Production Blog for - It's All About Henry

I was a camera operator for this production. I framed up the camera well by following instructions given to me by the director. I didn't really do much throughout the show because my camera stayed static.

Production Blog for 'Life after College- What Happenes Next'

I was on the panel for ‘What Happens Next-Life after College’. I felt more confident in front of the camera than what I have done before. I think this came from getting myself more involved in front of the camera, with more practice, rather than being behind the camera. One reason why the production went well was because the panellists and host were speaking and answering questions in depth, rather than one word answers which filled up the time required to talk for.  I was told that I need to keep my speaking levels the same throughout my whole sentence because I finished the sentence quiet, but I didn’t manage to do this with every sentence I spoke. I learnt bad habits that I have in front of the camera such as I need to keep the volume of my voice the same when speaking, and I need to stop fidgeting and moving my legs.

Production blog for "I Haven't Got News For You"

One thing I have learned from being the gallery assistant on the live TV production "I Haven't Got News For You" is that I need to be clearer and louder when giving information.
From being the producer I think I need to inprove on organising the whole production, I made  sure everybody knew what they needed to be doing but I need to enforce it so that they are doing the roles.

Multi-Camera Production Experience

Three roles that I was given in the multi-camera production were:

1.     Camera 1 operator

2.     Camera 3 operator

3.     Presenter/Main Panellist

Being the camera operator meant that I had to listen to the Directors instructions and act upon them sufficiently. I think I done this well. These cameras stayed static throughout the live production so I had to listen to the instructions and put the camera in place before the shooting started.

Being the main panellist meant that I had to open and close the show, hold the show together and make sure we fill up the whole 10minutes. Next time we have a live TV production I will rehearse more with my whole group so that I am sure of what I am doing, even with the pressure of doing it live and having everyone watching. I will also need to practice being in front of a camera and improvising if my mind goes blank. 

NFL

Coverage of Action

The recording is simultaneous throughout the show as the cameras are in sync with the different shot types or angles used. The coverage of action is extremely good. The point of action is always covered with the cameras and the director does a good job of selecting the cameras relevant to what the audience wants to see. E.g. when there is a tackle, the camera will show the tackle, then it will go to a close up or medium shot of the people involved. A close up will show their emotions and a medium shot will show this as well as their body language and their reactions. There are approximately 8 camera angles that I picked up on but I think there would be more because there is a big area that needs to be covered and there are loads of different shot types which may be used with different cameras.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

Just before a replay they have a NFL visual element on screen. As this always happens when they replay, the audience will know when a replay is being shown. There is all relevant information show at the bottom of the screen such as who is playing and what number they are. There are commentators, who talk to the audience and let the audience know what is going on.

Visual Style

There are a lot of visual elements in this.

There is an establishing shot used just before they start broadcasting from the stadium. When there is a tackle there is a medium shot on the players to see their expression and reaction. There are a wide variety of shot types and angles. This keeps the audience interested. There is on screen Illustration in the replay of the game play and also just before they go into a replay, they inform the audience that they are going to. The colour scheme is quite hard to identify because there are a variety of colours used. There is a blue white and red league table and schedule which make it stand out and show instantly what this is about. Some times When the commentators speak, there pictures appear on the screen. The producers maintain the audience’s interest by using a variety of shot types and movement to make watching the sport more interesting. They take a point of action and make it last longer by replaying it, showing it in different angles and by doing on screen illustrations.

Maintaining Viewers Interest

The producers don’t want the audience to lose interest at any moment throughout the programme. So t they use; lots of different angles and shot types, camera movement, commentators and information written on the screen. All these things keep the audience engaged and maintain there level of interest.

Constraints of Location

This is recorded in a stadium which is used mainly for NFL games. The only setting up that will be needed for the game to be broadcasted is the cameras. But the cameras are probably permanent in the stadium. 

BBC News

Coverage of Action

This is a live show. It starts off with titles and a countdown. It then goes straight to the studio as a medium shot of the news lady as she starts talking about the main news headlines as she is doing this there is VT inserts demonstrating what she is talking about. Then is goes into a wide shot showing her sitting at the table with her laptop as she introduces the show and continues to speak about the news. There is usually a different shot angle when she talks about a different story. The recording is simultaneous through the different cameras and the show. The cameras are in sync with the different shot types or angles used! There are approximately 3 cameras used in a live BBC news report. There are different shot types used to make sure the audience don’t get bored with watching it and so they don’t then watch a different news programme. The most common shot type used is mid-shot.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

This show is constructed by the producers but the news reporter is the person who puts it all together on live TV. This programme is all about letting the public know about all the current goings on in the world and not to entertain them. It is instant so it will be precise for the minuet the public is watching the news. It will inform them of the weather, road, travel reports and the progress of different stories.  It will all be about the news. Some reports will be presented differently to others to maintain the viewer’s interest.

Visual Style

Previously shot footage is used a lot in the news to show the audience what is going on in and around the world. There are also previously shot interviews and reports shown in the news. This has a lot of visual elements. It starts off with the countdown titled and noises that is easily identified as the BBC news countdown. Then it goes onto the red BBC news logo and the news starts. The programme can be identified as a BBC news reports by the colours, red, white and grey. These are the main colours of the BBC and they aim to use these colours wherever possible, such as when an interview is taking place and the people’s names come up on screen. There are headlines shown at the bottom of the screen. This is because the show cannot fit every story in, so instead they scroll it all along the bottom of the screen. There is the BBC new music played over parts of the show quietly, in the background. These parts are usually when the news reporter is touching over a story and not going into detail. When the news reporter is going to be going into detail and spending more time on a story, there is usually no other sounds, only her voice.

Maintaining Viewers Interest

The producers want the public to choose their news report rather than any other channels. So they make sure they present the information well and clearly. Also they use a few different angles and shot types as well as visual elements such as VT inserts, titles and music, and other information and headlines at the bottom of he screen. Because it is a News report, the audience will finish watching this and feel as if they have learned something which makes them feel good.

Constraints of Location

This is broadcasted from a BBC studio so this set is always there, it is permanent. So there is no trouble setting up the things seen on screen, the cameras and everything behind the cameras.  Also because BBC news reports are frequent throughout the day, the studio setting needs to be permanent. Producers use the studio effectively by having no outside noise because of the ceiling and walls blocking them. Also, even though the studio is filming inside, there still can be different shown on the screen in the studio to create an atmosphere. For example, if the reporter is talking about the government going green, then they will have a relevant picture, or video clip. 

X-Factor

Coverage of Action

The recording is simultaneous through the whole show as it is live. There are approximately 7 cameras used. There are different camera angles used. There are medium shots of the people’s faces to show there facial expression/ emotions and body language. There are 2 shots to show someone’s remark and another person’s reaction to that. There are also sometimes audience shots to show the reaction from them.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

The show starts off with the com-pair introducing the host - Dermot O’Leary. Then Dermot O'Leary clearly introduces the show and lets the audience know what is going on e.g. He says what the theme is on that week. Then the first contestant is brought onto stage to perform, feedback is given to them and the number to call to keep them in is put on the screen. This is so the audience knows what number to call for there favorite performance. This process happens for all the contestants. Then at the end of the show Dermot O'Leary informs the audience of what the result show will consist of e.g. who will perform and how the elimination will work. 

Visual Style

The X-Factor shows a lot of previously shot footage in the form of VT. They show A VT of all the contestants before they perform. This different form of broadcasting makes watching it more interesting. They also show other forms of previously shot footage. There are a few visual elements, one is when the contestants are performing and there name & number to call comes up on the screen in the colours red and white. And also when the host talks to the audience, the background of the stage is red and white with the 'X-Factor' logo.

Maintaining Viewers Interest

The producers don’t want the viewers to lose interest so they use a variety of shot types and angles and they make the programme fast passed so that the viewers don’t get bored and switch off. Also another reason why people continue watching is because of the talent on the show and people want to see how the contestants do. They make the audience want to

see how the contestants progress by using VT and music to gain emotion from them.

Constraints of Location

The constraints of location X Factor have to deal with are that because this location isn’t especially for X- Factor, it is also used for other things. So this means that the X-factor setting and staging needs to be set up and taken down every week. It takes long to set up everything and also the amount of cameras makes it even longer to set up. Producers overcome these issues by getting the construction crew to arrive early to set up everything. In pre-production the producers draw up a floor plan so that the construction crew know where all the cameras and everything else needs to be. There are a few live editing options, with shot type from the different cameras. And they can choose a variety of transitions to use such as fade in/out.  

Alan Carr- Chatty Man

Alan Carr is a live studio programme. The recording is simultaneous. There are approximately 9 cameras used during the show to utilize the shot types and camera angles that are used to show meanings or people in different ways. The main shot type is mid-shot. There is hardly any previously shot footage. It is only used when Alan Carr introduces the guest to the audience. He uses VT inserts to show information about the guests to the people in audience who don’t know who they are. This programme hasn't got a lot of visual elements. VT’s are used as well as music. There is a title sequence at the beginning with music to introduce the host to the audience. All of the element used are typical in a chat/ panel show and there are no elements which aren't conventional, used in this show.  The show/production is constructed by the host “Alan Carr” talking to the audience, after Alan Carr has introduced the show he brings the first guest onto the show then talks to them and engaging the audience into the conversation. The producers don’t want the audience to lose interest at any moment throughout the programme so to keep them watching the show they add humor, a range of shot types and usually ends with Alan doing an act/performance. They are informative so the audience feels as if they have learned something after watching this, whether it is about the celebrity being interviewed, or any current relations happening in the world. Also, people are more likely to watch this if someone they like is being interviewed. I think that these techniques are very successful in maintaining high levels of interest by the audience. The constraints of location Alan Carr chatty Man has to deal with is that there is few editing options, audio and video quality will be worse than other recording types and you have to reserve the studio in advance to film there.  Also, it takes longer to set up because of the amount of cameras. Producers overcome these problems by arriving early to set up the cameras. In the pre-production, producers need to organize the position of cameras and shots. Producers use the studio effectively by having no outside noise because of the ceiling and walls blocking them. Also, even though the studio is filming inside, there still can be different backgrounds to create an atmosphere. For example, the setting of Alan Carr Chatty Man have a background of inside a house, with sofas and tables etc to look as if they are not in a studio and that it feels real. Previously shot footage is only really used when Alan Carr introduces the guest to the audience. He uses VT inserts to show information about the guests to the people in audience who don’t know who they are. This programme hasn't got a lot of visual elements. VT’s are used as well as music. There is a title sequence at the beginning with music to introduce the host to the audience. There isn't a wide variety of Shot types in Alan Carr Chatty Man. There are ones such as close up, two shot, medium and wide shot. There is a lot of camera movement, the camera follows the guest as they walk onto stage and zooms in as they sit down.