Specialised Courses –
Production

Learning objectives

• To be able to create the initial idea for a story
• To understand the visual and audio elements needed for a story, combining new elements and library archive footage, in order to construct a powerful piece of TV storytelling
• To be able to write to pictures

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Reporters

Note: This course assumes that all participants are proficient in their job role.

The course is based on theory and practical sessions aimed at ensuring reporters and producers can conceive and deliver a dynamic finished item for programmes and news bulletins.

Attendees will be given an exercise in putting a story together, working at times as a group and at times on their own.

During the workshop, attendees will need access to an ENG cameraman and an editor.

Course content

Part 1: How to create a story idea

• Every story starts with an idea
• Story ideas that start in the public domain (for example at a sports event)
• Original story ideas
• Developing and updating a story

Part 2: The story ingredients

• The storyboard – creating a treatment for television
• Preparation and planning for all the required ingredients
• Briefing colleagues (cameramen and editors)
• Making sure nothing is forgotten

Part 3: Putting it all together

• Preparing for the edit
• Writing to pictures
• A beginning, a middle and an end
• Joining the elements to create a natural flow

Part 4: The finished product

• Review of edited pieces and discussion / feedback

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Originate their own story ideas and react to stories already in the public domain, create a storyboard and treatment for their VT package, brief colleagues for required ingredients and deliver a powerful and coherent story for programmes or the news.

Learning objectives

• Mastering camera pedestal operational skills
• Mastering picture composition skills

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Studio cameramen (intermediate and advanced)

Note: This course assumes that the participants are experienced TV studio camera operators and have proficiency with camera pedestal technique.

During the workshop and a series of hands-on practical exercises, participants using the sports broadcast studio camera in combination with the elite camera pedestal, will master their camera pedestal technique and picture making capabilities.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• Enhanced camera pedestal operational skills
• Composition theory and picture making skills

Part 1: Enhanced camera pedestal operational skills

• Pedestal operating checklist – 10 operational guidance points
• Implementation and practise of 10 pedestal operation guidance points

Part 2: Composition and picture making skills

• Frames within frames
• Closed and open framing
• Dissonance
• Lines of perspective
• 180-degree rule
• The development shot
• Execute checklist of pedestal operating techniques
• Demonstrate appreciation of image composition theories and execute an array of shots

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have a more in depth working knowledge of camera operations in a studio environment
• Understand the constraints and the technical capabilities of the cameras
• Have a more creative idea of how to enhance the programming