Chapter 2 Working in the Television Production Industry
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content specialist: A
person who works with
the scriptwriter and is
considered to be an
expert in the program’s
subject matter.
usually hired to work with the scriptwriter. The content specialist is a person
considered to be an expert on the program’s subject.
Content specialists from the military are commonly hired to help script-
writers and directors create authentic action scenes in movies with military
action or plot lines. A content specialist would also assist a scriptwriter
in writing the script for an instructional program detailing techniques
of a new and innovative heart transplant technique. To ensure accurate
information, the content specialist in this scenario would likely be the doc-
tor who invented the technique. The content specialist reviews the entire
script before production begins and is, ideally, present for the shooting and
post-production to keep everything accurate.
Graphic Artist
The graphic artist is responsible for all the artwork required for the
production. This includes computer graphics, traditional works of art,
charts, and graphs. The graphic artist is usually very well versed in com-
puter graphics applications, from the amazing animations seen in modern
fi lms to the charts and graphs included in an economics program.
VTR Operator
The VTR operator is in charge of recording the program onto video-
tape by correctly operating the VTR equipment, Figure 2-9. Producing
a recording of the program with quality video and audio is an immense
responsibility. The VTR operator must take every precaution to ensure
that each piece of equipment is functioning properly to produce a quality
recording of every scene.
Many newer television facilities have eliminated the use of videotape
entirely, and record onto DVDs or directly to a hard drive. The job title
“VTR operator” no longer applies in these facilities. In a tapeless environ-
ment, this job function is performed by the video operator.
Figure 2-9. The VTR
operator places the entire
program on the master
videotape.
graphic artist: The
person responsible for
all the artwork required
for the production. This
includes computer
graphics, traditional
works of art, charts, and
graphs.
VTR operator: The
person in charge of
recording the program
onto videotape by
correctly operating the
VTR equipment.
video operator: The
individual responsible
for recording the master
video fi le in a tapeless
television production
environment.