Dave's Blog

review of 113 MC

davebarnett — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:01:57 +0000

I think this has been the best subject of the year and I have enjoyed being a part of the red group as we have all bonded very well over the past few weeks and I feel the whole group have become good friends during the creation of this magazine show . And if there’s anything I can take away from this module it is the importance of good team work as that was probably our teams strongest point and the reason our final piece turned out so well

I think I can safely say I have learnt a lot over the past few weeks to do with how a studio is run, I have learnt how to set up the talkback, the basics of how the vision mixer works, I’ve learnt how to do the job of the PA, the director and floor managers, although I doubt I would have been half as good as the people we had assigned to those jobs. I have also learnt a lot about set design and of course I have learnt how to operate the sound desk quite well, all of these jobs I had no experience in before the start of this module and I feel I have really gained a lot from this module compared to some of the others we had this year.

Although the show we made wouldn’t normally appeal to me if it came on TV I found that making this show to be a fun and rewarding experience and the final product was better than I ever thought it could be and to be honest is wasn’t a bad show, it was much better than This morning and the one show however I may well be a bit bias, but for what we had available to us we put on one hell of a show.

If I was to do this whole thing again I think I would choose to do it on a different subject something more entertaining than a magazine show I would also make sure I turned up to every meeting that was held as I found I missed a few for various reasons and missed out on some of the planning stages of the production, but I wouldn’t change the group I worked with as they were what made the show as good as it is.

Influences that make a show

davebarnett — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:00:10 +0000

The main influence and inspiration in the creation of the red show would be This Morning as the general tone of the red show is very similar to that of This Morning this is because we noticed early on that creating a specialised show would be too hard to make in such a short time and coming up with ideas for a specialist show would be ten times harder than a general show so this morning was a good place to have a look at what sort of set layout and tone to the show we would be looking to install in our own show. So we decided to use this morning as a template to base our show loosely around.

So to do this properly we decided it would be best if we had a male and female presenter as this is usually the rule with general magazine shows and a theme tune to open the show to that is pretty simplistic and easily recognisable.

We then took a look at the set of This Morning and other shows such as the one show at it became quite obvious to the group what sort of set would work best with this sort of show, flowery light and homely.

And finally we looked at how the presenters act on camera which I would describe as happy, welcoming and somewhat energetic and natural good looks always help.

Problems and there solutions

davebarnett — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:07:24 +0000

We didn’t come across many problems with creation of our magazine show, the only major problem we had was with people not showing up to the rehearsals both performers and group members alike although usually they had a valid reason for not showing up , but to get around this problem should it arrise on the day of filming we decided early on that we would need backups for all the presenters or at least as many backups as we could get a hold of as for the performer I don’t think we ever found a replacment incase she couldn’t make it but we were fortunate on the day.

However people who did end up getting replaced on the day are, the fashion student who only appeared once and then didn’t appear again, she was replaced by Kyrie’s brother although he may not have been a fashion student it was the best we could do in such short notice luckily he played the part even better than the original fashion student did. Laura our first presenter, she was replaced earlier on by Kyrie due to a number of absences and finally Ben the vision mixer was replaced although I do believe this was a little unfair as he did have very valid reasons for his absences.

Another smaller problem that we had was with the filming of the festival VT as we all arrived on time and got the equipment out and set up only to realise we hadn’t got a hold of all the items we would be displaying in the VT itself, but this was easily solved by Ben who had his car with him and was able to find a store which sold the necessary items needed to film the VT.

Other than this there wasn’t many other problems that arose that weren’t quickly dealt with such as slight problems with the VT timings and sound levels but these were easily dealt with once you were made aware of the problem.

the birth of ideas

davebarnett — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:16:16 +0000

To start this project off we first needed an idea of what we wanted out magazine show to be.

To start off we decided that we would create a general magazine show as there would be a wider range of subjects we would be able to look at in the show compared to a specialised show plus none of us is really a specialist in anything and other than top gear there aren’t many well known specialist magazine shows compared to how many general shows are on TV so it’s a safe bet that making a general show is an easier path to take.

Once we had the idea of making a general show we needed to think of a theme for it that would set the scene for the items that would then be used in the show, and after a short debate we came up with the idea of a summer show as it was coming up to summer and the days were starting to get warmer so we thought we would take advantage of this. We decided we would aim the show at people of our own age as we are our own age and therefore know what we are interested in and allowed us to cut out on that part of the research.

We then thought about what sort of summer topics we could use in the show and decided that football would be an obvious way to go as the world cup would be starting in the summer, we also decided that fashion was a good idea as this is a tried and tested item in the This morning show plus we could easily get a hold of some fashion students if we wanted too. And we also came up with the idea of a festival item that could be used in the show. We also came up with the idea of getting hold of a performer such as a guitarist and singer to end the show with.

In all the first ideas we got turned out to be pretty good

The script

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:20:51 +0000

This is the final script for the red show

INTRODUCTION

VT TITLES 12SECS

KYRIE

Good morning and welcome to The Show that will get you ready for summer.

DANIEL

Coming up today all the hottest tips to make sure you have the hottest summer! From the most talked about topic; the 2010 World Cup, great advice on your summer holidays and all the hottest fashion tips from our very own fashion expert.

KYRIE

Not only that but we’ll also be covering the most popular music festivals and delicious non alcoholic cocktails, perfect for sharing with your friends under the summer sun.

DANIEL

And don’t go anywhere for the next 20minutes because me and Kyrie will be attempting to break a Guinness World Record and an exclusive performance from Robyn Henry. So stay tuned for a great morning!

VT OF MENU 16SECS

WORLD CUP – audience interaction

DANIEL

And now as you all know, the most anticipated even this summer is the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted this year in South Africa.

KYRIE

Yes that’s right. Only 9 days until England kicks off with their first match against the USA.

DANIEL

I’ve got my money on Spain but we wanted to hear your views, so we’ve sent Darren to find out your views.

VT OF WORLD CUP 1MIN

HOME OR ABROAD – DEBATE

KYRIE

Some interesting thoughts there.

DANIEL

So if you can’t get down to South Africa for your holidays, we’ve done the hard bit and found some of the best offers for home and abroad.

KYRIE

As you can see we have our board behind us and on my side we have the abroad side and on the other side we have the home side.

DANIEL

Looking at different budgets ranging from £100 to £300, we have come up with some of the best deals around.

PRESENTERS REFER TO CUE CARDS 2MINS

MUSIC FESTIVALS

DANIEL

Now if you’re a fan of punk, indie or rock, the music festival for you this summer is the Reading & Leeds Festival, taking place over the August Bank holiday from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th. Guns N’Roses, Arcade Fire and Blink 182 are the confirmed headline acts. Prices are around a whopping £250 for the whole weekend.

KYRIE

But if you’re looking for something a bit cheaper then T4 On The Beach on the sunny coast of Weston-Super-Mare could be the music festival that you’re looking for. Confirmed acts include Scouting For Girls, Pixie Lott, JLS and Alexandra Burke. Tickets are only £37 plus booking fee. Full details can be found on our website at www.redshowcoventry.webs.com

DANIEL

For those of you planning to camp out during one of these festivals, here are some great tips for you to bare in mind.

VT OF CAMPING ESSENTIALS 2MIN

FASHION

KYRIE

And now you’re all sorted with your camping gear, you can’t forget your festival fashion. Today on the show, we have Andrew telling us about the festival fashion do’s and dont’s.

FASHION GUEST

Hello everyone!

DANIEL

Hi Andrew. So can you tell us what we should be wearing during these festivals? I mean, a few years ago when I went to the V Festival, there were lots of girls wearing floral wellies even though it was boiling hot.

FASHION GUEST

Well it’s important to remember that just because you’re living in a tent for a few days; it doesn’t mean you have to abandon style. I’ve got my two models with me today to show you what type of clothing you should be wearing.

FASHION GUEST

So what our female model’s wearing is a lovely floral dress. Floral prints are everywhere this summer. It’s so cheap to buy from Primark, £11. If you would like to give us a twirl so we can see the detail… But if you want to splash out a bit, then River Island is the place to go. They’ve got a beautiful collection at the moment.

FASHION GUEST

Our male model is wearing denim three quarters with a chequered shirt. Obviously pick a colour that compliments your eyes. You could wear it with a plain shirt underneath, so have the shirt unbuttoned or just wear it normally. Again Topshop or Next. You could accessorize with a hat, and of course don’t forget your sunglasses. Primark. £2, massive range to choose from.

KYRIE

Is there anything we should avoid?

FASHION GUEST

I wouldn’t advise leggings. If it gets too hot then it’s a bit of a burden but if it gets to wet it will take ages to dry. So a definite no no. Stick to shorts and dresses! Also no high heels with our English weather you will be sinking in them and they are just impractical and dangerous.

DANIEL

Well thanks for coming on the show Andrew. Now we’ve got an amazing competition for you fashion lovers. Take a look at this.

VT OF COMPETITION 1MIN

NON ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS

KYRIE

Very best of luck. Now, if you don’t want to drink on a night out and you fancy a change from alcoholic cocktails, or simply a decent drink at a summer garden part, we have the perfect non alcoholic recipes just for you.

DANIEL

Yes, they’re equally as delicious as alcoholic cocktails but without the possibility of a hangover the next day; some may say the best of both worlds.

VT OF COCKTAILS 2MINS

KYRIE

Thank you for those recipes Sabrina. Shortly, me and Dan will be attempting a Guinness World Record.

DANIEL

The latest craze going around is the Britain’s Got Talent hopeful James Boyd who attempted the Guinness World Record for eating the most After Eight’s in a minute. Take a look at this.

VT OF BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT JAMES BOYD 20SECS

STUDIO

3…2…1…

PRESENTERS ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE WORLD RECORD 1MIN

DANIEL

TALK ABOUT HOW MANY YOU GOT AND OPINIONS

KYRIE

TALK ABOUT HOW MANY YOU GOT AND OPINIONS

DANIEL

Well unfortunately that brings us to the end of the show.

KYRIE

We’ve got Robyn Henry performing for us this morning.

BOTH

Join us again next time on The Red Show!

music performance

ROBYN HENRY PERFORMS

VT OF CREDITS 24SECS

the running order

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:18:08 +0000

ITEM	STUDIO	GALLERY	DURATION
Titles		VT + Music	0.12
Intro	Pres 1+2	Captions	0.29 (0.41)
GFX		Menu Recap	0.16 (0.57)
Link	Pres 1+2		0.17 (1.14)
VT (Football)		Run VT	1.00 (2.14)
Link	Pres		0.20 (2.34)
Disco (Home/Away)	Pres 1+2 + Props	GFX	2.00 (4.34)
Back Ref + Link	Pres		0.43 (5.17)
VT (Festivals)		Run VT	1.00 (6.17)
Back Ref + Link	Pres		0.05 (6.22)
Demo + Guest Fashion	Pres 1+2 + Guest + Props	GFX	1.50 (8.12)
Competition		VT + OOV	1.00 (9.12)
Link	Pres 1		0.19 (9.31)
VT (cocktails)		Run VT	2.00 (11.31)
Back Ref + Link	Pres 1+2 + Cocktail props		0.13 (11.44)
VT of BGT		Run VT	0.20 (12.04)
Competition	Pres 1+2		1.0 (13.04)
Disco of results	Pres 1+2		0.20 (13.24)
Link + Signoff	Pres 1 +2		0.07 (13.31)
Performance and credits	Performer	Credits	4.00 (17.31)

production photos from start to finish

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:41:10 +0000

Module questions

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:17:25 +0000

At the start of 113 MC we were asked 4 questions two do with magazine shows that we would be expected to know the answer to by the end of the assignment. So here are the questions and my answers.

Why are studios used to make programmes when tape is so cheap and available?

A studio is used to create a surrounding were the viewer can become more relaxed in. If for example you create a set that resembles a home then the viewer will feel more at home whilst watching the show. It also gives the crew and presenters a consistent location that they can film at which stops them from having to find a new location to film at every time, this also helps the crew as it would be troublesome to set up a new set in different locations as lighting sound setup and many other things would keep changing but if they stick to one studio the crew only have to set up once and just make sure nothing much changes, it also give the camera operators a chance to get used to there surroundings which would allow them to find better shots with more ease. Even though it cost more to use a studio it makes life a lot more convenient for everyone, its like buying a new phone all you really need is something that can call another phone but why would you get something that cost £9 when something that cost £70 would make your life better/easier.

What are magazine programmes? Why do audiences like them?

Magazine shows can come in two types, general and specialised.

A general magazine show, just like its name implies, has a more broader set of items presented in the show such as food, news, gossip, celebrity news and other such things. Specialised shows as you might guess are the opposite and only have one main subject such as Cars with the items in the show all based around that subject like with Top Gear, but both are created to inform and entertain. That is the main intention of a magazine show, as for why the audience like them, there are several reasons but mainly because they have an interest in what the show has to offer so for top gear you would expect the audience to be somewhat interested in cars or with This morning you would expect the audience to be interested in fashion gossip and cooking among other things or one or two of the items that appear in the show.

What are the limitations of magazine shows? How can they be improved to ensure they continue?

Magazine shows are only limited to what there subject matters are so top gear is limited to only showing car related items and because of this it may become a problem to come up with new ideas to stop the audience from getting bored of seeing the same sort of races, cars and challenges that have already appeared on the show. Although in the case of top gear they are working with an industry that keeps on making new vehicles that they can then use in there show so it is unlikely they will run out of ideas any time soon.

To make improvements on any magazine show first they have to find out what works and what doesn’t and then simply make changes to suit there audience. They also need to make sure they have a wide variety to the shows so audiences don’t get bored by long items, and if the item is very long it might be a better idea to split it up so that it appears at different points in the show like top gear have done with most of there challenges.

Consider other sources of distribution for magazines type shows?

The only conceivable method of distributing a magazine show other than using the TV would be to go online with the show either on a Youtube channel or with something like 4oD or the BBC I player as it is most shows already do something similar to this such as This morning which allows you to watch the show online on there website it also allows you to watch clips from previous episodes.

And there you have my answers. In my opinion magazine shows will continue to run for a long time as they are easily made and take up a large part of the morning TV schedule.

Task 3

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:10:55 +0000

My role in the group is working on the sound desk which is one of the two jobs I was hoping to get the other was PA but I lost out to mike on that one.

The sound desk is a simple enough role what I have to do is make sure the sound levels of the production are within reason not to high as this would cause distortion in the final peace and the whole show would be ruined because of me and of course I cant let the sound levels get too low either as that would mean no one could hear the program at all and once again I would ruin the whole show. To make sure this doesn’t happen there are faders on the sound desk which bring up the sound picked up from the microphones and as long as the sound levels stay within the green lights (around -3) that are on the right had side of the desk above the main sound channel (yellow faders) all should end up good.

Task 1 presentation

davebarnett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:31:53 +0000

task 1 presentation

the link to my presentation