THE TELEVISION PRODUCTION PROCESSPertemuan 1

Matakuliah : O0382 – Dasar-dasar Produksi Siaran TelevisiTahun : 2010

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Television as Part of Entertainment Industry

The Television industry is a business community of people and companies who create, control, disseminate, and broadcast television programming.

The techniques to create a television program are numerous and the entire process is complex. The three basic forms of TV programs are:Fictional: daytime soap operas, situation comedies, dramatic series, movies made for television including the multiple-part mini series;Non-fictional: talk shows, game shows, religious programs, news;Live: sport events, awards shows, telethons, news coverage.

To become more efficient yet profitable, the television production and programming are increasingly targeting specific demographic groups and special interest viewers.

What Television Production is All About (1/8)

The Basic Television SystemA television system consists of equipment and people who operate

that equipment for the production of specific programs.

The 2 (two) main elements that are always available during the process:

Television camera that converts whatever it ‘sees’ (optical images) into electrical signals that can be stored temporarily or directly reconverted by the television sets into visible screen images;

Microphone that converts whatever it ‘hears’ (actual sounds) into electrical signals that can be stored temporarily or directly reconverted into sounds by the loudspeakers.

The Expanded Studio and Electronic Field Production SystemsThe basic television system is considerably expanded when doing a television production in the studio or in the field such as a telecast of a sporting event. 4

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What Television Production is All About (2/8)

Production Elements

With the expanded television system, there are seven basic production elements:

1. The cameraThe studio television camera has 3 (three) fundamental parts: the lens, the camera, and the viewfinder.

2. The Mounting equipmentAdditional equipment that helps to carry the camera. These are tripod that helps to carry the camera as well as to ensure steady camera, and studio pedestal that allows to raise and lower the camera and move it smoothly across the studio floor while the camera is on.

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What Television Production is All About (3/8)

3. LightingLighting has 3 (three) purposes: to provide the television camera with adequate illumination for technically acceptably pictures, to tell us what the objects shown on the screen actually look like, and to establish the general mood of the event.

4. Types of IlluminationAll television lighting basically involves 2 (two) types of illumination: directional light that has a sharp beam and produces harsh shadows; while diffused light that has a wide and distinct beam that illuminates a relatively large area and produces soft, translucent shadows. The fluorescent lamps in department store produce diffused lighting.

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What Television Production is All About (4/8)

5. Lighting instrumentsLighting instruments that produce directional light are called spotlights, and the ones that produce diffused light are called floodlights.

6. Lighting techniquesAll television lighting is based on simple principle: use some instruments (spotlights and floodlights) to illuminate specific areas, soften shadows and bring the overall light on a screen to an intensity level at which the cameras can generate optimal pictures.

7. AudioTelevision audio not only communicates precise information but also contributes greatly to the mood and atmosphere of a scene. The various audio production elements are microphones, ENG/ EFP, and studio sound control equipment, sound recording and playback devices.

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What Television Production is All About (5/8)

8. MicrophonesMicrophones convert sound waves into electric energy-the audio signals. The sound signals are amplified and sent to the loudspeaker, which reconverts them into audible sound.

ENG/ EFP Sound Control Equipment

In ENG, the audio is normally controlled by the camera operator who wears a small earphone that carries the incoming sound. Because the camera operator is busy running the camera then the sound controls on the camera is set to automatic setting.

In EFP, the volume of incoming sounds is often controlled by a portable mixer and recorded not only on videotape but also on a portable audiotape recorder.

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What Television Production is All About (6/8)

Videotape Recording

Videotape or a computer hard disk is used for the playback of commercials even those originally produced on film.

One of the unique features on television is its ability to transmit a telecast live, which means capturing the pictures and sounds of an ongoing event and distributing them to a worldwide audience. Most television programs originate from videotape playback.

Videotape is indispensable element for production (the recording and building of a show), for programming (when and over which channel the show is telecast) and for distribution.

There are 5 (five) videotape recording related equipments: Videotape recorders

Videotape recorders are classified by whether the recording is done in digital or analog form.

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What Television Production is All About (7/8)

Postproduction Editing

Postproduction editing is characterized into linear and nonlinear editing:

In linear editing system, the process requires 2 (two) source VTRs that contain the original material that you recorded with camera. In this system, computer acts as an edit controller (editing controller unit) which helps find a particular scene quickly.

In non linear editing system, the videotapes will be transferred into a computer disk and then edit the video and audio portions with a word processing program (call up, move, cut, past and join the various shorts much like words, sentences, and paragraphs when editing text document). Some desktop linear systems give an accurate record only of how the material should be edited called the EDL (edit decision list) others produce high-resolution full frame, full-motion video and audio sequences that can be transferred directly onto an edit master tape for on-the-air use.

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What Television Production is All About (8/8)

Special EffectsSpecial effects can be as simple as adding a title over a background scene and special effect is conducted by a CG (Character Generator).

Studios, Master Control, and Support AreasThis part will discuss 3 (three) major television production centers:1. The television studios2. The studio control room3. Master control4. Studio support areas

The television studiosThe television studios can be briefly divided into physical layout of a typical studio and the major installations.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (1/6)Physical layout

1. Size: the size of studio depends on the show produced;2. Floor: the studio floor must be even so that cameras can

travel smoothly. Most studios have concrete floors that are polished or covered with linoleum, tile, or hard plastic;

3. Ceiling height: a minimum of 12 feet is one of the most important design features of a television studio;

4. Acoustic treatment: studio ceiling and walls are usually treated with acoustic material that prevents sound from bouncing around the studio;

5. Air conditioning: when on, the studio lights produce a great amount of heat which will effect the performers and delicate electronic equipment;

6. Doors: studios require heavy, soundproof doors that are large enough to allow scenery, furniture, and vehicles to move in and out.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (2/6)

Major installation

All studios need major installations that facilitate the production process:1. Intercommunication system (intercom): allows all production and

engineering personnel actively engaged in the production of a show to in constant contact with one another;

2. Studio monitor: a high-quality television sets that display the video feed from the program switcher. Studio monitor is essential for the newscaster to see whether the various type or live inserts appear.

3. Program speakers: fulfill a function for audio similar to what the studio monitors do for video;

4. Wall outlets5. Lighting dimmer and patch board: dimmer control board is used to

regulate the relative intensity of the studio lights. The lighting patchboard, or patch bay, connects the individual instruments to the various dimmers.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (3/6)

The studio control roomA room where all the production activities are coordinated and where the director, associate director, technical director, producers and production assistants make decision on effective picture and sound sequence to be videotaped or broadcast live.

Program ControlProgram control refers to equipments the director needs to select and organize the various video and audio inputs. The program control area is equipped with (1) video monitors, (2) speakers for program sound, (3) intercommunication systems, (4) clocks and stopwatches.

Image ControlRefers to the selection and proper sequencing of video images as supplied by cameras or other video sources.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (4/6)

Audio Control Audio control has similar function with a small radio station only it is

located in the television control room. Audio control houses the audio console, and a patchbay, audiotape recorders, cassette machines, CD players, or other digital read/write (record/play) digital discs.

It also contains a clock and line monitor; In order to avoid disturbance from control room to the audio

engineer, it has visual contact with the control room through a large window;

It contain intercom for communication of the team members.

Lighting ControlIt is located in the control room or in a corner of the studio so that the

lighting director can have close contact with control room personnel.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (5/6)

Master control roomMaster control is the central of a television station. It acts as a clearing

house for all program material. It receives program feeds from various sources, and telecasts them at a specific time. The major responsibility of master control is to see that the right program material is put on the air at the right time. There are 3 (three) specific activities of master control:

1. Program input: in broadcast production centers, master control refers to a room that houses the camera control unit, high-end video recording and special effects equipment, test equipment and large-capacity computers that perform a variety of production functions

2. Program storage: all recorded program is stored in master control room and is given a station code or house number using own codes.

3. Program retrieval: means the selection, ordering, and airing of all program material.

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Studios, Master Control, and Support Areas (6/6)

Studio support areas

1. Scenery and propertiesThe most common scenic element is the flat, a wood frame covered with soft material or hardwall, generally used to simulate walls. Set properties are the props used to make the set functional such as tables, chairs; while hand properties are items handled by the performers such as telephone. Set dressings are things used to dress up the set like pictures, indoor plants, sculptures.

2. Makeup and dressing roomsThis support area is a commonplace in large production centers where soap operas or other daily series programs are produced. However, in smaller production centers makeup and dressing are done wherever it’s convenient.