You will find some of the handouts that have been distributed during class on this page.

 

Using a tripod

Here are a few quick tips to help you get the best from your tripod. First,  remember that a tripod is used to keep the camera steady.   The  top of the tripod should be at chin level .

There are two extensions on each leg.

Unlock the first extension and extend it approximately 18 inches, then lock it back into place.

Unlock the second extension on the leg and extend that approximately 12 inches, depending on your height. Lock it back into place.

Do that to the two other legs.

Hold the tripod upright.

Use the green level on the tripod. Make sure the ball inside the circle. If not, adjust the legs.  

Slightly loosen the tension knob in the center of the tripod.

Hold one leg down and extend the other two legs.

Tighten the tension knob again.

If the tripod is not at chin level, then use the crank to add more height.

Now you can place the camera on the tripod!

 

Camera Movement 

1.      Pan – Moving the camera left or right.

2.     Tilt – Moving the camera up or down.

3.     Dolly – Moving the camera and the tripod in or out.

4.     Zoom- Moving closer to or further away from the action or talent, using the camera.

5.     Trucking – Moving the camera and the tripod left or right.

 

Fade

1.     When Records person tells us the Scene and the Take, the Camera Person (CP) presses the FADE button on the left of the camera and presses the REC  (red button) on the right of the camera.

2.     When camera goes into STANDBY mode, press the FADE button again and the REC button to Record.

Now, the Director is ready to signal the Talent to start the action.

Camera Do’s and Don’ts

1. Make sure before you go on a shoot that you have all of the equipment that you will need to do the shoot.
2. Camera
3. Tripod
4. DV tapes (have 2) Each dv tape is approximately one hour long.
5. Camera Battery, if necessary, make sure it is already charged.
6. Extension cords
7. Mics
8. Be Sure that you know the exact location of where the shoot will take place.
9. Arrive 30 minutes ahead of the event
10. Have the camera ready to go before the event begins.
11. When you do a shoot it is called raw tape.
12. Roll 30 seconds of black first.
13. Camera should already be in a wide (long Shoot) To Establish where the event is taking place and catch the opening of the program.
14. Once you have done the long shot, use medium shots, medium close up shots and close up shots.  You are identifying students that family can view when tape is edited for viewing on Channel 15.
15. Camera people should decide who will have a camera on the flag and who will have a camera on the talent.
16. When the Pledge of Allegiance is being recited,  camera one  should be on the flag. At the end of the pledge of allegiance, come in on a close up of the blue section of the flag with the white stars and gradually zoom out.  Camera 2 can zoom in on talent, chorus, Principal, or speaker.
17. Headspace should be approximately ¼ to 1 inch above the talent’s head.
18. Auditorium setup is one camera in the center and one camera on the side of auditorium.
19. While shooting, pay attention to what you are hearing. If a chorus is performing, follow the action. Zoom in on a section of the chorus that might be singing. Slowing pan a row of students, then the next row etc. Then zoom out for the group and pan across for the next section of chorus or the whole chorus.
20. If there are people playing a musical instrument, remember to change the shots. You don’t want a postcard shot. For ex. Piano player, zoom in on their fingers Go to a medium close up, maybe a  close up of the person’s face, or zoom in on their fingers playing the piano.

Production Roles

Producer

• Responsible for all aspects of production
• In charge of pre-production planning
• Selects crew and talent
• Responsible for all promotions of the production.
• Communicates ideas for production to Director.

Director

• Takes over the actual production
• Translates Producer’s ideas into picture and sound.
• Supervises all of the crew for the production
• Instructs Character Generator Operator
• Instructs Audio Operator
• Makes sure all Copyright Laws are followed

Scriptwriter

• Works with the Producer to provide the exact wording (the script) that will used for the video.

Talent

• Works with the Producer/Scriptwriter/ and Director to understand their role.
• Talent must be familiar with hand signals, for cues on set.

Floor Director

• Receives all instruction from Director on headset.

• Responsible for all activity on the set.
• Makes sure the set is built, set up, and taken down after the production.
• Cues talent
• Changes set, talent, guests during production, if necessary.
• Oversees and approves set and lighting design.
• Must know use of hand signals and cue cards.
• Must be familiar with production script.
• Assists crew on floor that might need help.

Camera Person

• Goes over camera shots with the Director
• Must be familiar with all camera shot vocabulary
• Must be familiar with camera movement vocabulary  (pan, tilt, dolly and trucking)
• Knows how to adjust tripod for smooth camera movement.
• Receives instruction from Director on headsets, about what camera shots will be used.

Audio Person

• Responsible for all sound sources for a production.
• Sets up and tests microphones on the set before the production begins.
• Monitors microphone levels on the audio board during the production.
• Sets up and monitors audio levels from other sound sources. (CD player, DVD Player, Ipod etc)

Switcher (Technical Director)

• Plans with the Director prior to production the order of the camera shots and type of special effects that will be used during the videotaping of a production.
• Director tells the switcher which camera image will be recorded on tape during the production.
• Switcher previews all special effects for the DIRECTOR before putting them out. (Live).

Character Generator Operator (At LCHS we use Globe Caster Software)

• Receives list of titles, credits, and other information that will appear on tape during program from the Producer or Director.
• Using the computer, the information is typed into the Character Generator, using specific font, font size, color and background. (The Producer or Director may determine this).
• The information is prepared before the actual production, due to timing restraints.
• With Directors command, Character Generator Operator will insert this information onto the program that is being videotaped. This is done using the keyboard.

VTR Operator

• Cues in all videotaping.
• Must be familiar with script.
• Director tells the VTR Operator when to start the tape.  (We use a DV recorder and you must press Record and Play at the same time.)
• Responsible for timing the recording and informing the Director with a 10 second countdown that the tape will finish.

Set Designer

• Works with Producer and Director before production to arrange everything for the set.
• Coordinates clothing colors with talent.
• Works with Lighting Designer to light set.
• Responsible for taking the set down after the production.

Lighting Designer

• Works with Producer, Director and Set Designer to arrange set lights to suggest a mood for the production.
• Must be sensitive to skin tone and clothing colors of talent and guests in order to light them properly.

 

Makeup/Costumes

• Works with Producer, Director and Scriptwriter before the production as to which talent needs costumes/ makeup.
• Applies makeup and makes and changes, as needed.

Graphic Designer

• Prepares materials needed for production: 
  • Illustrations 
  • Photos 
  • Charts 
  • Graphs 
  • Works with Director, Set Designer and Lighting Designer to set up artwork.

Engineer

• Responsible for turning on all electronic studio equipment and making sure it is working properly before production begins.

Editor

• Edits program already recorded.
• Adds music, voiceover, roll-ins, introductions, titles, credits, and effects, if needed to already pre-recorded programs.
• Edits together parts of a production that has been recorded separately.
• LCHS Studio uses the software Imovie to edit.

 

Picture Composition

Picture Composition: Show things as clearly as possible.

I. Rule of Thirds

Using imaginary lines, divide your frame that you want to videotape, into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.  The most important elements in the scene are placed where the lines intersect.  This stops everything from being dead center.

II. Give the subject room to look and Head room space.  In most camera shots allow 3 to 4 inches above the head.

III. Remember, what you see is more than what the audience will get when you use a camera to videotape. Some of the edges will be lost in transmission (going from the camera to the TV). Keep your camera shot inside the white frame on the cameras in the studio.

Natural Cutoff Lines

Do not cut people up on natural cutoff lines, such as the neck, knees and waist. Remember to position the camera slightly above or below the neck, knees and waist.

Awkward Height Differences

Try to compensate for awkward height differences in people you videotape.

For example: If you have an adult interviewing a child, make the adult kneel or sit down.

Backgrounds

Backgrounds should blend. Do NOT have plants growing out of the top of someone’s head, or do NOT let someone stand in front of a pole.

Lead subject movement

If you are videotaping someone walking, show him or her the way. It would be as if you were leading them down a path.

 

TV Production I

Worksheet

 

Fill in the blank with the correct TV Production related word.

 

1. We use a tripod to keep the camera ____________________________.
2. Check to make sure the tripod is ___________________________ before you place the camera on the tripod head.
3. The head of the tripod should be at _______________________ level.
4. After you place the camera on the tripod head, make sure you __________________ the camera in place.
5. Moving only the camera left or right is called______________________.
6. Moving only the camera up and down is called _____________________.
7. Moving the camera and the tripod forward and backward is called ______________.
8. Moving the camera and the tripod to the left and the right is called_______________.
9. Moving closer or further away from an object, while using the camera, is called ______________________.
10. When you start to videotape, always start with an __________________________ camera shot.
11. How much headspace should you have in each camera shot except for tight close up or extreme close up?          _______________________inches.