Chapter 2“Working in the Television Production Industry”

Dividing Up the Work

The staff works behind the scenes These individuals work in the more creative labels of production management

The crew are generally equipment operators They are not normally seen by the camera, but are integral to the production

Anyone seen by the camera, whether or not they have a speaking or any other significant role in the program is talent

Cast is the collective name given to all the talent participating in the production

The staff works behind the scenes These individuals work in the more creative labels of production management

The crew are generally equipment operators They are not normally seen by the camera, but are integral to the production

Anyone seen by the camera, whether or not they have a speaking or any other significant role in the program is talent

Cast is the collective name given to all the talent participating in the production

Executive Producer

Provides the funding necessary to produce the program

Rarely steps foot on the set The more expensive a program is to produce, the more likely it is to have multiple executive producers

Essentially places the money in the bank and hires a producer

Provides the funding necessary to produce the program

Rarely steps foot on the set The more expensive a program is to produce, the more likely it is to have multiple executive producers

Essentially places the money in the bank and hires a producer

Producer

Purchases materials and services in the creation of a finished program

Hires a director, designers, camera operators, a lighting director, sound engineer, and talent

Arranges travel plans Requires extreme attention to detail and strong organizational skills

Ultimately responsible for the program’s successful completion

Purchases materials and services in the creation of a finished program

Hires a director, designers, camera operators, a lighting director, sound engineer, and talent

Arranges travel plans Requires extreme attention to detail and strong organizational skills

Ultimately responsible for the program’s successful completion

Production Team

The producer and the director make the hiring decisions regarding the rest of the production team

Includes everyone involved in the production, both staff and talent

Must constantly be aware of the budget

Compromise is necessary to balance and successfully complete all aspects of the program production

The producer and the director make the hiring decisions regarding the rest of the production team

Includes everyone involved in the production, both staff and talent

Must constantly be aware of the budget

Compromise is necessary to balance and successfully complete all aspects of the program production

Before/During/After Production

Pre-production refers to any activity on the program that occurs prior to the time when the cameras begin rolling Includes production meetings, set construction, costume design, music composition, scriptwriting, and location surveys

Production refers to the actual shooting of the program

Post-production involves anything done after the program has been shot This includes music beds, editing, audio overdubs, titles, and duplication

Pre-production refers to any activity on the program that occurs prior to the time when the cameras begin rolling Includes production meetings, set construction, costume design, music composition, scriptwriting, and location surveys

Production refers to the actual shooting of the program

Post-production involves anything done after the program has been shot This includes music beds, editing, audio overdubs, titles, and duplication

Director

In charge of the creative aspects of the program

Interacts with the entire staff Responsible for casting the program’s talent Conscious of the budget Reviews the program’s script and visualizes the entire production

Coordinate and manage the staff and cast to keep the production schedule and to ensure that all of the program’s elements are properly incorporated

In charge of the creative aspects of the program

Interacts with the entire staff Responsible for casting the program’s talent Conscious of the budget Reviews the program’s script and visualizes the entire production

Coordinate and manage the staff and cast to keep the production schedule and to ensure that all of the program’s elements are properly incorporated

Production Manager

Handles the business portion of the production by negotiating fees for the goods, services, and other contracts by determining the staffing requirements based on the needs of the production

Ensure that programs and scripts conform to established broadcast standards

Contributes to production by managing the budget and available resources

Handles the business portion of the production by negotiating fees for the goods, services, and other contracts by determining the staffing requirements based on the needs of the production

Ensure that programs and scripts conform to established broadcast standards

Contributes to production by managing the budget and available resources

Production Assistant/Assistant Director

The titles “production assistant” and “assistant director” are interchangeable

“Jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none”

Hired to fill a variety of positions when key personnel are sick, out of town, working on another project, or otherwise unavailable

Beginning stage of a career General assistance around the studio or production facility

The titles “production assistant” and “assistant director” are interchangeable

“Jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none”

Hired to fill a variety of positions when key personnel are sick, out of town, working on another project, or otherwise unavailable

Beginning stage of a career General assistance around the studio or production facility

Floor Manager

Also known as a stage manager Director’s “eyes and ears” in the studio Wears a headset and relays the director’s

commands to all studio personnel, except the camera operators (who communicate directly with the director)

The only person in the studio that may say “cut”, other than the director (usually because the director instructed them to do so)

Responsible for making sure that the set is ready for production

Initiates program countdown - “3…2…1…action!” A cue is a signal that implies something very

specific to happen

Also known as a stage manager Director’s “eyes and ears” in the studio Wears a headset and relays the director’s

commands to all studio personnel, except the camera operators (who communicate directly with the director)

The only person in the studio that may say “cut”, other than the director (usually because the director instructed them to do so)

Responsible for making sure that the set is ready for production

Initiates program countdown - “3…2…1…action!” A cue is a signal that implies something very

specific to happen

Camera Operator

Runs the piece of equipment that captures the video images of the program

Responsible for framing shots that are visually pleasing to the viewers

Respond to the type of shot the director asks for

Frames shots so annoying or inappropriate background information that is not wanted does not detract from the image

Runs the piece of equipment that captures the video images of the program

Responsible for framing shots that are visually pleasing to the viewers

Respond to the type of shot the director asks for

Frames shots so annoying or inappropriate background information that is not wanted does not detract from the image

Video Engineer

Responsible for the technical quality of the video signal

Required to have extensive schooling in the electronics of video production

Makes sure that images captured by every camera are exactly the same Ex. Ensures that an actor’s skin color does not change when cutting between cameras

Responsible for the technical quality of the video signal

Required to have extensive schooling in the electronics of video production

Makes sure that images captured by every camera are exactly the same Ex. Ensures that an actor’s skin color does not change when cutting between cameras

Audio Engineer

Audio/sound quality on the production Operates the microphone mixer Music and sound effects recorders/players

Mics the talent and is responsible for maintaining the overall audio levels on the studio’s master recorder

Audio/sound quality on the production Operates the microphone mixer Music and sound effects recorders/players

Mics the talent and is responsible for maintaining the overall audio levels on the studio’s master recorder

Lighting Director

Decides the placement of lighting instruments, the appropriate color of light to use, and which lamps should be used in the instruments

Purposefully aim lights in varying directions with varying degrees of brightness

The lighting director’s assistant is called a gaffer - he or she often does the actual hauling of heavy instruments up and down ladders

Decides the placement of lighting instruments, the appropriate color of light to use, and which lamps should be used in the instruments

Purposefully aim lights in varying directions with varying degrees of brightness

The lighting director’s assistant is called a gaffer - he or she often does the actual hauling of heavy instruments up and down ladders

Scriptwriter

Placing the entire production on paper Meet the objectives of the producer and the message to the viewer must be clear

Not often acknowledged as being an expert in the subject matter of the production A content specialist is hired to work with the scriptwriter, because they are considered to be experts on the program’s content

Placing the entire production on paper Meet the objectives of the producer and the message to the viewer must be clear

Not often acknowledged as being an expert in the subject matter of the production A content specialist is hired to work with the scriptwriter, because they are considered to be experts on the program’s content

Graphic Artist

Responsible for all artwork required for the production

Includes computer graphics, traditional works of art, charts, and graphs

Very well versed in computer graphics applications

Responsible for all artwork required for the production

Includes computer graphics, traditional works of art, charts, and graphs

Very well versed in computer graphics applications

VTR Operator

In charge of recording the program on to videotape by correctly operating the VTR equipment

Must take every precaution to ensure that each piece of equipment is functioning properly to produce a quality recording across the board, video and audio

Places the entire program on the master videotape

In charge of recording the program on to videotape by correctly operating the VTR equipment

Must take every precaution to ensure that each piece of equipment is functioning properly to produce a quality recording across the board, video and audio

Places the entire program on the master videotape

Editor

Puts various pieces of the entire program together

Individual scenes are rearranged into the proper order with all of the mistakes and bad takes removed, leaving only the best version of each scene

Puts various pieces of the entire program together

Individual scenes are rearranged into the proper order with all of the mistakes and bad takes removed, leaving only the best version of each scene

Makeup Artist

Applies cosmetics to the talent’s face and body, giving them the intended appearance in front of the camera

May enhance facial features or actually change the appearance entirely, as necessary in portraying a particular character convincingly

Applies cosmetics to the talent’s face and body, giving them the intended appearance in front of the camera

May enhance facial features or actually change the appearance entirely, as necessary in portraying a particular character convincingly

CG Operator

Creates the titles for the program using a character generator

Titles include the credits that appear before and after a movie or television show

News flash that crawls across the bottom of the television screen

Creates titles that are accurate and appropriate for the program and makes sure they are legible to viewers

Creates the titles for the program using a character generator

Titles include the credits that appear before and after a movie or television show

News flash that crawls across the bottom of the television screen

Creates titles that are accurate and appropriate for the program and makes sure they are legible to viewers

Grip

Moves equipment, scenery, and props on a studio set

Called a stagehand

Moves equipment, scenery, and props on a studio set

Called a stagehand

Maintenance Engineer

Keeps all of the production equipment working according to “factory specifications”

Not a repairman Ensure that each of production equipment functions at its optimum performance level

Makes sure all settings are correct

Keeps all of the production equipment working according to “factory specifications”

Not a repairman Ensure that each of production equipment functions at its optimum performance level

Makes sure all settings are correct

Video/Video Framing

A frame is the actual edge of the video picture

Framing a shot is the camera operator’s responsibility and involves placing items in the picture by operating the camera and tripod

A frame is the actual edge of the video picture

Framing a shot is the camera operator’s responsibility and involves placing items in the picture by operating the camera and tripod

Question #1

Explain the difference between the talent and the staff of a

production.

Explain the difference between the talent and the staff of a

production.

Question #2

Describe how the director interacts with the program’s

producer.

Describe how the director interacts with the program’s

producer.

Question #3

What are the three phases of program

production.

What are the three phases of program

production.

Question #4

Define the frame of a video picture. Who is responsible for establishing the

frame?

Define the frame of a video picture. Who is responsible for establishing the

frame?

Question #5

Why is it usually impractical to shoot all of the scenes of

a program in sequential order?

Why is it usually impractical to shoot all of the scenes of

a program in sequential order?

Answers

1. The staff works behind the scenes, while the talent is anyone seen by the camera.

2. The director is responsible for coordinating the production so that the producer’s vision emanates throughout the production.

3. Pre-production, production, post-production4. A frame is the actual edge of the video

picture; camera operator’s responsibility to capture acceptable framing by utilizing the tripod and operating the camera

5. Scenes will be edited, and moved around extensively as part of the editing process during post-production

1. The staff works behind the scenes, while the talent is anyone seen by the camera.

2. The director is responsible for coordinating the production so that the producer’s vision emanates throughout the production.

3. Pre-production, production, post-production4. A frame is the actual edge of the video

picture; camera operator’s responsibility to capture acceptable framing by utilizing the tripod and operating the camera

5. Scenes will be edited, and moved around extensively as part of the editing process during post-production