hires producer Expensive programs may have multiple e.p.’s

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. ProducerProducer (non-news) Purchases materials and services Hires production staff Develops budget Arranges travel, lodging, catering, logistics Possesses extreme attention to detail Carries ultimate responsibility for program’s success Interacts with all staff

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Four Phases of Production Pre-Production Planning, scripting, everything before cameras roll Production Shooting Post-Production Editing, music, and effects addition Distribution Duplication and delivery to end user

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Producer (news) Coordinates content and flow of newscast Involved in story decision process Develops order of stories for newscast Decides on “break-ins” for special reports Supervises reporters Reports to news director

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. News Director Responsible for structure of newsroom Responsible for personnel matters Responsible for effectiveness of newsroom Final authority on which stories air In classroom emulation of real world, usually teacher gradually gives this authority to students when they are ready for the responsibility

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Director In charge of creative aspects of program Interacts with entire staff Casts program per budgetary constraints Has clear vision of finished program Provides vision and direction to departments Communicates vision to all personnel

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Manager Handles business portion of production Negotiates fees for goods, services, etc. Assures that programs and scripts meet broadcast standards Manages budget that producer prepares

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Assistant Sometimes referred to as the Assistant Director Entry-level position Jack-of-all-trades Able to fill variety of positions as needs arise Extremely motivated and energetic

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Networking Most common way of getting job in industry Tell professional friends you are looking They tell their friends, who tell their friends, etc. Eventually, someone hears of opening Word comes back to you through network You apply for job

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Floor Manager Eyes and ears of director in studio Relays director’s commands to studio personnel Wears headset connected to director Provides nonverbal cues to talent Only person other than director who can say “cut”

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Floor Manager CuesCues

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Floor Manager Cues (Cont.)

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Floor Manager Cues (Cont.)

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Floor Manager Cues (Cont.)

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Camera Operator Runs piece of gear that captures video images Frames pleasing shots Follows director’s camera directions

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Photographer Also known as photog or “shooter” Goes into field with reporter in news Operates field camera in news Transports gear Sets up gear Tears down gear

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Photojournalist Performs duties of photog and reporter A “one-man band” Very employable due to ability to fill two roles

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Reporter Responsible for gathering information Writes stories Interviews people Edits stories Usually supplies audio narration of story Backbone of news

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Assignment Editor Schedules personnel to cover stories Pairs reporters with photogs

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Anchor Delivers news from news desk set in studio Reads teleprompter Provides intro and closing to stories, if needed May sometimes provide commentary

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Video Engineer Responsible for technical quality of video signal Trained in electronics of video production Ensures that images from different cameras match in quality and color

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Audio Engineer Responsible for technical quality of audio signal Responsible for maintaining and stabilizing overall audio levels on master recordings Goal is for viewer to never adjust volume Often is audio mixer operator Often operates all other audio gear, such as recorders and players

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Lighting Director Decides placement, color, intensity, and aiming of lighting instruments Often employs gaffer as assistant to physically carry, hang, and manipulate instruments per LD’s directiongaffer

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Scriptwriter Places entire production on paper Often employs content specialist to provide expert input on subjects present in productioncontent specialist

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Graphic Artist Responsible for all artwork required Computer graphics Traditional works of art Charts Graphs

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. VTR Operator Responsible for recording program on videotape This job only exists in facilities where video tape is used

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Robo Operator This job exists in facilities with robotic camera mounts on studio camera pedestals Responsible for operating all studio cameras from one remote control console Manipulates all camera movements with joystick and other controls Brian Franco

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Editor Combines all scenes of production into correct order Eliminates bad takes Operates electronic device which is also called “editor”

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Makeup Artist Applies cosmetics to face and body of talent Responsible for enhancing talent’s appearance Responsible for changing talent’s appearance, if necessary

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. CG Operator Responsible for creating titles for program Responsible for any text that appears Operates character generator (CG), computer that functions as word processor for television

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Grip Responsible for moving things on or to set Equipment Scenery Props This job is called “stagehand” in theater

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Staff

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Production Values General aesthetics of program Goal is to attain high production values

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Terms When in production environment, always use professional AND/OR “slang” terms Never use consumer terms in production environment Use of professional terms is perceived as indication of knowledge

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Program Proposal First step in production includes: Basic idea of production Format Intended audience Budget considerations Locations Rough shooting plan

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Scripting Outline script often follows proposal Many different formats Most common is two columns Left column: video Right column: audio

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Producing Coordinate schedules Acquire necessary resources Monitor activities and progress of production team Weigh budgetary considerations

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Directing Shaping all creative aspects Involved in pre-production Involved in production Involved in post-production

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Lighting Must be lit correctly for an acceptable picture Must be designed to create desired mood, appearance, and setting

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Scenery, Set Dressing, and Props Placement of these contributes to 3-D effect Scenery stops distant view of cameraScenery

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Costumes and Makeup Makeup is cosmetics applied to skin to change or enhance appearanceMakeup Enables performers to look like themselves or characters they play

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Graphics Should be bold, not highly detailed Should always be previewed on TV screen–not computer monitor

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Camera Operation Rules Video is portion of program you can seeVideo Camera composition is getting best shot/angle on subject arrangement of items in picture Frame: the actual four edges of the pictureFrame Framing: the action of composing a shotFraming Bad framing occurs when objects have oddly cut-off parts

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Framing Good or Bad?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. AudioAudio Recording Music Sound effects Spoken words (narration, dialogue) Background sounds

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Video Engineering Production switching–using production switcher to cut from one camera to another—live—as opposed to having to do it with an editor in post- productionProduction switching Called the “SWITCHER”

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Special Effects Anything audience sees in image that did not happen as it appears on screen “It doesn't’t have to be, it only has to appear to be!”

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Editing Putting scenes in order on finished program Scenes are usually not shot in final order Scenes are usually shot by location

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Duplication and Distribution Master program is duplicated onto required media – to make MONEY! DVD Tape Streamed on Internet Other media