Before we started the rehearsals we had sessions in the TV studio to learn how to use the differn't equipment that would be used in order to shoot a multi-camera production, this included how to work the vision mixing, audio, talkback and camera eqipment.
The first role I took on was that of a floor manager. It invlolved being the directors voice on the floor, I had to make sure that all the other roles understood and knew what was expected of them. I also needed to solve any problems (technical and emotional) of anyone in the studio at the time, I also needed to let the director know when the floor was ready, and if they wern't ready I needed to let the director know how long it would be until the floor was ready for shooting.
Then I took on the responsibility of sound operator. Being a sound/audio operator is an important job. I had to make sure everyone was mic'd up properly and had to take the levels of everybodies voices, to make sure that all the sound levels were the same. (No more than +9 decibels)I also had to fade the VT inserts in out when needed.
I also took part in being an audience member which I found useful, because that way you can see how the overall project would look and also how the faults that may occur will be portrayed to the audience.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Script and calls
In any production the script is the most important peice of paper work, because it contains everything needed to make the production/idea come to life. The script is broken down into two parts, visual and audio.
The script will include everything needed in order for the team to perform their allocated jobs. It will include the presenters lines, any camera shots that have been decided on, audio tracks and their content, and also VT inserts that have been decided on. It will also tell you how long each track will last for.
The audio side of the script will consist of any of the presenters lines,any music played and any audio on top of the VT inserts. The vision side will deal with camera shots, and any video VT inserts.
Each item place on the script will have a running time. I.E 30 seconds. This will help the director and other crew members know how long before the next element on the script will come up.
Each item will have a running time, in order to help the director and other crew perform their roles efficiently.
The script will include everything needed in order for the team to perform their allocated jobs. It will include the presenters lines, any camera shots that have been decided on, audio tracks and their content, and also VT inserts that have been decided on. It will also tell you how long each track will last for.
The audio side of the script will consist of any of the presenters lines,any music played and any audio on top of the VT inserts. The vision side will deal with camera shots, and any video VT inserts.
Each item place on the script will have a running time. I.E 30 seconds. This will help the director and other crew members know how long before the next element on the script will come up.
Each item will have a running time, in order to help the director and other crew perform their roles efficiently.
Planning and designing a set
As a group we got together and decided on the general direction we wanted the set to go in from there we decided on a color scheme and the art team went and flexed thier creative muscles,
however the planning of the set was a slightly complicated process from where i was sitting as we decided to do seven boards.
{unfinished}
however the planning of the set was a slightly complicated process from where i was sitting as we decided to do seven boards.
{unfinished}
Talk-Backs and thier protocol
Talkbacks are used for communictaion betweeen crew members,
i.e. floor manager to director, director to camera operators,
genrally the main chat is between director and the floor manager as the floor manager is the directors voice on the floor, there is a talk box in the sound booth that allows the sound operators to talk with the floor manger to arrange sound checks and to report problems with sound levels etc.
the protocols of talk backs are that you keep the air time minimum, you say what you have to say short and to the point rather than blathering on about what you are doing and why, and what you had for breakfast, clear and concise and to the point,
also when you talk to the director or anyone else you say, (your job title) to (thier job title) and wait for a reply, i.e. "floor manager to Director" and then wait for a reply to which the Director replies "director to floor manager go ahead" or alternativley if they are busy they will say "director to floor manager wait one please" and when they are ready they will get back in contact to make it known they are free.
i.e. floor manager to director, director to camera operators,
genrally the main chat is between director and the floor manager as the floor manager is the directors voice on the floor, there is a talk box in the sound booth that allows the sound operators to talk with the floor manger to arrange sound checks and to report problems with sound levels etc.
the protocols of talk backs are that you keep the air time minimum, you say what you have to say short and to the point rather than blathering on about what you are doing and why, and what you had for breakfast, clear and concise and to the point,
also when you talk to the director or anyone else you say, (your job title) to (thier job title) and wait for a reply, i.e. "floor manager to Director" and then wait for a reply to which the Director replies "director to floor manager go ahead" or alternativley if they are busy they will say "director to floor manager wait one please" and when they are ready they will get back in contact to make it known they are free.
Planning audio coverage
When you plan audio coverage you have to think about how many people are going to be micced for the main perfomance,
the host shall have a mic and the guests shall, the audience will also be micced but these will not clip mics they will be shotgun or one directional mics hung from the ceiling to localise the audience sound.
the talent are micced with omni directional mics as they will be talking in all directions, to the host and eachother,
the mics used on the talent are omni directional clip mics, these are designed to pick up sound from all directions so if the talent moves thier head to talk we will not lose sound.
when you plan the sound coverage in a studio you have to also think about mics picking up sound from where they arnt meant to, this is why shotgun mics are used with the audience and omni directional mics are used with the talent, the mics used for the talent have a smaller sound radius therefore they only pic up sound from the talent rather than all around, that is why the audience use shotgun mics as if prevents echos from the talent and minimises the chance of the audience sound bleeding into the talent.
the host shall have a mic and the guests shall, the audience will also be micced but these will not clip mics they will be shotgun or one directional mics hung from the ceiling to localise the audience sound.
the talent are micced with omni directional mics as they will be talking in all directions, to the host and eachother,
the mics used on the talent are omni directional clip mics, these are designed to pick up sound from all directions so if the talent moves thier head to talk we will not lose sound.
when you plan the sound coverage in a studio you have to also think about mics picking up sound from where they arnt meant to, this is why shotgun mics are used with the audience and omni directional mics are used with the talent, the mics used for the talent have a smaller sound radius therefore they only pic up sound from the talent rather than all around, that is why the audience use shotgun mics as if prevents echos from the talent and minimises the chance of the audience sound bleeding into the talent.
Planning camera placement and shots
In total we will have four cameras.
Cameras 1 and 3 will show over the shoulder shots, two shots and mcu single shots of the guests.
Camera 4 is the job arm and will be used to create wide shots, and maybe also shots of the host.
Camera two is primarilly the hosts camera. This is the camera the host will focus on when she is talking. The camera operatior for camera 2 will be getting mcu's and 3 shots of the host and talent.
Cameras 1 and 3 will show over the shoulder shots, two shots and mcu single shots of the guests.
Camera 4 is the job arm and will be used to create wide shots, and maybe also shots of the host.
Camera two is primarilly the hosts camera. This is the camera the host will focus on when she is talking. The camera operatior for camera 2 will be getting mcu's and 3 shots of the host and talent.
Programme run downs
it is like a shooting script but not - it shows when the vt inserts will be played and how long for, it also shows when the host will need to take breaks to allow the vt inserts to play and also what questions require vt inserts.
Camera shots and moves
camera shots -
wide shot - sets the scene the subject will be small in frame
long shot - subject is shown from head to toe
medium shot - subject is shown from waist up
medium close up - subject is shown from chest or pecs up
close up - subject is shown only head and shoulders
extreme close up - chin to forehead is shown
camera moves -
tilt - vertical movement of the camera
ped up/down - the moving of the camera stand up and down to lower or raise the camera
tracking - moving the camera up/down stage
crab - moving the camera on its stand side to side
crab
wide shot - sets the scene the subject will be small in frame
long shot - subject is shown from head to toe
medium shot - subject is shown from waist up
medium close up - subject is shown from chest or pecs up
close up - subject is shown only head and shoulders
extreme close up - chin to forehead is shown
camera moves -
tilt - vertical movement of the camera
ped up/down - the moving of the camera stand up and down to lower or raise the camera
tracking - moving the camera up/down stage
crab - moving the camera on its stand side to side
crab
Signal flow (both audio and video) and technical rig
if the microphone is wired it goes microphine - cable - stob box - rack - audio desk - HDD recorder.
if it is a clip mic it goes microphone - XLR - STOB box - rack - audio mixer - HDD recorder.
camera - converter - STOB box - rack - vision mixer
if it is a clip mic it goes microphone - XLR - STOB box - rack - audio mixer - HDD recorder.
camera - converter - STOB box - rack - vision mixer
Studio protocol and practice
The person in charge of the whole production will be the director. The director will decide and finalize what goes into the show. After that comes the FM who is the Directors voice on the floor;any crew is not to disturb the director whilst he is doing his job other than the floor manager. this means that if there are any problems on the floor the crew will have to go through the FM, it is then up to the FM to sort any problems out. However if the FM cannot sort out the problem the FM can then ask the director for help - but this is only if the problem cannot be fixed. However if there is a problem and it can be fixed the FM will have to tell the director that there is a problem and then tell the director how long it will take.
The FM will also interact with the talent: the FM will have to run through any health and safety with the talents and also get them into the show.
Health and safety in a studio is very important, as their are many cables, heavy equipment and hot lights around. For example: You could trip over any cables that have not been managed to get taped down, drop a peice of equipment and injure yourself and also in the unlikely event of a light dropping down this could injure somebody and/or start a fire, so it is important that ALL crew and talent are informed on what to do if anything like the above happens. In a professional situation it would be likely that there would be an accident report book on hand so any accidents that may occur can be recorded and looked at to see if there is anything that can be done in order to prevent it from happening again.
The FM will also interact with the talent: the FM will have to run through any health and safety with the talents and also get them into the show.
Health and safety in a studio is very important, as their are many cables, heavy equipment and hot lights around. For example: You could trip over any cables that have not been managed to get taped down, drop a peice of equipment and injure yourself and also in the unlikely event of a light dropping down this could injure somebody and/or start a fire, so it is important that ALL crew and talent are informed on what to do if anything like the above happens. In a professional situation it would be likely that there would be an accident report book on hand so any accidents that may occur can be recorded and looked at to see if there is anything that can be done in order to prevent it from happening again.
Multi-cam production terms
Multi cam production - where more than one camera is used to produce a peice of film, this would usually go out on air live or as live.
Panning - where you move the cameras pedestal or tripod left or right.
Tilting - where you move the camera's pedestal or tripod up and down
crabbing - moving the camera on its wheels left and right.
Roll dvd - the director will call this when the script tells him a dvd or insert needs to be played
DVD ready - the dvd operator will call this back to the director when the dvd is set to go.
floor ready - the director will call this to the FM to check the crew is ready, the FM will then check and reply floor ready if the floor is ready for a take.
ped up or down - when you alter the angle of a camera shot by adjusting the height of the camera.
Panning - where you move the cameras pedestal or tripod left or right.
Tilting - where you move the camera's pedestal or tripod up and down
crabbing - moving the camera on its wheels left and right.
Roll dvd - the director will call this when the script tells him a dvd or insert needs to be played
DVD ready - the dvd operator will call this back to the director when the dvd is set to go.
floor ready - the director will call this to the FM to check the crew is ready, the FM will then check and reply floor ready if the floor is ready for a take.
ped up or down - when you alter the angle of a camera shot by adjusting the height of the camera.
Crew Roles and responsibileties
floor manager - directors voice on the studio floor
afm - assistant floor manager - helps the floor manger do thier job efficently
camera operator - responsable for getting shots and footage of the host and contestants.
sound operator - responible for the audio for the show, checking levels, micing talent and following the audio for the show checking for spikes in levels etc.
director - the brains of the show, it is thier vision that is playing on the screen there for they tell the camera when to cut and what shot to frame up.
vision mixer - switches the cameras on the directors command
vt operator - plays the vts as instructed in the programme run down and shooting script.
afm - assistant floor manager - helps the floor manger do thier job efficently
camera operator - responsable for getting shots and footage of the host and contestants.
sound operator - responible for the audio for the show, checking levels, micing talent and following the audio for the show checking for spikes in levels etc.
director - the brains of the show, it is thier vision that is playing on the screen there for they tell the camera when to cut and what shot to frame up.
vision mixer - switches the cameras on the directors command
vt operator - plays the vts as instructed in the programme run down and shooting script.
Studio Equitment - its functions and operation.
Cameras and pedestals - the cameras and their pedestals are there to get the shots that are needed during the show. You will be told by the director what shots he wants although it is handy to anticipate what he wants by experimenting while your not on air. When you are on air your tally light on the front of the camera will be red. The pedestals help by giving you a more wider range of a variety of shots.
Lighting rigs - lighting is one of the main elements in any film based peice of work, but can be easily forgotten about. The lighting rig is what the lights hang on.
Relevation of form; this helps the
Relevation of form; This helps the props and talent on stage stand out more. Depending on where and how you place the lights will determine if they look 3D through the camera. Having a 3D effect on screen will make the shots and whole production look more realistic.
Microphones - microphones are also very improtant in live tv and multicam productions, the audience may not be able to hear what the talkent are saying. The clip on microphones need to be on the eyeline of where the talent will look and talk at mostly
Microphones: Microphones are also very important in Live TV and Multicamera productions. As without them the audience may not be able to hear what the talent are saying. Also video camera's may have mic's but they are most likely not with high quality sound and also may not pic sound up in the direction you want - or from the distance you would like.
Video monitors: These are used both on and off the floor to alow both the crew and audience see what is actually being shown on screen and going out on air.
Vision Mixer: This is a vital peice of equipment in a Multi cam production. Each camera will have differnt shots lined up and it is used to record different shots at different times to the directors needs.
Audio desjk - this is used for keeping the sound waves at the acceptable level - between -6 and +9. Each microphone being used will need to have a mic check to enable that the level the talent or host is talking at peaks in between these levels.
DVD PLAYER - This is used to play the vt inserts.
Lighting rigs - lighting is one of the main elements in any film based peice of work, but can be easily forgotten about. The lighting rig is what the lights hang on.
Relevation of form; this helps the
Relevation of form; This helps the props and talent on stage stand out more. Depending on where and how you place the lights will determine if they look 3D through the camera. Having a 3D effect on screen will make the shots and whole production look more realistic.
Microphones - microphones are also very improtant in live tv and multicam productions, the audience may not be able to hear what the talkent are saying. The clip on microphones need to be on the eyeline of where the talent will look and talk at mostly
Microphones: Microphones are also very important in Live TV and Multicamera productions. As without them the audience may not be able to hear what the talent are saying. Also video camera's may have mic's but they are most likely not with high quality sound and also may not pic sound up in the direction you want - or from the distance you would like.
Video monitors: These are used both on and off the floor to alow both the crew and audience see what is actually being shown on screen and going out on air.
Vision Mixer: This is a vital peice of equipment in a Multi cam production. Each camera will have differnt shots lined up and it is used to record different shots at different times to the directors needs.
Audio desjk - this is used for keeping the sound waves at the acceptable level - between -6 and +9. Each microphone being used will need to have a mic check to enable that the level the talent or host is talking at peaks in between these levels.
DVD PLAYER - This is used to play the vt inserts.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Media blog - week one
This week i started my blog, well tried to anyway, i failed at finding the motivation to start so it got started a bit late, however here it is,
in this blog i will recored and document all my activites for the following 5 weeks of this rotation making a live tv show,
hopefully this porject will be fun, so far even the theroy hasnt been that boring, which gives me hope XD
i am looking foward to taking an active role in this production hopefully i can get a chance at floor manager however i am interested in the sound department.
we shall see how it goes.
in this blog i will recored and document all my activites for the following 5 weeks of this rotation making a live tv show,
hopefully this porject will be fun, so far even the theroy hasnt been that boring, which gives me hope XD
i am looking foward to taking an active role in this production hopefully i can get a chance at floor manager however i am interested in the sound department.
we shall see how it goes.
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