TV Production Overview“Television viewing hit an all-time high in the U.S. in 2008,

with the average American watching 142 hours of TV a month. Most U.S. homes receive about 120 channels”

Presentation created by John GraceDATA Charter High School

Albuquerque, NM

Some excerpts from CyberCollege.com

Production Basics

• Camerapersons, writers, directors, producers, and even on-camera talent find that having a solid understanding of the

tools and techniques of the entire process makes a major difference in the success of productions -- not to mention their careers.

Production Basics - The CrewPRODUCER• The Producer comes up

with the program concept, lays out the budget, andmakes the major decisions. This person is the team leader, the one who works with the writers, hires the director, decides on the key talent, and guides the general direction of the production.On smaller productions, the producer may also take charge of the directing chores and is referred to as a producer-director.

Production Basics - The CrewPRODUCER• On a major production,

one of the producer's first jobs is to hire a writer towrite the script. The script is like a written plan or blueprint for the production.The producer will next consider the key talent for the production. In general, the talent includes actors, reporters, hosts, guests, and off-camera narrators - anyone who appears on camera or whose voice is heard.

Production Basics - The CrewDIRECTOR• In a large production, the

producer will hire the director. The director is in charge of overseeing pre-production, hiring and coordinating the activities of the production staff and on-camera talent, choreographing the talent, selecting the camera shots, and supervising post.Once the producer sets things in motion, the director is in charge of taking the script from the beginning to the very end of the production.

Production Basics - The CrewTECHNICAL DIRECTOR• Assisting the director in the

control room is the technical director, or TD, who operates the video switcher. The technical director is also responsible for coordinating the technical aspects of the production. One or more production assistants (PAs) may be hired to help the producer and director. Among other things, PAs keep notes on ongoing production needs and changes.

Production Basics - The CrewVIDEO ENGINEER• An essential member of a

production crew is the video engineer who isresponsible for shading, phasing and timing the cameras and overseeing the quality of the video signal.The video engineer is well-versed in the technical specifications of the industry and maintains the equipment while on location or in the studio.

Production Basics - The CrewLIGHTING DIRECTOR• The lighting director (LD)

designs the lighting plan, arranges for the lightingequipment, and sets up and checks the lighting.

SET DESIGNER• Some productions have a set designer who,

along with the producer and director, designs the set and supervises its construction, painting, and installation.

Production Basics - The CrewMAKEUP PERSON• The makeup person, with

or without the help of a crew, is responsible formaking the talent look their best - or their worst, if that's what the script calls for. On-camera talent often prefer to do their own makeup in television.

WARDROBE SUPERVISOR• Major dramatic productions have a wardrobe

person who sees that the actors have clothes appropriate to the story and script.

Production Basics - The CrewAUDIO TECHNICIANS• The Audio Director, Audio

Mixer or A1, oversees the audio department andarranges for the audio recording equipment, sets up and checks mics (microphones), monitors the audio on the sound board during production, and then strikes the audio equipment at wrap.The A2, often known in studio as the boom operator, watches rehearsals and places and wires the mics for each scene or event.

Production Basics - The CrewPLAYBACK OPERATOR• The VTR or Playback

Operator preps the video recording equipment andaccessories, and monitors video quality. During sporting events they also handle instant replays.

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR• In many productions, the Continuity Secretary

(CS) or Script Supervisor takes careful notes on scene and continuity details to ensure that these details remain consistent.

Production Basics - The CrewCHYRON OPERATOR• The CG Operator, or

Chyron Operator creates graphics, opening titles, subtitles, and closing credits into a computer-based device that inserts the text over the video.

CAMERA OPERAORS• Camera operators help run cables and set up

the cameras. They work with the director in blocking (setting up) and shooting each shot.

Production Basics - The CrewAUDIO TECHNICIAN• The Audio Tech arranges for

the audio recording equipment, sets up and

checks mics (microphones), monitors audio quality during the production, and then strikes (another production term meaning disassembles and, if necessary, removes) the audio recording equipment and accessories after the production is over. (Mic, strangely enough, is pronounced mike.)

Production Basics - The CrewAUDIO BOOM OPERATOR• The Boom Operator or

“boomer” watches the rehearsals and weighs in

on the proper mics and their placement for each scene. During an on-location (out-of-the-studio) shoot, this person may need strong arms to hold the mic boom over the talent for long periods of time. In a studio shoot, he may be high over the set on a boom platform to follow the action with a telescoping mic boom.

Production Basics - The CrewFLOOR MANAGER• Depending on the type of

production, there will be a Floor Manager or StageManager who is responsible for coordinating the activities on the set and for cueing the talent.

STAGE HANDS• One or more grips, electricians, or stagehands,

assist with the technical aspects of stage productions. On location, they often act as cable persons to help keep handheld cameras mobile.

Production Basics - The CrewEDITOR and POST STAFF• After shooting is finished,

the editors use the video and audio recordings tocut the segments together. Technicians add music and other effects to create the final product. The importance of editing to the success of a production is far greater than most people realize.Specific responsibilities of other production personnel vary widely depending on the type and size of the production.

The Phases of ProductionPREPRODUCTION• The production process

can be broken down into preproduction, production,and postproduction. In preproduction, the basic ideas and approaches of the production are developed and set in motion. It is in this phase that the production can be set on a proper course or misdirected (messed up) to such an extent that no amount of time, talent, or editing expertise can save it.

The Phases of ProductionPREPRODUCTION• During preproduction, not

only are key talent and production membersselected, but all the major elements are planned. Since things such as scenic design, lighting, and audio are interrelated, they must be carefully coordinated in a series of production meetings. Sets must be constructed and painted/finished, costumes created and lights hung and wired.

The Phases of ProductionPREPRODUCTION• Once the basic elements

are in place, rehearsals can start. A simple on-location segment may involve only a quick check of talent positions so that camera moves, audio, and lighting can be checked.A simple studio newscast is often performed live without a rehearsal since the format varies little from day to day.

The Phases of ProductionPREPRODUCTION• A complex dramatic

production may require many days of rehearsals. These generally start with a table reading or dry rehearsal where the talent along with key production personnel sit around a table and read through the script. Script changes often take place at this point. Next, there is usually a tech rehearsal or cue-to-cue rehearsal with or without talent to familiarize the crew with the blocking.

The Phases of ProductionPREPRODUCTION• Finally, there's a full dress

rehearsal. Here, the talent dresses in the appropriatewardrobe, and all production elements are in place. This is the final opportunity for production personnel to solve whatever production problems remain. Complicated camera moves and technical challenges can be practiced during the dress rehearsal.

The Phases of ProductionPRODUCTION• The production phase is

where everything comes together in a kind of finalperformance. Productions can be broadcast either live or recorded. With the exception of news shows, sports remotes, and some special-event broadcasts, productions are typically recorded for later broadcast or distribution. These are often recorded “live to tape” - from start to finish with a live audience and then polished up in post.

The Phases of ProductionPOST PRODUCTION• Tasks, such as striking

sets, dismantling, packing and returning equipment, handling final financial obligations, and evaluating the effect of the program, are part of the post production phase.Even though post production includes all of these after-the-production jobs, most people associate postproduction primarily with editing.

The Phases of ProductionPOST PRODUCTION• As computer-controlled

editing techniques and postproduction specialeffects have become more sophisticated, editing has gone far beyond the original concept of simply joining segments in a desired order. Editing provides a major creative opportunity in a production. Armed with the latest digital effects, the editing phase can add “flash” and polish to a production.

The Phases of ProductionPOST PRODUCTION• As fun as the effects are to

play with, all the high-tech gadgets are merely toolsfor a greater purpose: the effective communication of ideas and information.If you think about it, today's latest high-tech effects will look as lame a few years from now as the special effects in some early films look to us.Only the ideas and feelings communicated by a project have a chance of enduring.

The Phases of ProductionPOST PRODUCTION• Have you ever seen a

movie and forgotten about it almost as soon as you left the theater? In contrast, some movies seem to "stick with you," and you may think about them for days or even weeks.Television can be used to provide audiences with mindless drivel or with ideas that make a positive difference. How would you rather have your work and life remembered?

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