REFINING AN IDEA FOR PRODUCTION:Drama, Magazine Shows, Documentary

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TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

LESSON 03

REFINING AN IDEA FOR PRODUCTION

The presentation of an idea is also an art. It is necessary that what ever a creative director or producer

visualize about a future programme should be presented in black and white for consideration of

authorities and the organization.

Following are the ingredients for the presentation of an idea before the execution of a

programme:-

Title:

Name of the programme

Type:

Form of programme

Language:

Mode of communication

Genre:

Kind of contents

Frequency:

Rate of telecast

Duration:

Length of time

Target audience:

Potential viewers

Format:

Arrangement of sequences

Theme:

Central idea

Title

The title should be representative, comprehensive and self-explanatory. It can be symbolic as well but

again it ought to be meaningful.

The title is the face of the programme so it must be descriptive and expressive.

Type

The type is the kind of appearance a programme has on the screen. It can be as many types as following.

Drama

Drama serial

Drama series

Soap serial

Mini-serial

Sit-com situational comedy

Long play

Tele-film

Short film

Magazine Shows

Talk show

Music show

Celebrity show

Health show

Commerce show

Road show

Game show

Cooking show

Beauty show

TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

Documentary

Historical

Informative

Investigative

Docu-drama

Specific audience programming

Religious programmes

Women programmes

Children programmes

Sports programme

News programmes

Current affairs programmes

Views and comments programmes

Analytical programmes

Opinion formation programmes

Language

International as English, Arabic, French etc

National as Urdu, Persian, Chinese

Provincial as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Balochi

Regional as Saraiki, Hindko, Barahvi, Gujrati

Genre

Comedy

Tragedy

Action

Thriller

Adventurous

Romantic

Fiction

Historical

Epic

Science fiction

Fantasy

Frequency

Daily

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Quarterly

Biannually

Annually

Duration

3 minutes

5 minutes

10-15 minutes

25 minutes

50 minutes

90 minutes

TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

Target audience

General public

Youth

Students

Kids/children

Women

Senior citizens

Formers/peasants

Businessmen

Industrialist

Traders

Educationist

Lawyers

Doctors

Workers

Researchers

Format

It is the arrangement of the programme and the order of the appearance of performers, artists or the

participants. The producer should have the sequence of all the talent in writing so that during the

recording same plan is followed.

Theme

It is the central idea of any programme, normally called the one-liner in the telecast industry. It's the

plan of action on which a producer has to work to carry on any type of production.

The Three Production Phases

The Preproduction Phase

In order for the program to be successful, you must keep in mind throughout each production phase the

needs, interests, and general background of the target audience (the audience your production is

designed to reach More on that later.

This assumes both knowledge of the prime directive and the target audience, and it ends up being a key

to your personal success.

The Production Phase and, Finally, the Postproduction Phase

The production process is commonly broken down into preproduction, production, and postproduction,

which some people roughly characterize as "before, during, and after."

There is a saying in TV production: "The most important phase of production is preproduction."

The importance of this is often more fully appreciated after things get pretty well messed up during a

production and the production people look back and wish they had adhered to this axiom from the start.

In preproduction the basic ideas and approaches of the production are developed and set in motion. It

is in this phase that the production can be set on a proper course or misdirected (messed up) to such an

extent that no amount of time, talent, or editing expertise can save it.

During preproduction, not only are key talent and production members selected, but all the major

elements are planned. Since things such as scenic design, lighting, and audio are interrelated, they must

be carefully coordinated in a series of production meetings.

Once all the basic elements are in place, rehearsals can start.

A simple on-location segment may involve only a quick check of talent positions so that camera moves,

audio, and lighting can be checked.

TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

A complex dramatic production may require many days of rehearsals. These generally start with a table

reading or dry rehearsal where the talent along with key production personnel sit around a table and

read through the script. Often, script changes take place at this point.

Finally, there's a dress rehearsal. Here, the talent dresses in the appropriate wardrobe, and all

production elements are in place. This is the final opportunity for production personnel to solve

whatever production problems remain.

The production phase is where everything comes together (we can hope) in a kind of final

performance.

Productions can be broadcast either live or recorded. With the exception of news shows, sports remotes,

and some special-event broadcasts, productions are typically recorded for later broadcast or distribution.

Recording the show or program segment provides an opportunity to fix problems by either making

changes during the editing phase or stopping the recording and redoing the segment.

Tasks, such as striking (taking down) sets, dismantling and packing equipment, handling final financial

obligations, and evaluating the effect of the program, are part of the postproduction phase.

Even though postproduction includes all of these after-the-production jobs, most people associate

postproduction with editing.

As computer-controlled editing techniques and postproduction special effects have become more

sophisticated, editing has gone far beyond the original concept of joining segments in a desired order.

Editing is now a major focus of production creativity.

Armed with the latest digital effects, the editing phase can add much in the way of improving a

production. In fact, it's pretty easy to become enthralled with the special effect capabilities of your

equipment.

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