A Systems Approach to A Systems Approach to Video ProductionVideo Production

TC 427 Dan Dullea

SystemSystem

Interactive, interdependent group of elements that form a unified whole that has a purpose.

Complex systems require management, which requires organization.

Subsystems in a Media Subsystems in a Media Production EnvironmentProduction Environment

Technical SystemContent SystemSocial System

Technical SystemTechnical System

All the equipment used to produce the images and sound on tape or film

Social SystemSocial SystemEvery member of the production team is an element of this system

(Producers, directors, crew, writers, engineers, actors,

editors)

Content SystemContent System

The script with all it’s ideas, information and elements including the emotional

expression created.

The Producers ChallengeThe Producers Challenge

To handle the myriad personal, social, technical and creative elements so that everything

happens as it should, on time, and in a quality manner.

Proper Planning and

Preparation are Essential

There are too many details to rely on

memory or instance alone!

Complex Systems Require Complex Systems Require Management and Management and

OrganizationOrganizationA systems approach imposes discipline toIdentify all the parts while at the same time

maintaining a vision of the whole.Daily organization and and management of

the smallest detail is the only way to get the job done well.

Whether the element is people, equipment, or subject matter (content) or how the subject matter is expressed, a systems approach saves time, energy and money.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS THE KEYTHE KEY

Each and every element of every subsystem requires focused attention

No element is too small to be regarded as unimportant

Never assume that details will take care of themselves

Do not fall in to the path of least resistance.

Payoff to Systems ThinkingPayoff to Systems Thinking

You will develop a detailed accurate mental check list. When you see the elements as part of a system, you can quickly create this check list and integrate it into your professional life style.

People Make Mistakes For A People Make Mistakes For A ReasonReason

They don’t know somethingThey don’t think about itThey don’t follow instructionsOr some combination of these

When mistakes happen learning can occur and the likelihood is greater, that during the next production, each of those details will be checked and double checked. A mistake is bad only when it doe not result in learning.

The objective is to keep The objective is to keep mistakes to a minimum. mistakes to a minimum. This requires listening, This requires listening, learning and thinking!learning and thinking!

To produce effective To produce effective programs, you must programs, you must

understand and manage all understand and manage all three subsystems.three subsystems.

EntropyEntropy

Second law of Thermodynamics?In information theory the term is used to

designate the capacity of elements to undergo spontaneous change that leads to disorder and chaos!

The result: things break, things die, things decay.

Is this the origins of Murphy’s Is this the origins of Murphy’s Law?Law?

Should we simply be Should we simply be discouraged and despair?discouraged and despair?

Neg-EntropyNeg-Entropy

Acts that create order and organization.This increases a systems ability to continue

functioning. (polish your shoes, brush your teeth, oil metal surfaces to prevent rust)

This rule applies equally to hard systems (cameras, lights, microphones, editing equipment)

and to soft systems (communication, personal relationships)

FeedbackFeedback

A system needs information about its performance to to adjust to changing circumstances.

Can be positive or negative.Examples: playing back tapes on location

or asking How’s it going? (particularly from the client or target audience)

Production companies use step by step procedures to require that clients become part of the process.There are periodic reviews at each step of the process and clients are often required to sign off on these elements so the production house is no longer responsible if changes occur later.

Continuous feedback assures Continuous feedback assures the producer that the work is the producer that the work is acceptable and stays within acceptable and stays within

time constraints and time constraints and budgetary limitationsbudgetary limitations

!

Social SystemSocial System

The weakest linksThe strongest linksAttitude is all!Cooperative interaction

Content SystemContent System

Best way of seeing content relationshipsStory: beginning, middle and end. With

subsystems like: theme, plot, dialogue, conflict, climax

Commercials: the hook, the pitch, the appeal, the context

Training program: narrative, interviews, testimonials, data, graphics,

Every program is made of Every program is made of content elements that require content elements that require identification (what to include) identification (what to include) and organization (order) and and organization (order) and expression (How can it best expression (How can it best

be presented).be presented).

Technical SystemTechnical System

This subsystem is the only one that regularly utilizes trial and error.

Pre-test and double check everything you can.

Attention to detail criticalThere is a significant difference in knowing

how to operate a piece of equipment and understanding trouble shooting and quirks

When Content, Social, and When Content, Social, and Technical Systems Are Well Technical Systems Are Well

Coordinated Marvelous Coordinated Marvelous Things Can Happen.Things Can Happen.