Core Concept — Three Stages
The entire television production process is divided into three major stages: Pre-production, Production and Post-production.
The textbook compares television production with preparing a meal for guests. First, everything needed is arranged; next, the food is actually prepared; finally, the prepared items are presented. Television production follows a similar pattern. Everything needed is arranged before shooting, the programme is produced on the studio floor or at the location, and then the recorded material is shaped into its final form.
1. Pre-production
Pre-production includes everything done before entering the studio or reaching the shooting location. It involves idea generation, research, scripting, discussions with the crew and talents, arranging equipment, video/audio tapes, properties, costumes, set designing or location hunting, and booking editing shifts. The first requirement is a clear idea of what the programme should look like. A clear idea makes it possible to create a programme that the audience can understand. A detailed script is then needed to translate the idea into a television image effectively.
Planning
Plan everything in advance so the desired result can be achieved.
Clear Idea
Know what the programme should look like before production begins.
Detailed Script
The script helps translate the idea effectively onto the television screen.
2. Production
Production is the stage when the team is on the studio floor or at the location and is ready to shoot or is actually shooting. It includes managing facilities, handling talent and crew members, controlling the crowd, shooting without hurdles, and solving problems on the spot.
3. Post-production
Post-production gives the programme its final shape. It includes cutting recorded visuals to the appropriate length, arranging visuals in the proper sequence, using desired visual effects or text/captions, recording commentary, recording music or songs, and carrying out the final assembly of the entire programme.
Written Exam Focus: Remember the order and distinguishing work of the three stages. The textbook specifically links idea generation to pre-production and cutting/arranging recorded visuals to post-production.
A television programme requires different equipment as well as people to operate it. The textbook identifies the basic production elements as the camera, lights, microphone, sound recorder, videotape recorder and post-production editing machine.
Camera
The camera is the most basic equipment in production. Its lens selects a part of the visible environment and produces a small optical image. The camera is designed to convert that optical image into an electrical signal, often called the video signal.
Lights
The camera, like the human eye, needs a certain amount of light. Lighting has three main purposes: (1) to provide adequate illumination for technically acceptable pictures; (2) to show viewers what objects on the screen actually look like and help indicate season or time of day; and (3) to establish the general mood of the event.
Microphone and Sound Recorder
A microphone converts sound waves into electrical energy or audio signals. Human speech is weak, so it is amplified and sent to a loudspeaker, which reconverts the signal into audible sound. Different purposes require different types of microphones. The sound recorder records the sound picked up by the microphone.
The sound recorder can select a specific microphone or other input, amplify weak signals, control volume and sound quality, and mix two or more incoming sound sources. Television combines visuals with audio, and this audio-visual character gives it power to convey realism. Sound also contributes greatly to the mood and atmosphere of visuals.
Videotape Recorder and Editing Machine
Because television is an audio-visual medium, both sound and visuals have to be recorded. Sound is recorded on sound recorders, while visuals are recorded on videotape in a videotape recorder. Most programmes are recorded on videotape or computer disk before telecast.
In post-production, relevant recorded visuals are selected and copied in a specific order; this process is called editing. The post-production editing equipment helps edit the programme after recording. The textbook stresses that machines cannot make creative decisions for the producer, so the desired result must be known while shooting.
Written Exam Focus: Know what the camera, lights, microphone, sound recorder and videotape recorder do. The textbook’s direct answer to “What converts sound waves into electrical energy?” is the microphone.
Television production is a team effort. The team includes creative talent as core members and support staff. Members may perform more than one role depending on the organisation, production house, type and scale of the production. Regardless of particular job functions, all members have to interact as a team.
Producer
The producer is the head of the production and is in charge of the entire production. The producer manages the budget, coordinates with advertising agencies, actors and writers, is responsible for people working on the production front, and coordinates technical and non-technical production elements.
Director
The director is in charge of directing actors and technical operations. The director is ultimately responsible for transforming the script into effective audio and video messages. Decisions such as camera placement, the type of visuals to be taken and where actors will stand are controlled by the director.
Production Assistant and Script Writer
The production assistant facilitates everything required for smooth execution and assists both producer and director. The script writer writes the script. The script gives details such as dialogues, list of actors, costumes, the mood required for each scene and locations. In smaller productions, the director generally performs this task and script writers are hired when required.
Actors, Anchor and Cameraperson
Actors perform different roles according to the script. An anchor formally presents a programme on television; the textbook gives news anchors and reality-show anchors as examples. Camerapersons operate cameras and often do the lighting also for smaller productions. They are also called videographers.
Sound Recordist, Art Director, Property Manager, Floor Manager and Costume Designer
The sound recordist records the complete sound track, including dialogue and sound effects, and is also responsible for background music. The art director handles creative design aspects such as set design, location and graphics. The property manager manages set properties and props in large productions; in smaller productions, the floor manager may manage them. The floor manager is in charge of studio-floor activities, coordinates talent, conveys the director’s instructions and supervises floor personnel; he is also called the floor director or stage manager. The costume designer designs and sometimes constructs costumes for dramas, dance numbers and children’s shows.
Written Exam Focus: For role-based questions, distinguish the producer’s overall production responsibility from the director’s control over actors and technical operations, and the script writer’s work of preparing the programme script.
Studio and Outdoor Recording
Television programmes can be recorded either inside a studio or at an outdoor location. Studio recording is recording done essentially within the four walls of the studio. Outdoor recording involves shooting outside the studio. The textbook illustrates the two modes through separate figures showing a camera crew working inside a studio and another crew filming in an open location.
Live Television Programmes
A live programme is telecast while the event is actually taking place. The textbook examples include a cricket match being played at the same time in another country and the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. The success of a live programme depends entirely on the performance of the talents and crew members involved.
Recorded Television Programmes
Recorded programmes have a better chance for success because there is scope for retakes to obtain desired visuals with greater satisfaction. They can also be polished and edited later, which gives them a better chance of marketing. However, recorded programmes generally lack the excitement associated with live programmes.
One Point Common to Both
No matter whether a programme is live or recorded, pre-production research and paper work is a must in television programme production.
| Aspect | Live Programme | Recorded Programme |
|---|
| Timing | Telecast while the event is taking place. | Recorded before the telecast. |
| Retakes | No scope to repeat the live event for a desired shot. | Scope for retakes to obtain desired visuals. |
| Editing / polishing | Cannot rely on later polishing of the live event. | Can be polished and edited later. |
| Viewer effect | Generates a lot of excitement. | Generally lacks the excitement of live programmes. |
Written Exam Focus: Define studio recording, outdoor recording, live programme and recorded programme, and remember the textbook’s comparison between retakes, editing, speed and excitement.