Shooting an entertainment TV show - take 1 (start)
It just so happened that I had the opportunity to collaborate in the field of various hardware and software with several television channels regarding the filming of various entertainment television programs. There was enough time for a good understanding of the process and technology for shooting such projects. Actually, about how, by whom, on what equipment and with what software such transfers are made and there will be a series of articles. This article will begin it - about where the shooting of an entertaining television program begins. The second article will tell about the filming process and the roles of the crew members. The third is about the hardware and software used (I can’t start with it - without understanding the process it will be completely unclear why this or that piece of hardware is needed at all).
Let there be a transmission!
So, in the beginning there is always a word. "Transfer to be!". The idea of a TV show comes to different people. Hundreds, thousands of ideas! The winner is someone who has authority on the channel and is able to convince the authorities. Like, in any way our channel without this transfer. Ratings will be to heaven! And a ton of advertising is provided! I will not go into details about kickbacks, bribes and various political and career motives - imagine yourself. Presented? Multiply by 10. That's how it is. Sooner or later, the soft body of the order “to remove the transfer of such and such” falls under a high signature and is covered by a large heavy seal. From this begins the TRANSFER!
Further - in phases.
Uninteresting preliminary paper-fiber phase. The decision to start filming, estimates, applications, plans, calculations, receipts, etc. Well nafig. Not interested.
An interesting preliminary phase. Here the following issues are solved:
1) Studio. Do you think your favorite weekly show has its own permanent studio? Nothing like this! Relict monsters can afford this: “Field of Miracles”, “KVN”, “What?” Where? When?" (“Fort Boyard”, yeah :)), well, maybe a couple more. Everything else is rented in movie studios rented for the time being, and sometimes in abandoned warehouses or workshops of old factories, among underdeveloped hangars and underdeveloped machine tools. The atmosphere is sometimes just as easy as “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” or "Fallout." And against the background of this, something new is being filmed, sparkling with neon and white-toothed smiles. Something is being done, but art. Who would have thought?
2) Contractors.An entertaining television show has nothing but video equipment, money and a film crew. Nothing at all. And you need: make scenery, find extras, make light and sound in the studio, hang up plasma / LED panels, organize props, special effects, transport, security, heating / cooling / ventilation, housing, food, etc. All this is done by external firms (in fact, I belong to one of these). And if you find a couple of beads or heels of healthy foreheads for protection - garbage in principle, then at the stages of choosing light, sound, screens, decorators sometimes it is hard. Well, just for fun, try to find a company in Google that will build you a television studio? Or who will rent you a screen 5x8 meters in size? And in your city? And who will do it in a week? And for reasonable money?
3) The script.Do you still think that people in TV shows honestly fight, win, think, suffer, etc.? So it looks. Moreover, the participants themselves sometimes think that everything is true and that they decide something. But this is not so. The one who should win. The one whom the director chooses is right. The one who will be written in the script. A person can always be pulled or drowned, scared or reassured. You can make it go astray on the question “2x2 =?” or suggestive tips to help give the correct answer to the second-order diffur. There is nothing random. In an extreme case, everything will be built correctly at the installation stage. Up to the point that the winner is not the one who won the real shoot. In intellectual games, the complexity of the questions is varied, in sports - the weight of shells, in talk shows - they give the right side more airtime and so on. Moreover - there is nothing accidental at all and anywhere else! Are you watching a sentimental talk show where you have met for 20 years without seeing your brother? These are the actors. Are you watching a hidden camera that shows how ridiculously scared people of the skeleton are in the streets? These are the actors. Are they discussing a love pentagon on orange sofas? These are the actors. There are no accidents. An ordinary person will not play an ordinary person like a professional actor. Programs with real living people also tried to shoot - but it’s crap. Either a person does not look into the camera, then blows his nose at the most scrupulous moment, or something politically incorrect blurs. Moreover, he, a goat, cannot (and does not want to!) Portray surprise at the fifth take of the same scene! He can’t be forced to film 20 hours a day (they don’t pay him money). And he says somehow slurred lisps - he had no lessons in stage speech. That's why the actors. That's why the script. Here I recall Mikhalkov, who answered the question, “Is it by chance that in the construction scene on the parade ground a sparrow fell into the frame, a soldier jumping over his boots?” answered: “of course by chance! But how could it be otherwise! And the sparrows ... and 12 of his understudies, and 3 days of filming this scene, and the fee to the trainer half the salary of the actor of the first plan ... everything is by chance ... "
4) Audio-video materials. Screensavers, beats, background music and graphics, several musical themes - “tense”, “relaxed”, “greeting”, “farewell”, “victory”, “loss”, etc. Transfer logo. Trailers As a rule, contractors are also hired for such things or a tender is announced. Often there are good, but unnecessary materials. Already a pity happens. A separate point - if the transfer is taken on a franchise somewhere abroad. Then all this comes ready-made (or as sources for localization).
Task- force the contractors to do everything necessary in the studio to start filming. Dock with each other and with the crew. Test everything 2 times. 2-3 days before the official start of filming, the “object surrender” takes place - the presence and performance of all elements of the filming process are checked. As a rule, further are matyuki, threats and quarrels - because nothing at this stage still works / is buggy. Then comes a terrible night, during which, with the help of nails, snot, tape, some kind of mother and incredible luck, everything is brought to a dangling, but still working condition. The day before the filming, the “object surrender” is held again - this time almost always successful. Here, by the way, you need to once again lower the reader from heaven to earth. Television does not transmit smells and tactile sensations. The main thing is how the picture looks. Because the scenery does as a rule, from a weak Mr. ... on. Do you think this is iron? Plastic! Stainless steel Foil! Tree? Fiberboard! Leather? Substitute! Big studio? Mirrors and angle selection! Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky…
As a matter of fact, in these preliminary phases end and the mystery of filming begins. Next article - in a few days.
Let there be a transmission!
So, in the beginning there is always a word. "Transfer to be!". The idea of a TV show comes to different people. Hundreds, thousands of ideas! The winner is someone who has authority on the channel and is able to convince the authorities. Like, in any way our channel without this transfer. Ratings will be to heaven! And a ton of advertising is provided! I will not go into details about kickbacks, bribes and various political and career motives - imagine yourself. Presented? Multiply by 10. That's how it is. Sooner or later, the soft body of the order “to remove the transfer of such and such” falls under a high signature and is covered by a large heavy seal. From this begins the TRANSFER!
Further - in phases.
Pre-paper phase
Uninteresting preliminary paper-fiber phase. The decision to start filming, estimates, applications, plans, calculations, receipts, etc. Well nafig. Not interested.
Pre-preparation phase
An interesting preliminary phase. Here the following issues are solved:
1) Studio. Do you think your favorite weekly show has its own permanent studio? Nothing like this! Relict monsters can afford this: “Field of Miracles”, “KVN”, “What?” Where? When?" (“Fort Boyard”, yeah :)), well, maybe a couple more. Everything else is rented in movie studios rented for the time being, and sometimes in abandoned warehouses or workshops of old factories, among underdeveloped hangars and underdeveloped machine tools. The atmosphere is sometimes just as easy as “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” or "Fallout." And against the background of this, something new is being filmed, sparkling with neon and white-toothed smiles. Something is being done, but art. Who would have thought?
2) Contractors.An entertaining television show has nothing but video equipment, money and a film crew. Nothing at all. And you need: make scenery, find extras, make light and sound in the studio, hang up plasma / LED panels, organize props, special effects, transport, security, heating / cooling / ventilation, housing, food, etc. All this is done by external firms (in fact, I belong to one of these). And if you find a couple of beads or heels of healthy foreheads for protection - garbage in principle, then at the stages of choosing light, sound, screens, decorators sometimes it is hard. Well, just for fun, try to find a company in Google that will build you a television studio? Or who will rent you a screen 5x8 meters in size? And in your city? And who will do it in a week? And for reasonable money?
3) The script.Do you still think that people in TV shows honestly fight, win, think, suffer, etc.? So it looks. Moreover, the participants themselves sometimes think that everything is true and that they decide something. But this is not so. The one who should win. The one whom the director chooses is right. The one who will be written in the script. A person can always be pulled or drowned, scared or reassured. You can make it go astray on the question “2x2 =?” or suggestive tips to help give the correct answer to the second-order diffur. There is nothing random. In an extreme case, everything will be built correctly at the installation stage. Up to the point that the winner is not the one who won the real shoot. In intellectual games, the complexity of the questions is varied, in sports - the weight of shells, in talk shows - they give the right side more airtime and so on. Moreover - there is nothing accidental at all and anywhere else! Are you watching a sentimental talk show where you have met for 20 years without seeing your brother? These are the actors. Are you watching a hidden camera that shows how ridiculously scared people of the skeleton are in the streets? These are the actors. Are they discussing a love pentagon on orange sofas? These are the actors. There are no accidents. An ordinary person will not play an ordinary person like a professional actor. Programs with real living people also tried to shoot - but it’s crap. Either a person does not look into the camera, then blows his nose at the most scrupulous moment, or something politically incorrect blurs. Moreover, he, a goat, cannot (and does not want to!) Portray surprise at the fifth take of the same scene! He can’t be forced to film 20 hours a day (they don’t pay him money). And he says somehow slurred lisps - he had no lessons in stage speech. That's why the actors. That's why the script. Here I recall Mikhalkov, who answered the question, “Is it by chance that in the construction scene on the parade ground a sparrow fell into the frame, a soldier jumping over his boots?” answered: “of course by chance! But how could it be otherwise! And the sparrows ... and 12 of his understudies, and 3 days of filming this scene, and the fee to the trainer half the salary of the actor of the first plan ... everything is by chance ... "
4) Audio-video materials. Screensavers, beats, background music and graphics, several musical themes - “tense”, “relaxed”, “greeting”, “farewell”, “victory”, “loss”, etc. Transfer logo. Trailers As a rule, contractors are also hired for such things or a tender is announced. Often there are good, but unnecessary materials. Already a pity happens. A separate point - if the transfer is taken on a franchise somewhere abroad. Then all this comes ready-made (or as sources for localization).
Pre-assembly phase
Task- force the contractors to do everything necessary in the studio to start filming. Dock with each other and with the crew. Test everything 2 times. 2-3 days before the official start of filming, the “object surrender” takes place - the presence and performance of all elements of the filming process are checked. As a rule, further are matyuki, threats and quarrels - because nothing at this stage still works / is buggy. Then comes a terrible night, during which, with the help of nails, snot, tape, some kind of mother and incredible luck, everything is brought to a dangling, but still working condition. The day before the filming, the “object surrender” is held again - this time almost always successful. Here, by the way, you need to once again lower the reader from heaven to earth. Television does not transmit smells and tactile sensations. The main thing is how the picture looks. Because the scenery does as a rule, from a weak Mr. ... on. Do you think this is iron? Plastic! Stainless steel Foil! Tree? Fiberboard! Leather? Substitute! Big studio? Mirrors and angle selection! Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… Everything is done as cheaply as possible, because any program has a scary word - BUDGET! Marry him - heresy and blasphemy. They will burn it alive and eat it, not yet removing it from the fire. Invest - get bonuses, praise and the next project. For the sake of budget, the walls are glued to the floor with a “moment”, the lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and the holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky… lamps are tied to the ceiling with tape and holes on leather sofas are covered with black paint - and this is considered normal. After all, the holes will not be visible - people will sit on them, the lamps are also not in the frame - only the light, and the walls - well, perhaps, will not fall. Probably. If you're lucky…
As a matter of fact, in these preliminary phases end and the mystery of filming begins. Next article - in a few days.