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Showing posts with label Basic Studio Operations(Ricardo). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basic Studio Operations(Ricardo). Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Interview with Production Runner

As part of my research in to the role of director i have taken the time to get in contact with
a production runner that works within the television industry. Unfortunately I could not interview
a director as he was to busy at the time, which is understandable.


Name: Mike Hogan
Date: 20th January 2012
Name of Company: Equinox, Venus, Gate
Job Title: Production Runner

What path did you take to get to the position you are currently in?
 
By getting in contact with production companies with CVs and offering to work for free for the initial experience
Did you go to university or did you work your way through the industry?
 “I didn’t do a university course as I am fortunate enough that I have numerous contacts already in place within the industry
What was your first job you worked on in the industry?
 “My first job was a three full day advert shoot, it was hard work as there is a lot of heavy kit to move around and doing that all day becomes repetitive this was around 42 hour’s work  in three days.”
What path would you suggest to take to get to the position you are currently in now?
Just contact as many companies as possible once a month to inform them about what you want to be involved in, just to get your foot in the door with a company. Tell them about the projects you have worked on and make yourself available for work if they accept you. If you’re freelance, you have to keep people informed that you’re available.”
Have you always had a passion to go into the advertising/Television Industry or was it something you came across later on in life?
My main passion is in the music industry, however this cross references to sound recording for tv and advertising, so that’s the specific path that I want to go down.”
 Have you worked for any large companies in the past such as the BBC, ITV, and Channel M? If so what was your experience like and what did you learn from the company?
  "
I’ve worked on channel M, my experience was that it was smooth running compared to certain adverts I have done. I would say that as a whole the north is a lot better to work in the advert industry than the London area."
What were your feelings on your first day in the current job you are in now?
"I felt like a third wheel, it’s quite shocking at first how much it stops starts, you could be busy  for three hours then just stood around for three, so it threw me off at first. But I am comfortable in my job at the moment. The hour that you are stood around though is a chance to shadow and watch other members of the team."
When working on a project? Do they always work out the way you want them too or do some projects fail? And was it frustrating when they didn't work out?
"Whatever I’ve worked on, it always worked out, however, I’ve never been on a shoot where it’s finished on time, every shoot runs at least an hour late, regardless if you start at 5am or 3pm. So you have to be prepared to work long and late hours."







Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Student Life Show Rehearsal for the 18th January 2012

We used today as a rehearsal day for our assessment on the 18th January 2012. We started off by getting into our groups. In my group we started off thinking about a running order for the show to collectively think about how the program is going to run on the assessment day. We also designed a floor plan for where everything will be placed on the day. As we were trying to think and be creative about ideas and what we could use on set. I came up the idea of turning the set into a bedroom. As our show will be based on student life i thought this would be a fun concept to add to the set. We came up with ideas such as having a messy bedroom with a bed,bedside table, pizza boxes,coke cans, clothes and an alarm clock.


Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Production Roles for the show

Today we discussed the roles that everyone will be doing on the day of the show on the 18th January 2012. In previous lessons as I haven't taken on the role of director and maybe shied away from this particular role. I took it upon myself to put myself forward for this role as I felt the opportunity to push my confidence further and to take on a much more demanding role. Below I have outlined the production roles and the members of the group who will be taking on each role.

Productions Roles

Director-Daniel Jack
Vision Mixer- Andy Greenland
Floor Manager- Daniel Ainsworth
Producer- Nyasha Tsikai

Director-Daniel Jack
As director it is my responsibility to produce documents needed on the day of production. Such as the program proposal this document defines what is going to be done from start to finish. I will also be putting together the running order for the show outlining what will be happening visually and verbally throughout the running of the show. The camera scripts are also my responsibility within this document i will choose the shots i will be using for the show and will put them in an order. I will hand the camera script to each camera operator on the day to ensure each camera operator knows what i intend to do visually. I will also have the decision of what title sequences to use and what graphics will be used in between shots.

Vision Mixer- Andrew Greenland
The vision mixer also works in the gallery with the director. The vision mixer is in charge of mixing the shots when then shots are called by the director during a live broadcast. The vision mixer is like a backup for the director. For example if something obscene is viewed on the television screen the vision mixer can quickly cut another shot without problems occurring. It’s the vision mixers responsibility to discuss the running order of the show with director to ensure the broadcast run smoothly. The communication between vision mixer and director is vital as they both need to be organised. The vision mixer is also responsible for any title sequences or graphics used in the broadcast.


Producer-Nyasha Tsikai
the producer works alongside both director and floor manager to produce the content for the broadcast. However producer most of the time take care of budgets and contracts. Producers are also involved in other activities such as screenwriting, set design and casting. The producer has to confirm and changes that take place with directors so are in constant communication. The producer is responsible shooting schedule a documents outlining a schedule of shots. They are also responsible for call sheets and contact lists which the floor manager should also have a copy of. Finally they produce the floor plan document showing the outline of the room and also the positioning of the cameras and anything else that is important on set.


Floor Manager- Daniel Ainsworth/ Nyasha Tsikai
The floor manager is head of the floor. The floor manager is in constant contact with the gallery through talkback system. It is the floor managers job to greet guests as they enter the set and ensure they are looked after well. When the director calls for a live take the floor manager has to get everyone silent and do a countdown to ensure that the talent knows when the live broadcast has started. If there is a problem on the floor the floor manager is the person to go too. If the director wants anything changing on set or a camera to be moved it is the floor managers role to get that amended efficiently and quickly. The floor manager has the responsibility of carrying out a risk assessment. A risk assessment is an assessment of any risks that might take place whilst on set. The risks need to be made aware of to ensure the safety of everyone on set. The floor manager will work with the producer to create a floor plan. The floor manager will also have a copy of the call sheet and contact list in the case of emergencies.





Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Open Day For Prospective Students

Today was a very useful lesson because we had prospective students come in, who were joining us in the lesson to have a look at what we do during the first year of our course. This was the chance to perform our roles in the studio with the presence of a small audience.  So to start with we decided that we were going to set a plan out for the day.

The Plan
As two groups are doing projects on student finance/student life and alcahol abuse. We saw this as an oppurtunity to shoot the interviews with the prospective students as we would gather reliable thoughts and information by doing this. Also as my group needed to gather some statistics so we saw this as a good oppurtunity to collect some statistics on student funding by handing out questionnaires on the topic. This was a good responce as everyone that entered the room filled a questionnaire out.

Personal Performance
As my group was taking control of the studio as it was our content we were producing. We took on the leading roles. I took on the role as director and Neysha was floor manager. We also allocated Matty Jump the role of presenter as we felt he wasn't so shy infront of the camera when it came to it. Matty also had a sense of humour during the live interviews which made the guests at ease.


Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Teleprompter

Teleprompter
teleprompter is an electronic device used to display text and cues for on-air newscasters. Use of a teleprompter has replaced the need for handwritten cue cards or other off-camera prompts as it is placed behind camera it is not seen in shot. However studios still use cue cards as a back-up or emergency communication method. Early teleprompter's were only used when the actor was required to speak directly to the camera, as in the case of live news presenting. Now teleprompter's are used more frequently.



News Package show
When presentung the content for our own news package show we may consider to use a teleprompter to prompt the talent. We could also use cue cards with the questions on that were going to be asking the guests. We will do this so that the presenter is not looking straight at the camera and is looking in the direction of the guest when asking the questions. If the presenter needs to look into camera the can turn and read from the teleprompter.

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Assignment Module Handbook (Ricardo)

During this mornings lesson we discussed the assignment brief and what has to be done to achieve the maximum out of the project.

There will be a written assignment and a practical assigment that will have to be carried out. Below i have taken the outline from the module handbook of what has to be done for both stages of the assignment. I have done this so i can look back on this at a later date to ensure that i have included everything that needs to be:

The Brief:

Basic Studio Operations Assignment 2011-2012
FD TV Production Year One

Written Assignment 50%
1500 words

For your written assignment you will:
  • Identify one studio role of your preference that you believe you would like to practice in a future job. You will research in depth what duties and responsibilities come with that studio role and how it relates to the other roles in the studio. You will research what skills, personal attributes and experience are required for this role at an entry level job.
  • You will then draft a map of your actual skills and aptitudes, together with a map of your desired skills and aptitudes.
  • Finally, you will put together an Action Plan to get that job in the industry, considering all of the above. The Action Plan will cover the time period between now and the first day of work at your chosen studio job.

You must submit your written assignment in the following formats:
-       digital format (.doc or .pdf) on a CD,
-       post it on your own personal blog, under the label/tag “Basic Studio Ops”.

Practical Assignment 50%

Divided into groups, you will develop, produce and broadcast on our Ustream channel, a Manchester Collage News TV Program.
Each Program should include a VT (produced at the News Package Production Module), studio Guest(s) and a News Agenda Item.
The programme should be five minutes long.
All students must present the following relevant paper work for this Program:
  • program proposal
  • signal pathway graphic
  • running order
  • production diary (minimum of 6 entries in your blog under the tag/label “studio diary”)

The assessable roles for this module are:
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Floor Manager
  • Vision Mixer

Depending on your studio role you will need to provide the following paperwork:

The DIRECTOR is responsible for:
  • Program proposal
  • Running order
  • Camera scripts (x3)
  • Title sequence/graphic

The PRODUCER is responsible for:
  • shooting schedule
  • call sheet/ contact list
  • studio floor plan
  • guest(s) release and consent form

The VISION MIXER is responsible for:
  • Running order
  • VT log sheet
  • Copy of VT (CD or DVD)
  • Copy of any graphics used in tricaster

The FLOOR MANAGER is responsible for:
  • Risk assessment
  • Studio floor plan
  • Call sheet/ contact list

Your Program Proposal must include:
  • Program outline
  • Program duration
  • Program broadcaster/ time it will be aired
  • Program broadcast video format
  • Target audience
  • Content
    • VT subject
    • Guest questions
  • Production style
    • Title sequence
    • End credits
    • Set design


All forms’ templates will be given to you. As a group you will have an opportunity to rehearse your broadcast. The Program will then be broadcasted live once, and recorded, on our Ustream TV Channel, for assessment purposes.

I will follow these guidelines to achieve my full potential within this first assignment.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Basic Program Proposal(Ricardo)

Name of Show- Student Life Manchester

Target Audience- 14+ male and female

Content /Stories

*student accommodation
*Activities that keep them busy
*How they are settling in courses?
*how they are settling into accommodation?
*How they are settling into Manchester?
*Expectations of the course?

Guests
*Tutors
*Students
*Head of College
* Student Rep
*Student union

Presenter
Anyone we can get :)

set design
*college logo
*college colours on set
*Seating
*Background(Green Screen) manchester
*

production style
*3 camera set up
* close ups on guest and presenters
* mid shots on on presenters and guest
*extreme close ups hands/gestures etc
*wide shot of overall panel.

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Green Screen (Ricardo)

During Ricardos lesson today we looked at how a green screen works and how footage can be manipulated to create diverse effects. 
How the green screen works
A green screen is a large green sheet that goes on the wall. When a person films a video in front of a green screen, they put it in an editing software with chroma key. Chroma key is the removal of a single color, therefore when chroma key is activated, the green gets removed, and ANY background gets inserted. That's why you can not wear green against a green screen, because if you wore a green shirt for example, it would be invisible and you would see the background that is inserted instead of the shirt. Green screen can be done with any colour, but green and blue are the furthest away from your skin colour. That's so the skin isn't invisible. If you did a white or black screen, there's a good chance the skin of the person your filming would be invisible That is why they use green.


The steps of setting up a green screen


Step 1
First of all you need a camera and a lens such as this one to set up the green screen effect. The green screen camera lens is then placed on the end of camera. As shown below.



Step 2
Secondly you need a green background for your green screen lens to reflect off. such as the one below.

Step 3
Third step is to find yourself a striking image to replace in the background. Such as the following.


Final Step
The Final step is to edit the footage or image you have shot in software such as final cut pro.




Example


Green screen edit

Idea 1




Idea 2




Idea 3


Final edit




Monday, 17 October 2011

Ideas for TV Channel and JukeBox Programme (Ricardo)

Brief
During Ricardo's lesson i was asked to come up with a name for a TV Channel relating to the college we were also asked to identify the target audience and to create an idea for one television programme.

Objectives

  • Come up with a name for Television Channel
  • Outline the Target Audience
  • One Idea for a television show for Manchester College

Tv Channel names we came up with during a brainstorm of ideas - MCone,MCTV,Mone,ManCat and MCTV

Television Programme Idea- The programme idea we came up with was a music/chat show discussing all genres of music. We also have chosen to interview artists that are featured on the show. We would also show footage of them performing in a studio or out on location. This particular programme would be targeted at 16+ both males and females as music is relevant to everyone. The name we have chosen to use for the programme is JukeBox.

To gather ideas and resources we chose to create a Prezi to later on present our idea and material to the rest of the class.