Television Production

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Introduction

Television Production, techniques used to create a television program. The entire process of creating a program may involve developing a script, creating a budget, hiring creative talent, designing a set, and rehearsing lines before filming takes place. After filming, the post-production process may include video editing and the addition of sound, music, and optical effects.

The three basic forms of television programs are fictional, nonfictional, and live television. Fictional programs include daytime soap operas; situation comedies; dramatic series; and motion pictures made for television, including the mini-series (a multiple-part movie). The basic nonfictional, or reality, programs include game shows, talk shows, news, and magazine shows (informational shows exploring a variety of news stories in an entertainment format). Live television is generally restricted to sports, awards shows, news coverage, and several network daily talk shows.

Most television programs are produced by production companies unrelated to the television networks and licensed to the networks. The network creates the financing for the production by selling commercial time to sponsors.

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The Production Team

The personnel involved in the production of a television program include creative talent such as actors, directors, writers, and producers as well as technical crew members such as camera operators, electrical technicians, and sound technicians.

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The executive producer is responsible for the complete project and is usually the person who conceives the project and sells it to the network. The executive producer bears final responsibility for the budget and all creative personnel, including the writer, line producer, director, and major cast members. The line producer reports to the executive producer and is responsible for the shooting schedule, budget, crew, and all production logistics.

The writer or writers develop the script for each show. They often work during preproduction and rehearsals to correct problems encountered by the actors or directors, or to revise for budgetary or production considerations.

Reporting to the executive producer, the director helps choose actors, locations, and the visual design of the production, such as the style of sets and wardrobe. In addition, the director is responsible for the performances of the actors as well as all camera movements. After filming, the director edits the videotape to create what is known as a director's cut.

Actors work under the direction of the director to portray a character. Performers include talk-show hosts, newscasters, and sports announcers. Actors and performers are chosen by the producer, and most audition to earn their part. Once they are hired, actors memorize their lines from a script and usually participate in a rehearsal before the program is filmed, or shot. Performers may provide live commentary, or in the case of newscasters, they may read their lines from cue cards or a TelePrompTer—a machine that displays words on a screen.

The production manager is responsible for all physical production elements, including equipment, crew, and location. The assistant directors report to the director and are responsible for controlling the set, managing the extras, and in general carrying out the director's needs. The cinematographer, who operates the camera, is responsible for lighting the set and the care and movement of the camera.

The production designer, also called the art director, is responsible for the design, construction, and appearance of the sets and the wardrobe. Often the makeup artists and hair stylists report to the production designer. The key grip is responsible for the camera dolly (the platform that holds and moves the camera) and all on-set logistical support, such as camera mounts, which are used to affix the camera to a car or crane.

Videotape production involves a technical director, who is responsible for video recording, and video engineers, who are responsible for the maintenance and quality of the electronic equipment and their output.

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Producing a Program

The creation of a television show begins with an idea for a program and the development of a script. A television network may also require a commitment from one or more well-known actors before financially committing to film a show. Producing a show involves three main stages: pre-production, principle photography, and post-production.

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Pre-production Activities

Pre-production activities involve the planning, budgeting, and preparation needed before shooting begins. The pre-production period can last as long as a month or more for a movie, or just a week for a single episode of a situation comedy. Productions of great complexity, such as a telethon or a live-awards ceremony, may take months of pre-production. Three key people involved in pre-production are the production manager, director, and casting director. The production manager's first tasks are to produce a preliminary budget, hire the location manager, and locate key crew department leaders. The first essential production decisions are the location of shooting and a start-of-production date. The director's first activities are to review the script for creative changes, begin the casting process, and select assistant directors and camera operators. Subsequently, every decision involving cast, creative crew, location, schedule, or visual components will require the director's consultation or approval.

The culminating activity of the pre-production process is the final production meeting, attended by all crew members, producers, director, and often, the writer. Led by the director, the pre-production team reviews the script in detail scene by scene. Each element of production is reviewed and any questions answered. This meeting can last from two hours to a full day depending on the complexity of the shoot.