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Year Three – The Final Call

My perception going into year three of my univeristy life is very much…different.

It will be impossible to say I’m looking at life at the same angle since year two, I’ve done so much in between. But I can only say its an advantage for I.  Over summer I have worked and then later travelled around the East of the States, not alone having two media jobs over Easter.

So now I enter year three, the final year, the last call. From now on my posts will be about the events I have been too, the work I am building and the experience I witness.

Professional Experience – Part 3. X and after

Now the highlight of my year and I think of my life so far was my next placement. I really cant think of anything else that beats it, it has been an amazing experience and one I will be entirely grateful for with the help and support of certain individuals that have helped and supported me in creating this opportunity to me. I don’t want to mention names, because they know who they are.

Working on the X Factor this year was surreal. I have to be very careful what I right for obvious reasons but the experience is one I will never forget. Not only did I enjoy myself every second of every long day but I learned so much. I did not know what to expect prior my placement dates, but how can you? This is the biggest show on TV on any calendar. But the people behind it all were magnificent, a dream. Teaching me everything they know, sharing there experiences and advising me on my future.

I do not want to go into to much detail due to the series not yet being broadcasted, but the people who make the show are unbelievable. It was nothing but privilege to watch and learn, let alone to take part and be a member of the team myself.

This experience for me has shown me a possible future for myself, a life after graduation. If it is the life after graduation, then I will be overwhelmed. To be part of this industry, of that team and to experience that on a day to day would be nothing sort of an honour.

My perspective on passion has totally changed. It had to, the only television I have been involved in was in the University studio and now I was part of the biggest show on television? It was surreal. But you learn so much from just observing people; you notice their characteristics, their attitude and how and why they perform so well. It was just an honour.

I promise to tell more stories of this particular adventure at a later date but I want to be careful and avoid any threat of trouble ill leak my self in too.

But what I can say is that after I return from America now is that my network has rapidly changed since November 2009. I have contacts of some of the most popular shows on British television, as well as creating the best impression for myself possible on the X factor to return in September, and relive the dream.

Professional Experience – Part 2. Mercia Radio

My first reply was from Mercia Radio (Coventry and Warwickshire). I was in broadcast, currently directing our production in the closing times of the production. Which basically means things were very hectic, time was weakening and to say the least, I did not expect the call. In fact because I was in the television studio, I had the weakest phone signal and network connection know to man. I still think to this day that I could of got better connection on top of Snowden. But Richard Neale, presenter of the drive home show kindly left a answer phone message for me to call back when please for a chat.

So I quickly did that, of course I had to – it was an opportunity in which as of yet, I have not had. I was ecstatic, and I didn’t even know what I had to! Im not the greatest phone speaker, never have been. My mouth goes dry and I may stutter, and that’s exactly what I did. But Rich was cool, we just arranged a ‘chat’ next week on Thursday at the studio. Brilliant! I have finally got somewhere, and with Mercia! The biggest radio station in Coventry.  I was still curious in the possible role I will be working as, but even so I was still in the honey moon of having my first response and first opportunity.

Thursday approach, I got suited and booted and arrived at the studio (10mintues early of course), and Richard met me by the door of the long building over shadowed by a Chinese Buffet, Rileys and a night club.  The proposition in which Richard had for me sounded great, in fact it was brilliant. I got to search websites, newspapers and adverts in order to create a daily guide. A guide for the people of Coventry in what to watch, what to see, what to do. A basic ‘what’s on’. This to me was a fantastic opportunity, I had a brilliant ‘producer’ role, creating a scripting for a popular show as well as learning more about radio and Richard presenting technique.

Over the next few weeks, I spent about 6 hours in the studio as well as producing work out of hours and I loved it! When I was there I slowly met the whole team, and they all seemed really nice. That’s what I thought was brilliant. The team were so close and in result, it was well functioned. As I created my weekly segments for Richard in which I learned more and more techniques on software such as Genesis, I then got to shadow Rich presenting a show. This was amazing. I was watching a live popular radio show. It was incredible to know how it works properly, but what struck me more was how natural it was to him.

I only learnt so much while studying radio at University, and in just a couple of sessions at Mercia, I already learned so much more. But then my role expanded over time, I helped out on the Breakfast show and took photos of Phil Taylor’s appearance at the studio as well as producing trending topics for Rich to talk about on the show.

This placement has taught me so much about radio but one of the surprising things in which I have developed was my passion for producing. I have discovered a love of looking for work, creating it for other people and then listening or seeing the outcome at the end and being satisfied with my efforts.  Working for Mercia was such a success for myself and Rich, I have continued working there ever since and look to return straight after my American trip in which I am from June – September.

Professional Experience – Part 1. The CV!

In the close of November 2009, I started to produce CV’s in order to apply for work experience at various media companies. This process sounds much more compact and lengthy than it sounds. It is one of the hardest and minds blowing experiences – there will always be a CV better than yours, so how do you make yours stand out?

A CV to me it a word document listing in a very formal and clean appearance of all the experiences you have done as well as all the things you have achieved academically. While creating a personal profile of you using words such as ‘creative’ and ‘unique’. The only unique thing about a CV is that there are hundreds of ones like yours.

But a media CV is different right? You can be that little more creative, that little bit more modern, attractive and funny. My first CV in which I drafted included everything I thought was an achievement life. My GCSE’s in which I to attend countless after school clubs for, my contribution to the local rugby team and my three year spell slaving away in a Comet warehouse. To me, these lengthy chunks of my life were CV worthy – but boy, I got corrected!

Meetings with my tutor to discuss the appearance of my CV along with its content caused me to leave the room basically creating a new one. It was kind of a shock to learn my GCSE’s were not worthy no more, my Comet employment was irrelevant and the rugby was pointless information. At least I didn’t put my paper round on; this may of caused an eyebrow to be raised.

You see, a CV is a document that has to sell you to the employer in a flash of a second. The reader just has to look at your CV and be attracted by it. By the end of month, I amended everything you could think of, even the things you can’t think of. Like the formation and design. The psychological aspect of making the readers eye look down the page by creating a pyramid style introduction.

After draft two, three, four…….twelve and thirteen. I reached a conclusion, the end, the CV in which I thought was perfect to be sent. It had a photo of myself smiling, a cheeky smile, but a smile you would love to see in your television studio. A smile that said ‘employ me, and I will be this happy and enthusiastic all the time. From 5am-12am. Which of course, I was.

The process for me now was to send it off. With this I occupied a cover letter stating my dates of potential work, a brief two line synopsis of myself and what my intentions from this placement.  A comfortable one page letter in a modern font, that wasn’t to much information, nor was it too little. Together I had thought I had created a dream team. How can one student go wrong with the perfect CV and a brilliant cover letter? Well, quite easy. You get no replies.

I couldn’t understand it. Why have I had no replies? I have spent £30 on stamps, sent off at least 40 letters and I have had no replies. So far my success ratio stood at 0:40. I was disappointed to say the least but there was still a chance. There was one thing in which I did not do which looking back now, was a schoolboy error, why did I not think off this before. A simple ‘Private and Confidential’ seemed the most logical thing – in which I forgot.

Christmas and New Year went and the new term was on the horizon. A perfect time I felt to send off a second batch of CVs. It just seemed logical. I could see it now. “It’s a new year, we need new runners”. So, another £25 of fine first class stamps and off they went. But this bundle of CVs seemed to have a little bit more of fairy dust sprinkled on them because the ratio of success to letters sent was 3:25. 2010 was set to be a good year…..

My CV image

Concluding 213mc (Section 3)

Personal Critical Reflection
A lot of the problems in which emerged with our group was largely based around effort, contribution, communication and preparation. Throughout of the module there has never been one group meeting apart from the opening meeting that occurred straight after being assigned into these groups that we have never had full attendance. The same people have failed to turn up constantly, and because we are a small group anyway, this has made the production very difficult. However through the remaining members including myself, Jess, Abbey, Jack and Rob Knowles and Dutton especially we have been able to construct the production together and not let these issues threaten our production. This module seems more independent than it should. I feel that because of the size of our group and the attendances in which we having, that a lot of the work was done by individual contribution.
Unique Contribution
This included the script, the character profiles, the shooting schedule and group meetings. I feel I contributed to the group to the maximum of my ability. Inputting a lot of my personal time to write the whole script and edit it until it became finalised as well as creating the characters and their histories for the show. In terms of teamwork, I felt my judgement and control was largely acceptable due to the definition of my role. I felt it was my duty to direct group through the production process and not just in through the recording sessions. I often to the lead on group meetings and tried to communicate with everyone respectively on a individual level rather than constantly communicating to everyone on a whole. This allowed me to build individual relationships between my production team and make my directorial intentions a lot clearer and precise – making my communication skills between the group as a team and independently as pristine and functioned. During this module I have always felt that I was not solely a director, but a range of roles. Including producer and scriptwriter. Although Jess and Abbey have been brilliant throughout the module, I felt because of the size of our group and the minimal communication that existed between members, that I have had to take the role of acting and producing more elements to the show rather than my directorial input.

Personal Development
The module this year has been a lot more challenging for me compared to last year. I felt that the brief was a lot stricter, which was understandable due to the progression in ability in which we should be for filling. But because I feel the stimulus has got harder, that I have been challenged as a director and as a team worker to the a new level. I have experienced greater worries this year than to last. This is due to our show being a different format, where last years was one live take, this year we have time to edit and perfect. Which adds a different type of pressure physically. Yes we don’t have to record in one take, but it also means that we are expected to polish our show. As a director it has been much more of a experience. I felt working on various locations such as corridors, inside the studio as well as the gallery was much more comforting. It allowed me to express my past experiences more where being in the gallery, its quite hard to convey your perspective.
Shooting this style of show has taught me a great amount. Researching various other shows from the past, present and over seas including radio and television have opened me up more to the world of broadcast and the non existent boundaries in which it contains. Last year we were very limited and as a first experience you are then focused on working in topical television, where this year being given that opportunity to have more flexibility about your production makes you think of more creative ways to succeed. In which I believe my self and my group have done. The idea came from myself and after researching a lot of American shows such as ‘Studio 60 on sunset strip’ or ‘Sports Night’ in which before I never knew of and I found that the genre was famous over there but in Britain it was extinct. Allowing for me to manipulate and interpretate the show a lot more for a British cultural audience. Thinking about how they would consume it including the language, the behaviour, the family relationships and the actions that take place within the pilot episode.
The module has defiantly opened me up to broadcast a lot more. Instead of being fixed minded on television I feel I am also suited to radio broadcast, after experience with Mercia FM and tutorials with Paul. However my heart still lies in directing. I feel I have improved a lot more in this role due to the experience in which this module has given me. I have had more freedom and aspect of creativity allowed for me to use rather than being focused on one particular genre, I have been allowed to explore and experiment with my ideas and directorial intentions. This applies to in the studio, in the script and filming off location. The module has a more free aspect to it in which I preferred and I think adapted to rather well. Although my group at some times looked weak and maybe less confident, that my belief and efforts in wanting to succeed and make this piece and my script come to life was largely due to the aspect of boundaries in which we was no longer tied too.
I was given the chance to explore my creativity as a director and this is what I preferred and think allowed me to feel more comfortable in the role.
My communication and leadership skills I have also improved. Although our group was not a large group, it was still a new group to me and a group that needed immediate directing; in meetings and in sessions. I felt my belief in the individual was much greater than last year. I knew a lot of people have improved in their technical, practical and theoretical aspects that helped the production a lot. It gave me the chance to talk to each individual about their ideas; each giving there perspective based on what they learned in which I collected to receive and realise the broad experience within the group. It was through my communication skills between the group in which was my strongest factor as the director.
I felt that my verbal and oral skills will at a maximum and it helped the production construct in the way it did. A production in which I am very proud to have written, produce and most of all, direct.

Thursday 11th March – Recording Session Two (Section 2)

After yesterday’s session going reasonably well, I went into today’s session full of confidence and enthusiasm that we would complete all the filming for our production. We were scheduled to be in the television 2-4pm. Although the group before us were scheduled to finish at 1pm and there was no group after us, meaning we could stay in there until 5pm. This gave us 4 hours to complete our production, what could go wrong?
We arranged at the group meeting to meet in the lobby for 11:30am, again allowing us extra time for me to confront the group of today’s agenda and for us to be fully prepared to enter the studio for 1pm and then the schedule would commence. Although I knew we could not have the contestants with us until 2pm, I arranged the shooting schedule the night before in which I wanted to present the group with in the morning.
11:30am – Group meeting
12:15pm – All Equipment taken out of loan shop ready for studio entry
12:30 – 1pm – Lunch
1pm – Enter studio, set up set and equipment
1:30pm – Record cameramen cameos
2pm – Record all studio footage with contestants
3pm – Record all Gallery material
3:30pm – Record opening scene
3:45pm – Finish Recording and pack away
4pm – Finish
To me this was a realistic and achievable schedule. I issued the group enough time to set up the studio (always takes longer to set up) and a healthy lunch break duration with also acceptable timings to shoot each scene.
However the problems started immediately for myself. As I arrived into the building at 11:25am, I was met by Tristan James who complained to me about our set being in the studio over night and causing issues for their and the other group. I accepted the reasons in why he was angry, it was our fault but more importantly it was the set designers fault. I did not pack away the studio last night, I am not the caretaker for the group, I am the director.
Instead I was recording the monologue with Jess and uploading photos of yesterdays session and left the others to take down the set so we could be out on time. So the day started badly and then got worst when I found out the current group in the studio who were scheduled to finish at 1pm were delayed due to a fire alarm going off, causing a 45-minute delay.
This delay then stretched to an hour, which was very frustrating and aggravating considering I had planned our schedule to start over 1 hour go. But issues like this happen and so I directed the group for the meeting at 11:30am. We discussed the current situation but I wanted to label to them that it will not affect us and that we can still complete the recordings. Of course this was hard to believe by some members of group and the optimism was running thin, but it was still running.
Instead I expressed that the plan would go ahead and that we would just extend the lunch break and allow the group to do what they please, but at 2pm we must be ready to enter the studio with instant pursuit.
The meeting itself went very well, I addressed the group of today’s plan and we went through the elements that we still needed to complete outside of studio recordings. This included web site work and blogging. We discussed that we needed photographs, video diaries and designs to be given to the web designers in order for them to complete the site and that if we can upload all footage to the facebook for individual logging purposes.
The photos have come out very well. I wanted the group to manipulate their character or their role into their portrait for their character portfolio for the web site. This will be where the audience can view certain characters history and biographies.
2pm approached and we were queuing up waiting to into the studio. Then at last, we were granted the all clear and I immediately insisted what needs doing however I was sure the group knew anyway. By half 2 we were all set up, the cameras were ready and the camera men were just going over their lines one last time. The reason I opted to shoot this scene first was because one of the contestants was not present, so instead of waiting around, I felt this scene could be filmed. However as soon as we started to film, she showed up which I think confused Karen on why we was not using contestants, it was because she was not present when we started and I wanted no time wasted.
This scene in particular did not take long to shoot, but it was difficult because I had to be in the gallery in the background as it was being filmed. Making me unaware on how it looked but I knew how it sounded as I listened through the talkback. After take 5, I think we got a decent enough take but I still wasn’t sure if it was exactly what I wanted. However, time was not with us on in this session so I discussed it with Jess and we felt we should move on and record the studio segments.
What was frustrating in filming this genre of show was that cameras had to be constantly set up and re-focused in order to get the multiple perspectives in which our show entitles. In total we used 5 DV tapes for the whole session. This included 1 tape for the 3 television cameras, 2 in additional cameras and then 2 extra tapes recording extra footage. It was a very complicated procedure but I felt considering this was actually our first session with a full gallery, set and contestants that it went rather well considering.
I was very impressed with the presenter’s performance compared to last week. Last week they were weak and unprepared and I think they knew that when we were rehearsing. This week however they were much stronger. They came prepared. They learned their lines and the script. Although they are not natural born actors, I was very grateful for their efforts over the past week in improving their camera performance. It defiantly payed off and was very clear that they had put in far more effort to the production this week.
Shooting the show was always expected to be the longest segment in terms of recording. Most of the script was set in the studio and the presenters could not hold their script like we could in the gallery and manipulate like we were holding the script from the show in which were recording. It got stressful a couple of times but this was expected as this was ‘filming day’. The contestants were great and we couldn’t of asked for better people to act as these characters for our performance. Although I was running around trying to make everything run perfect, I feel I did not thank the contestants enough for their contribution, I was truly grateful for their efforts and understanding.
The time approached 4pm and we had just finished shooting the studio segments, leaving the gallery elements still untouched. I think we completed these by 4:15pm. This was because we could use the script and disguise it as the shows script, meaning as long as we knew the lines roughly, we could act our way through and use the script to queue ourselves. A much simpler procedure. As was recording the opening scene with Jess. This took 15 minutes due to people walking past down the corridor but Jess’s performance was pristine and while we recorded this, the rest of the group packed away the studio. Meaning we were finished 5pm. Which looked very unlikely this morning but through individual contribution and team work efforts we achieved the agenda and completed our production. Leaving now for just postproduction to take place. Which with 5 DV tapes of footage, was going to be long effort, but however I was very much looking forward to the task and producing the finished output.
When I returned home late that evening, I opened my emails to finds Karens feedback. I was very pleased that she witnessed the efforts in making our show come together and fit the theme – which seemed to be a problem for the other groups. I did pick up on the contestants treatment however which after looking back, we should of hospitalised them a lot better, I instantly got in touch with them to apologise. However Karen mentioned that today’s session was the most stressful she had seen us perform. I agree with this but I think this was largely because of the sessions pressure to complete recordings. Which may have been to unrealistic but I would like to thank the group efforts for this session, I thought everyone was superb and my role was truly tested in this session. It was very difficult at time for me to direct as I could not always been visual at the scene to construct, but I think it worked and the group understood my intentions for the piece that helped a great deal. It really was a day that pushed my director boundaries, but I thought I performed well. I might ive seemed stressed at a few points but I recovered well and tried to set the best example to the others as I could. Resulting in a successful day of filming

Waiting to enter the studio

Setting up the studio

The Contestants

Production Team Functioning

Wednesday 10th March, Recording Session One (Section 2)

Wednesday 10th March was the first day of filming our production. The studio time in which we were scheduled was 1-5pm. Four hours in which we have extra to most groups to record as much footage as possible for out production. So how did it go? Well, it was a very mixed day. We started by meeting at 11:30am. Ninety minutes before our studio time in which we could meet each other and set up the agenda for the day.
We set the meeting up downstairs, away from other students who were distracting various members of the team. I designed an agenda that I thought was best. We didn’t have the contestants coming in so we needed to get everything else done in which we didn’t need them for. That was vital. Allowing for us tomorrow to shoot everything with the guests, creating a equal and understandable balance within the shooting schedule.
We looked at the plan for today. I said we could do website work, the corridor scene, record the opening scene of the show and practice the studio piece for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the main filming day, but we had to complete today’s agenda so that we allowed ourselves to focus on tomorrows schedule rather than overlapping and falling behind; causing unnecessary stress between ourselves.
Today was also the day in which we were show our set. It was a massive improvement to before. It now covered the elements of the studio in which were visual and fully hit the theme of the gameshow. We had a few problems of course; we always seem to do with the set. The black curtain was a slight issue. It was creased but that could be sorted. Then we were unsure in how to hang up the pink background sheets, eventually agreeing on pinning them onto the boards. This made our studio for the programme more compact. It was much smaller than I first thought, making it hard for our camera to operate but we shall manage. Eventually figuring out where the contestants and presenters would stand and which camera will be recording and when.
The set seemed to take around ninety minutes to fully set up. This was extremely worrying. We could not take this risk and waste this time tomorrow. Ninety minutes was a massive chunk of our filming time and was totally unacceptable to waste on ‘setting up’. However, this was the first time in setting up the full design, making us aware of how to do it quicker and write next time.
The set seemed to be a focus of the studio allocated time and I didn’t want this. We must get the intended filming done today. We took out 3 video cameras, 3 tripods, a boom microphone and a digital camera. But because a couple of members did not turn up including one of the cameramen, it made it hard for ourselves to operate because certain roles were missing. But what do we do? We carry on. We function to the agenda.
While we were setting up the equipment, it gave me and Jess the chance to go through our lines for that scene.
I have not acted in two years, and I forgot some various skills in which I learned. But I also used the skills that I did know in order to succeed. Jess learnt her lines very well. I was very impressed with her. Really impressed. She put me to shame I felt. I was the one who made the errors in the script but we had belief in one of the other and did some very good practice takes.
What was one negative in not being official actors was the line learning. Due to us not knowing our lines word for word, it made it very hard to shoot the scene. We could not re-shoot it becase the lines were coming out different each time. The concept and themes were the same, but they were expressed and said differently. This meant we had to shoot the piece to our best standard and do it in one whole take on multiple cameras.
I spoke to Rob Dutton and Rob Knowles in great detail about the angles I wanted for the shoot and I was very grateful and pleased about their understanding. They were great. They responded to my questions and ideas very well; giving me advice in various areas and agreeing in most. Causing us to a great working relationship because they understood what I wanted and that is what I eventually got recorded.
The whole scene took about 40 minutes to shoot. The scene lasts for about two minutes. Even though we had achieved and shot our first scene successfully, there was negative thoughts about the duration in which it took to shot the scene. Making various members worried that it will take the same duration to shoot scenes tomorrow, and overlapping our timing schedule.
I felt confident that the production was going to succeed. Judging by the efforts and displays of the group in this session, I was left feeling that it tomorrow will be hard; very hard, but it will work.
Our next step was recording the opening scene of the production. This is the Desperate Housewives influenced monologue in which opens the narrative of our production. This went very well. It took Jess one take to record it in the radio booths with Paul. Again, another grasp of confidence to the team knowing this was done quick and well.
The only thing in which we didn’t do from the agenda was to film the opening scene, but this caused to impossible because it was the opening day of the University, making it extreamly busy in our locations. Bit I did not mind to much. I knew the scene would not take long to film and at least we had the sound in which allowed us to shoot to a time limit.
My conclusion of the day was mixed. I was very optimistic about tomorrow’s session as it was d-day. It was the day in which all of the group had to work even harder than today to record all the scenes. After seeing their efforts today, I knew it could work. But what if it didn’t? What would happen if we over run? These are questions that were impossible to think. I was not allowed to think these being director. My optimism had to be a peak and I think it was. The agenda was largely achieved from today’s session however tomorrows list of jobs was much bigger. But it was possible. It just needed a repeat of the individual and team work efforts from today’s session as well belief, strict time and commitment.

Studio Session and Meeting Reflection – 4/4/10 (Section 2)

A few things have changed to our production since the last studio session. After our interim crit session last week we opted to change various elements in which we thought benefited our story and production.

The critique session proved to benefit the group, it gave us more confidence and belief in our production in which may of not existed before.

After pitching our idea to our tutors they responded with advice, questions and answers in which will help us in creating our visions in reality.

The relationships between our characters was one of the highlighted changes in which got produced from the meeting. We discussed in delivering the brief and focusing on ‘relative and family’, due to concerns our story was to vague in regards to achieving the brief. So we changed the relationships between the characters. Dan and Jess became half brother and sister, allowing us to examine and demonstrate more ‘personal’ topics in which only families would know and talk about. We also made Jack and April a married couple, but a marriage in which is jeopardised by Jack’s past affairs. These two changes alone meant we had to alter the script, we had to look at how families and couples communicate, what is different and what stereotype conventions are there in their behaviour?

Other elements in which were changed due to the meeting was the questions in which were in the studio show, we wanted to make them more relationship based, focusing around topics such as ‘celebrity families etc’.

With the script altered and changes in production made, we went into the studio for the first time in two weeks, due to last weeks reading week. Immediately it started negative. Two days before we tried to design some of the set by painting two, two metre high wooden boards in glitter. This failed immediately. We had problems such as running out of glue and then running out of glitter a lot quicker than we intended to. This made us realise that this particular idea may be too expensive and hard to do. Instead we opted to use fabric and planned to have it in the studio for Thursday’s session. This was not the case. I walked in at 9:50am to find a pink glitter sheet being held up by a one metre length toilet roll coil, and that was it. I expressed my negativity and wanted answers in what was happening with the set, but I was assured that it would be fetched straight after the session which was frustrating but the show must gone on and I continued with preparation knowing that the set WOULD be complete for next weeks sessions. With the script typed handed around and a behind the scenes camera filming our efforts we set up the studio to record the advert for the website. By looking at adverts such as ‘Paul O Grady’ or ‘Friday night with Jonathan Ross’ in which are shown before the show, at intervals of other shows before hand we used a script consisting of around 15 seconds and began filming demo takes. One thing was clearer immediately, the presenters were not prepared and ready to read of the auto queue. They lacked practice, knowledge and skills in reading of the auto queue. It was clearer they had not looked at or learned any element of the script, this made it very hard immediately in directing them through.

What I did notice very quickly was the ‘lack of enthusiasm’ of the advert and the presenters presenting it. What I have noticed on adverts of a similar format is the input of their ‘live audience’, in which clap and cheer through segments of the recording. This is what we needed. We needed audience impact to make the show ‘real’, and with all of us pre occupied with our own roles and duties we had to seek extra help in creating this. We gathered students and tutors who were passing or located near the studio and brought them inside. Initially I thought to create a horse shoe shape around the make in which will produce that ‘around the arena’ sound, but because the boom microphone struggles in capturing sound behind itself, we placed the ‘audience’ into one corner and recording several takes of ‘applause’. Recording this with several takes allows us to edit in and loop the effect to create this intention. The recordings went rather successfully and gave the presenters more of a boost of enthusiasm in presenting the advert, but I’m not sure if the pressure did get to them and by placing an audience in the studio, they performed much to my directions. Although I did have a ‘talk’ with Jack of my intentions, their delivery was eventually precise. But this was after a large amount of recordings in which lacked life, style, professionalism and passion.

After a difficult few hours of preparation and recordings, we moved onto practicing the ‘studio show’. Again we did not have our contestants to practice with so we practiced with the third year students so we could still develop the production.

The process started slow as it seems to do on every studio session. I don’t know why but we seem to waste so much time with the set or camera or some other minor issue that just eats our time away. This is very frustrating of course, a problem that must be dealt with by next week!

The session itself though went quite smoothly but it was just hard practicing with so many ‘missing’ elements such as contestants and set in which stop us from rehearsing properly. But after practicing the script several times, it was clear that our presenters didn’t know the words or the script, making it extremely hard for us to function a rehearsal. To be honest, it left us feeling negative because they did not know what was coming up or what to say next. The session was then concentrated about the camera angles in which we will use for the show and how next weeks filming would be recorded. I tried to be as calm as possible and after a few dominant conversations with people in my group about my point of view and reasoning, I was left satisfied in what we had learned and produced that day. However, I was very curious in how next week would go. What was with the group thought the session was enthusiasm and enjoyment, which I guess is vital for us to succeed. We know our idea is challenging and we all understand that we are taking a risk, but I felt confident that it will would work. I could see the outcome in my head and just wanted to create it. What did leave me a little nervous was the same question of “am I being to optimistic?” I hope not, I just like a challenge but for this challenge to be achieved with success, it needed for group collaboration. It was clear who has and are putting their time and efforts for this to work and it was clear who had not.

We concluded the session the same way we always conclude, a small group meeting with the schedule for next week. Luckily we got extra studio time next Wednesday in which will allow us to get the (completed) set up, ready and prepared and then start filming this production. There is a good atmosphere within the group and we have worked so well as a team and as individuals (some more than others) and I am confident that next weeks efforts and allocated time will be leave us with a brilliant and successful production ready for post production.

Studio Feedback 4/4/10 (Section 1)

213mc

Studio Practice Feedback – 4^th March 2010

What Works Well

The Script – The storylines are much stronger with the family connections in. I think its overwritten in places though. Dan’s lines in particular – you don’t want this to be ‘ The Dan Show’ do you? I love the cameramen cameos!

Teamwork – see below

Graphics – Bidu has designed a lovely short sequence for titles. Make sure you are saying themes about relationships here too.

What Needs More

The Quiz – I am not sure that the quiz questions are really saying anything about this couples relationship. They are more like celebrity knowledge questions. I think you need to look more at family life. If you want to stick with celeb life’s, think about their relationships and how society views them.

The Set – This needs finalising and you need to rehearse with it before the assessment recording sessions next week.

Studio Direction – Make sure you are demonstrating all your skills and knowledge e.g. chromo key, moving camera shots etc.

Team Players

Great team work – you all know and understand your roles and are pulling together to make this production – keep up the good work!

Presenters – YOU NEED TO LEARN your lines/know the script. This will speed up recording sessions.

Excellent communication between gallery and floor

Language – Mind your language when on mic, it goes around the building!

General Comments

The production is coming together and you know what needs to be done before your final recordings. Keep focused and keep on task!

Extra practice sessions are needed I think

I hope you get a chance to practice filming in the gallery – sound and lighting could be an issue.