113 MC: Introduction to Practical Broadcast Media

The Student Room! A Blue Group Production!

The final TV show will be here soon!

Final Reflection!

Now that everything is done and all that is left is to, reflect upon the module and the final TV show. As for my own personal development throughtout the module, i feel like i have come a long way. I started off not having any knowledge around TV studios and how they were run, now i feel like i could quite easily carry this onto next year, and beyond that i feel this module has opened my eyes to a new possible career path. As for my studio skills i feel that they have come one leaps and bounds in the last 8 weeks, and that i could competantly take on any of the studio roles.

As for my part in the team, i feel, and feel that a lot of people would back me up on this, that i have played an extremely prominant part in the running of my team. Also i feel that myself, Laura and Mick have worked really well together as PA, Producer and Director, and i would certainly feel more than comfortable working working with both of them as well as some of the other of my group. I would deffinantly say that i would be very willing to work with Brian and Nasiso, because they both definantly know what they are going on about when it comes to sound. I can safely speak for myself and say that we couldn’t have asked for a better FM when i came to Lydia, i also feel that Blue group had the best Presenters, Adam and Kate. Alex is a great vision mixer and our camera ops were brilliant as well.

As for the final show, i feel that it is a true representation of the comitment and hard work that the majority of the group has put into its production.

Final TV Recording!

June 4th has come, its our final day, the last day of being in the TV studio. Between us, myself, Laura and Mick decided that it would be best if we turned up early in order for us to put the set up, we opted for coming in at 7.30 am. We all turned up on time joined by Lydia and Matt (her boyfriend/ Kelvin’s sports guest), and as soon as we were there we all began to get the studio set ready for the recordings. Once the rest of the group was there at 8 we then had to wait around till the loan shop was open so that we could take all the equipment out. As soon as we had done this at 8.45 we all as a group began to set the rest of the studio and gallery up in order to start straightaway. Once this had been done we were ready to shoot we all got into our places and started.

Between the three of us, me, Laura and Mick all decided that the first take was brilliant. The second take was not so good, this is because when Karine was taking her mic off Brian hadn’t muted it straightaway, and she said ‘SHIT’ so he informed us straightaway that this take was a bust. Once both Bex and Shelley nipped in to see how we where all coping, Bex informed us that the lighting set up was wrong. So this was corrected as quickly as possible, after this we did the third take, the three of us all said that it had been our best take. Because we had the time left and we wanted to be sure we took one final take. This one was shaping up to be one of the best and we knew that we were going to have to make a choice between the thrid and four but then right at the end the credits didn’t get keyed-out properly and Alex took the credits which came up with a blue screen, so in a matter of a second and one persons mistake the entire 20 minute take was ruined.

The Day Before The Final Day!

As one last attempt to get ready me, Laura and Mick came in to make sure that everything was ready, so we made sure that all the clocks were ready and in the right place of the VT tape for the next day. We had a problem applying the final credits to the VT tape, this was quickly resolved, but we should have never had to have been doing it in the first place if Jas had just got them done and ready in time. Once we had done this we nipped into the TV studio just before Bex locked the door so that we could take all the set pieces in there so that it would be ready for an early set up the next day. Whilst doing this we were joined by Lydia and Matt (who wasnt even part of the group, which goes to show the commitment of certain members).

Task 3. Group Role Video!

Below is my video of my role within the group. There is also Kelvin – VT Producer, Laura – Producer and Mick – Director. We chose to work together on this task because we felt that all our roles were complementary to each other. This video just goes to show that we all have quite important roles and that with out one of us, then a lot of the work would fall upon the others.

Final Script!

Here is an example of the final script, it includes the introduction and the music interview;

STANDBY STUDIO.

STANDBY GALLERY.

GOING TO SHOW 10 …

CU TITLES. (For 23 secs)

CU STUDIO IN 10 …

<Presenters stand by music set>

Introduction.

Kate:

Hello and welcome to THE STUDENT ROOM.

Adam:

The show that provides just the right amount of news…

KATE:

Music…

ADAM:

Sporting Events…

KATE:

And Gossip…

ADAM:

That you want to hear.

KATE:

I’m Kate Simpson…

ADAM:

And I’m Adam Davies…

KATE:

Later on the show we will be interviewing up-and-coming band ‘THE READING ROOM’ as well as looking at all the latest fashion for the summer!

ADAM:

Yes, they will be performing for us later on and also football expert Kelvin and his guest will be joining us here in the studio to discuss the world cup. As well as that find out how you can win two tickets to Alton Towers! Grrrreat!

KATE:

But first we are lucky enough to be joined on The Student Room sofa by Coventry based band The Reading Room. They are here today to chat about their roots as a band and play us their new track.

<APPLAUSE>

Music Interview.

ADAM:

So, Nick, Jack welcome to the show, to begin with how would you describe your music, Is it INDIE? Is it FOLK?

THE READING ROOM:

(RESPONSE)

KATE:

So how did u guys meet and get this started?

THE READING ROOM:

(RESPONSE)

ADAM:

What bands have inspired you?

THE READING ROOM:

(RESPONSE)

KATE:

Where is your favorite venue to play at?

THE READING ROOM:

(RESPONSE)

ADAM:

We hear you have recently released an EP, was it rewarding?

THE READING ROOM:

(RESPONSE)

KATE:

Thank guys, we look forward to hearing your track a little later on. Stay tuned for that everyone.

ADAM:

If you have any questions you would like to ask the boys, send us a ‘tweet’ at www.twitter.com/studentroom_tv.

CU VT IN 10 …

KATE:

And now for Lydia’s weekly make-up tips, but stay with because after we will be looking at a selection of the hottest summer looks this year!

Group Meetings!

As soon as we had been set the assignment, put into groups and began to establish the idea, we were meeting at least twice a week and constantly assigning various different jobs and mini tasks to people. As the meetings began to fly by the show in turn began to take shape, and soon enough we had a fully functioning show. I had the script up and running, and was just waiting for the Fashion section, which Jas and Karine were writing, the set was coming together thanks to Laura and Lydia, the band ‘The Reading Room’ was booked and ready to play. As well as these the final running had been finalised between myself, Laura and Mick;

1. Intro. (Graphics)
2. Music Interview with The Reading Room.
3. Lydia’s Make-up tips. (VT)
4. Fashion.
5. Daily Competition. (Graphics)
6. Sports Debate. (with VT)
7. Energy Drink Comparison. (VT)
8. Stan Cooking. (VT)
9. Viewer Questions with Kate. To The Reading Room.
10. The Reading Room perform.

Task 2. The Set Up!

Being PA means that when we first get into the TV studio, during the initial set-up you don’t really have a lot to do. So once i had soon realised this i began to help others set up like Brian and Nasiso with the sound, because this was a long arduous activity i felt that my time would be better spent helping them, after a few time of doing this we really got into the swing of things and we had all the tie and radio mics set up in minutes. As for the whole set-up nearer to the assessed set-up i began to time the group, just so that we would know just how fast we could do it properly, the quickest time we achieved was 2 minutes 45. When it came to the day, i feel that it went well and thankfully we had no problems.

Research Into My Production Role!

When i started to research into my role as PA, i did what most would do a googled; TV studio PA, one of the first results that i found to be rewarding was from the BBC, unsurprisingly, and they suggest that ‘The production assistant (PA) is responsible for keeping the running order and scripts in shape’, as well as this they say that the PA is also responsible for following the progress of the script and talk to the programme editor’s team, which for us would be the few of us that were writing the script; myself, Laura, floor manager Lydia, presenters Adam and Kate and the director Mick. We felt that it was vital to involve not only the presenters so that they would be able to tailor the script to their own speaking styles but to also involve the FM (floor manager) and the Director so that they too knew where and what the presenter would be saying all the way throughout the show.

As well as this my job role also involved timing each segment and VT, as well as timing each segment i am also responsible for informing the Vision mixer (Alex) and the Director if we were going to run over, in order for them to make a decision as to what to cut. Also whilst timing each section, i have to cue each VT in and cue it out in order for the VT operator to play the VT and the FM to ready the Presenters, i would do this by counting down from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

All of this research was found on the BBC website. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/school_report/4780433.stm)

After this i began to carry on reading other sources. The next one that i cam across was quite good because it gave me a case study of  what a normal day-in-the-life-of a PA was truly like. This showed me just how an important role it is in the real world.

Please view below link to see case study.

This was found on CVtips.com (http://www.cvtips.com/career-choice/tv-production-assistant-job-facts.html)

Once i had read this case study i then read another job description on being a PA this again gave me a true representation of what being a PA is all about.

‘A TV/film production assistant does the administrative, organisational and secretarial work involved in a production. They may work on all kinds of projects, such as news and current affairs, documentaries, reality TV shows, music, comedy and light entertainment, soap operas, dramas and feature films.’

This was quite helpful because it made me realise that a PA job doesn’t differ between TV and Film, once i had read this i began to think about the possibility of this being a possible career path. As well as the brilliant quote above this source also tells of the normal duties of a PA:

• attending production meetings
• managing budgets and expenses
• typing, editing, copying and distributing scripts
• making travel arrangements and booking hotels for cast and crew
• producing schedules, shot lists, logs and other paperwork for production.

This was found on connexions-direct.com. (http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/index.cfm?pid=57&catalogueContentID=498)

The last website that i looked at was creativesteps.org.uk. This site states that the typical work activities of a PA consist of some or all of the following tasks:

• working closely with the producer, director and the production team;
• co-ordinating and communicating production resources and facility arrangements in tandem with the production managers;
• attending and timing production rehearsals;
• checking copyright and permission issues;
• ensuring royalties are paid for additional images, music or footage used;
• liaising with writers, artists’ agents, members of the public and publicity staff;
• dealing with artists’ payments and expenses;
• attending and co-ordinating planning meetings;
• cueing pre-recorded material;
• overseeing the timing during a shoot or show;
• ensuring continuity, both on location and in the studio;
• dealing with production enquiries from members of the public;
• keeping accurate shot lists, especially for drama productions;
• producing timing schedules, shot lists and logs for post-production;
• producing budgeting, monitoring costs and controlling expenses;
• calling shots;
• liaising with the camera and sound crew during studio recordings;
• booking artists and performers;
• organising the production and distribution of scripts;
• typing up camera scripts and shot cards;
• booking catering, accommodation, equipment and flights for performers and crew;
• managing contracts with external organisations;
• conducting research;
• completing all necessary paperwork in relation to the above tasks.

Once i had read through all of these tasks i realised that as a TV PA i would not have to perform all of these, and also that some of these i would be sharing with Laura, in her role as Producer.

This was found on creativesteps.org.uk. (http://www.creativesteps.org.uk/Careers/TelevisionProductionAssistant)

Production Roles!

Once the initial period of the module was over it came to the point of casting for all of the gallery and studio roles. As a group we decided that the easiest way to do this would be to all declare in the first place as to what roles we would want so that it would save time when it came to the casting session. Initially we thought that this would work and would be a great idea, also that if we did this then it would give us more time for coming up with ideas for the show and that it would also allow us to ease in to our roles quicker.

Once we were actually in the session deciding the roles we soon realised that the above was not so true! The first role to go up for grabs was the most important, Director, Mick and Kelvin both went for this job, this caused a problem straight away because both these two had been really good in the previous weeks. The way that we worked out who should get this job was by voting and also looking at what other jobs they had picked as well as Director.

After we had decided that Mick would be our best choice it then came down to the role of PA, Bex explained the role and what it would entail to the entire group and nobody offered to do the job, so i quickly decided that i would put my name forward, and thankfully for me nobody else wanted the role so it meant that i didn’t need to make a speech about wanting the job. After this i was sat thinking about the role and i soon realised that this role compared to the other roles would be more suited to me, this is because not only can i doing quick maths, so it meant that i would able to work out running times at the drop of a hat if anything would go wrong but also the role required the person to creative in coming up with scripts and running orders. As well as these i would be having to not work with some of the group but all of the group which i liked and this also meant that i would be in the knowing of every aspect of the show, which is kind of cool.

Job Roles:

• Director: Mick Le Mare
• Producer: Laura Garwood
• PA: James Colley
• Floor Manager & Set Designer: Lydia Thomas
• Vision Mixer: Alex Hacking
• Camera 1: Stanley Lau
• Camera 2: Sarah Myers
• Camera 3: Kirsty Macbeth
• Gallery Sound: Brian Mansi
• Studio Sound: Nasiso Kashiri
• VT Producer: Kelvin Fred-Horsall
• Presenters: Kate Simpson & Adam Davies
• Set & Lighting: Yidan Li
• Graphics & Autocue: Jasbinder Sampla
• Researcher & Runner: Karine Hammoud

Media Questions!

Why are studios used to make programmes when tape is so cheap and available?

Filming a magazine show with in studio environment each week is a brilliant idea, this is because not only does it make it easier for all involved in the creation of the show but it also means that in terms of the set it would changed week in week out, which in turn helps to create a continuous ambiance which can keep an audience continuously watching. Also i feel that when shows sometimes can lose a viewer’s attention when there is either too much going on or the set is constantly changing.

As for all of the studio team, having the show constantly filmed in a studio helps them with the set up before the live show. This is because it means that they are not having to constantly set everything up every time the show is on, unlike what we will have to do. Also this would help all the team be relaxed before every show, which in turn would help create a better final result.

What are magazine shows? Why do audiences like them?

A magazine programme, is a show that is made up of lots of different aspects, these include interviews, commentaries, as well as up-to-date relevant segments. The term ‘magazine programme’ is applied to the show due to its format, because its is extremely different to anything else on TV, also the term is sometimes applied to the style of presenting which is used on the show, especially with interviews and links into segments, the style is one of a casual, informal and friendly style of talking to their audience and guests. This helps make the presenters appear more accessible to the audience which will in turn make the audience carry on tuning in everyday/ episode.

As for audiences liking them, this is an indisputable fact, as these figures show.

Week commencing May 17th – 23rd

For the BBC’s The One Show:

(All figures shown in millions)

1. THE ONE SHOW (WED 1858)          4.37
2. THE ONE SHOW (MON 1858)          4.35
3. THE ONE SHOW (TUE 1858)          4.22
4. THE ONE SHOW (THU 1858)          4.13

Figures courtesy of B.A.R.B. (http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview?)

For ITV’s This Morning:

Where as with The One Show you get figures that are high enough to enter the TOP 30, with This Morning, on the same week their figures aren’t high enough to do same, as B.A.R.B shows.

Figures courtesy of B.A.R.B. (http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview?)

This figures are not anything against the production or presenting of This Morning, but it really represents the targeted viewing audiences, where as with The One Show you would be more likely to get the same people viewing at the same time each day, people who might be passing between the kitchen, cooking dinner, and the living room, fleetingly watching The One Show. With This Morning the targeted audience is middle-aged women, either stay at home moms or women that might not especially have to work, that might not consistently watch the show everyday, but would say that they do regularly.

What are the limitations of magazine shows?  How can they be improved to ensure they continue?

Magazine shows are limited from the day one, this is because of their nature, purpose and format that they abide to. Although this is so, i don’t think that magazine shows will ever disappear from TV schedules, because of the appeal that these shows have. The easiest way to explain it is that as long as there are celebrities, then magazines and magazine shows will always be around.

Consider other sources of distribution for magazines type shows?

Apart from the obvious distribution of TV, the next logical step would be as viral videos on Youtube. The main way in which this would be done, is to first step up your own youtube channel, after this you would then be able to start uploading all of your episodes. If you were to take this option then you would have to overcome the issues of getting high enough viewing figures, not that audience figures would be too much of issue, especially if you’re putting it on the net, but advertising would be the issue. As for this you could be quite creative and start a complete internet/ viral advertising campaign. Other than youtube another option would be to put the show onto google.videos, but then you would be also placed with the same issues as for youtube.

Another option for distribution would be, depending on the channel, then the option would be to place the show on something like the BBC iPlayer or ITVPlayer, so that the show can be seen for the days after the live recording so that if the viewer missed something then they could catch up with it.

Programme Ideas!

Once we had first been put together as a group, before we had even been assigned our roles, we had to first start to come up with our programme idea, our initial idea was to a magazine show, but specific towards music, just like Top Gear is to Motoring. In this meeting we also decided to set-up both a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=115667905127873&ref=ts) for the group and a Twitter page for the TV show (www.twitter.com/studentroom). This was our first idea because in our first meeting the three of us; me Stan and Nasiso all said that we knew artists and bands that would be really reliable and good to play. Also the idea of having a show specific to music is quite good because everybody likes music, whatever the style. So for the first week or so we ran with this idea and began to develop it coming up with multiple options for different acts and segments that we could, we did all this baring in mind the criteria that we had to keep to;

• A studio based interview (with contributors from outside MP course)
• A demonstration item
• A performance (music, dance or comedy)
• A topical debate (with for and against arguments)
• A title sequence and programme graphics.

After the second week of running with this idea we had a meeting with Karen, once we had pitched our idea to her, she then went on to tells us that having the whole show based on music wasn’t such a good idea because sometimes the sound that is required for bands and artists doesn’t always match up to what you can get with in the TV studio. This basically meant that we had to go back to the drawing board with the idea.

We had a group meeting as soon as we came out of the meeting with Karen, we came an agreement straight-away and decided that we would change the idea of the show, but try to keep to the original music aspect tied into it. So our second idea we had, was to have a general magazine show, with varying segments e.g. music, sports, fashion and daily/weekly competition. We then ran this past Karen again and she seemed to accept the idea and was glad that had been able to change it but keep the music aspect still incorporated.

After we had been given the go ahead we then began to run with the idea straight-away, the first meeting back after our meeting with Karen, we began to hand out jobs and assign task to people, that first items that we knew we had to come up with were the artist that we wanted to play at the end of the show which was assigned to Stan and Nasiso, Fashion was assigned to Kirsty and Sarah and Sports was given to Kelvin, Adam and Mick.

As well as this we also began to draw up a basic running order.

1. Intro
2. Interview
3. Fashion
4. Sports
5. Music
6. Credits

At The Beginning!

Once we had started to go into the TV studio and really get to play around with all the equipment, i began to realise that out of all the modules so far this year this has to be my favorite, i think this is down to the fact that i TV Production has always been something that i have been interested in and i have for a very long time now i have thought that this is the sort of job that i would want after university! So in a way getting to play with all the equipment was a dream come true, the easiest way to explain would a child in a sweet shop.

After the first two weeks of trying different jobs out, i soon realised that when it came to the project, i would want to either do sound mixing or camera work, this is because i have the knowledge of using sound desks, due to being part of the radio society and being part of multiple radio shows. As for the camera work i felt that it would be a job in which i could be quite creative and expressive, in the sence of providing the director and vision mixer with different shots, that would help the TV show in an aesthetical sence.

Task 1. Comparing Magazine Shows!

Task 1

Just simply click to open and enjoy my comparison of my 2 chosen magazine TV shows! Top Gear and The One Show.