THE PRODUCERS
Phil Bigwood- Executive Producer, Match of the Day
At BBC sport, executive producers are responsible for editorial and visual aspects of the programmes. They are also quality control and ensuring editorial standards are met. To get to a role like this, you'd usually have to work your way up the line first. On this particular production, the executive producer also carries out the work of the producer and director during the studio filming. A series editor will decide what content is shown on the programme.
An important part of this role is writing and preparing scripts and directing presenters and cameras when in the studio. Phil talks about how important it is to give a calm impression over talkback. As with all live television things can go wrong, but as the executive producer it's your responsibility to hold it together no matter what.
Alison Howe- Series Producer, Later with Jools Holland
Alison begins by talking about how in a production team everyone plays their part in getting a programme on air, and as series producer, it's her job to coordinate all of that. Her role also involves finding artists to perform on the show, so she spends a lot of time listening to music and going to live events. The series producer works alongside the executive producer.
On the day of the show she spends most of her time liaising with artists, working with Jools, and dealing with any challenges that arise. She then spends the rest of the week working with the editors to put together the extended programmes, and working with the executive producers to prepare the rest of the series. Finally, she speaks of how it can be refreshing both personally and for the audience if you try new things on your tv show.
Jon Cahn- Producer director, Gogglebox
A key part of being a producer on a reality tv show is knowing when you should and shouldn't step in. You want the best reactions, but you don't want it to feel staged. Jon says that "sometimes backing off and letting the actuality breathe gives you stronger results". As a producer director he would spend most of his time working with a gallery operator (because they shoot multicam), an assistant, soundman, researcher, and a runner.
His role involves a lot of preparation to ensure he can get the best out of his contributors. He will watch all of the tv programmes the contributors will watch to make notes on key points he'd like to get their reactions to.
What can I learn from this?
From this I have learnt these key aspects of being a producer:
- Being organised and prepared for anything
- Being able to easily and calmly communicate with every member of the team, including the contributors, to get what you need from them.
- Staying calm during stressful situations, especially when on live talkback.
- Thinking about how the decisions you make affect everyone else and the programme.
- Being able to easily coordinate everyone and everything.
- Knowing when to, and when not to, get involved.
- Knowing which jobs you should be doing, and which jobs you should be allowing others to do.
I beleive that if I can demonstrate all of these key skills whilst working as the producer on this unit, the show will be a success.
Sources-
0 comments:
Post a Comment