Third week! Still exciting!
For today, I was supervised by one Elaine. I had met her briefly the session before, but today she was my supervisor. Almost straight away she wanted to test my previous knowledge with 'heads', as the 1300 news broadcast was approaching. She asked me how it would be framed and from which camera. I was fairly confident that I gave the correct answers (which I did). And I'm sure that it allowed me to actually be in control of the camera during the 1300 heads!
It was a positive step forward and I was very pleased that Elaine felt confident enough for me to be at the controls. Although, since it was for the heads, the shot (including set-up) was relatively simple compared with other shots used for the actual half-past broadcasts. (I wasn't sure they'd let me be on camera for them just yet!) But it was a step forward and I'm satisfied that it was a good starting point. Hopefully I can build on this in the future (especialy for my final two days in the studio).
During this time, I also learned that the equivalent headline previews at quarter-past were known as 'proms'. As it's the term, I'm actually surprised that I only just learned it then. If it was been said in the past then for some reason I unintentionally missed it. (Ah well, at least I know now!) Anyway, as last time, I observed the the lunchtime programme. I was following the director sheet as the news items progressed and I was able to understand what was happening (and what would be happening) more than I was previously.
After lunch was the production meeting; I'm fairly used to how the meeting goes down now, but now I felt like I could keep up (to a degree) with the information on the shot list. Not only did I feel like I had progressed in my work experience, but it felt as if I had become a part of the team, somewhat...A great feeling!
Straight after the meeting, Elaine and I returned to the studio. Using the sheet for the evening news, she tested my knowledge on all the shot types that the broadcast would be featuring. i.e. which news items would require a particular framing and on which camera. Overall I believe that I got the basic shots correct, but as for more complex manoeuvres (changing the camera from one frame set-up to another within a small amount of time, movements that require more than one motion, etc.), they were saved for such a time when I gain more experience with 'driving' the camera(s).
This was directly followed by the recording of an interview in the studio. It was an interview using a live feed in London (presumably the BBC down there) with John Sergeant (after last week with Jasper Carrott, my star-struck status was less-so! Hehe). Mr. Sergeant was discussing with us a restored building in the Yorkshire area...It was fascinating to watch this interview, because even though it was recorded for a later broadcast, it was still conducted (as much as possible) as if it was live. And though the initial interview went well, they decided to do two recordings to make sure they have enough material and to see if they could narrow the interview down into an allocated time-frame.
As we were getting up to the 1830 broadcast, I toyed more with setting up shots. It still felt like I was only standing in the shadows and observing, despite Elaine letting me try a rehearsal...Which I became confused with knowing what to listen to, whether it was from the gallery or the people with me in the studio...I remember being told early on in the process that knowing what to listen to or listen out for was a definite skill to accomplish! The confusion was only amplified by my framing...It seemed that I was told to set a particular shot when I had already done it. Of course I was reminded that different directors may prefer different ways of framing.
Apparently there was a worksheet to follow with objectives to complete, but I never got given one...I can only imagine that they felt it was more important to learn from tasks that need doing for the day and broadcast. Personally there are three objectives that I want to complete whilst I'm in the studio:
- I want to be able to control a camera during a live broadcast (as for complex motion such as pulling back and up, I'm not confident that I'll be able to perform, or be trusted with, those types of motion in the time given...However, I do at least wish to be behind a camera for still shots, etc.)
- Communicate with the gallery effectively, relaying instructions, etc. (As stated earlier, communication became quickly confusing...But with more time I'll be confident enough to know what to listen out for.)
- Be able to fully understand a shot sheet enough to know what the broadcast/cameras are planning to do beforehand...Also so that when changes occur, I know what they'll be and won't be lost. (This is purely so that I'm able to follow what's happening. But of course with more experience on camera, I'll be able to know what changes will be approaching so that we'll all be prepared for them.)
AM
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