Broadcast/Video Production II

Objectives◦Identify the director’s responsibilities in each

phase of production◦List qualities common to good directors

Important Terms◦Audition◦Cast Breakdown by Scene◦Dry Run◦Scene Breakdown by Cast◦Script Breakdown◦Slate◦Take◦Take Log

The Director’s Role in Pre-Production◦Script breakdowns◦Auditions◦Pre-production meetings

The Director’s Role in Pre-Production◦Organization is key◦Director must make things happen◦Teamwork is crucial◦Taking on too much leads to mediocrity

Script Breakdown: the process of analyzing the script from many different perspectives◦End result is a well organized and efficient

production◦Allows the director to answer production

questions and develop a realistic production schedule

Script Breakdown◦Cast Breakdown by Scene: a listing of the

program’s cast members that indicates the scene numbers in which they appear

◦Scene Breakdown by Cast: a listing of each scene number in a program with all the cast members needed for each scene

Cast Breakdown by Scene John: 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14Mary: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10Eric: 1, 3, 15Mike: 1, 3, 15Susan: 4, 8, 10, 11Extras: 13, 15

Scene Breakdown by Cast 1 – Eric, Mike2 - John, Mary3 - Eric, Mike4 - Mary, Susan5 - John, Mary6 - John, Mary7 - John8 - Susan

Scene Breakdown by Cast 9 – Mary10 - Mary, Susan11 - Susan12 - John13 - Extras14 - John15 - Eric, Mike, Extras

Script Breakdown◦Cast Breakdown by Scene

Tells cast where they need to be◦Scene Breakdown by Cast

Tells production staff if all necessary cast is present when shooting each scene

Used by the production assistant to remind performers when and where to be for the next day’s shoot

Audition: the process by which a director makes casting decisions for a program by watching and listening to prospective performers

In an audition, the Director◦Decides if a performer is capable of portraying

the role he is casting◦Must be objective◦Listens to talent’s voice quality◦Tests talent’s ability to follow stage directions◦Should be in another room watching talent on

a monitor because this is how the audience will see him or her

◦Should never cast a good friend

Auditions◦Directors are stuck with their casting

decisions◦After shooting starts, an actor can be fired,

but each scene that actor was in must be re-shot with the replacement performer

Rehearsals◦Director holds rehearsals with cast◦As cast becomes proficient with the script, the

cast attends rehearsals

The Director Coordinates:◦Schedules◦Equipment◦Rehearsals◦Cast◦Crew

The Director’s Role in Production◦Dry Run, or Camera Rehearsal: a practice

session of scenes in a program that includes the talent, technical director, audio engineer, camera operators, and director Costumes and makeup are not worn Tape is not run Studio lights are not turned on TD practices camera switching

The Director’s Role in Production◦When satisfied with the Dry Run, the Director

calls for the actual shoot to begin◦Performers get into costume and makeup◦Crew readies the lights and other equipment

The Director’s Role in Production◦During the actual shoot, the director

Always uses correct terminology in order to gain respect and to communicate efficiently

Uses a memorized start-up sequence of commands to start the program to combat nervousness or stress that lead to crucial mistakes

The Director’s Role in Production◦During the actual shoot, the director

Always uses correct terminology in order to gain respect and to communicate efficiently

Uses a memorized start-up sequence of commands to start the program to combat nervousness or stress that lead to crucial mistakes

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes

Take: a term that identifies each time an individual scene is shot

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes Planned to capture different angles May be necessary due to a mistake made

by the talent or crew, which causes the director to yell “Cut!”

Each scene should be retaken until three “good” takes are recorded

It is better to have a choice than to come up short in the editing room

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes

Never move on to another scene until the takes of the current scene are acceptable

When shooting of the scene is complete, rewind the tape and view the shots and takes of the scene

This additional time is justified and will prevent having to gather all the crew, talent, sets, props, and equipment to re-shoot weeks later

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes

The slate is very important Slate: a board or page that is held in front of

the camera noting the scene number, the take number, and several other pieces information about the scene being shot

For example, if mistakes made 5 times in Scene 5, the sixth take is slated as “Scene 5, Take 6.”

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes

Hold the slate in front of the camera for at least 10 seconds, but not more than 15 seconds

Then the countdown begins to initiate action on the set and to cue the performers

The Director’s Role in Production◦Multiple Takes

Take Log: a written list of each scene and take number that have been shot and recorded on a particular tape – also called a shot log

When the performance of a scene is acceptable to the director, the take is circled on the log

Later, the director can scan directly to the beginning of the good take; instead of viewing all of the bad takes

The Director’s Role in Post-Production◦Editing, adding music, scene transitions,

sound effects, special effects, titles – referred to as “post”

◦Trying to fix substandard shots in post-production is a terrible mistake because it can become so time-consuming that the cost is not within the budget

◦The best solution is to plan and shoot the scenes correctly during production

Start Something You Can Actually Finish◦Keep the program short; a dynamic 5-7

minute minutes vs. boring 30 minutes◦Keep it simple to reduce the chance for

mechanical or human failure◦A small crew reduces complications; more

people equals higher probability for failure◦Have a realistic budget proportional to the

budget and scale the production for success, not disappointment

Start Something You Can Actually Finish◦Be a professional; treat people with respect,

provide plenty of reminders of scheduling, have maps and phone numbers available for everyone

◦Be organized and do not waste anyone’s time◦Keep contact information for clients and cast

members in order to communicate quickly and efficiently – to include address, home number, business phone, cell phone, pager number, and email addresses

Start Something You Can Actually Finish◦Keep an eye on the big picture; do not spend

excessive time getting one small scene perfect, while sacrificing the time necessary to complete the entire show

Being an Effective Director◦A good director:

Is not the dictator of the production Takes the initiative to do whatever it takes

to successfully complete the program Knows the capabilities of the equipment and

makes the most of available resources, instead of complaining about what is not available

Maintains an even temper in front of the cast and crew

Being an Effective Director◦A good director:

Gives only constructive criticism when instructing the talent or crew

Is part artist and part technician Knows the responsibilities of each crew

member Uses knowledge and experience to develop

effective interpersonal relationships with the production staff

Being an Effective Director◦A good director:

Delegates tasks, rather than trying to do everything personally

Is well-organized, almost to a fault Realizes that making final decisions is his

responsibility

Wrapping Up◦The best directors have come up through the

ranks and have held almost every production staff job along the way

◦All of that experience is called upon throughout the production process

◦A director can influence attitudes, emotions, and actions of the audience using visual media

◦A good sense of ethics helps the director to be unbiased when presenting information

Wrapping Up◦Having a well-rounded education in

geography, history, and political science is beneficial for a director

◦Always watch television programs and film productions to see what the professional do and how they do it

◦Notice how a director makes a particular scene exciting

Wrapping Up◦As you direct more programs, you will begin

to develop your own style◦Meanwhile, work as often as possible in all of

the technical positions◦Experience in each position will lead to

success in future projects and responsibilities

The End!!!