Chapter 2 Working in the Television Production Industry
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makeup: Any of the
cosmetics applied to
a performer’s skin to
change or enhance their
appearance.
“acting” wear makeup and have their wardrobe selected to ensure the best
possible appearance on the television screen.
Costume selection is dependent on many existing factors, including
plot, setting, set dressing, program format, and lighting arrangement.
Makeup is any of the cosmetics applied to a performer ’s skin to change or
enhance their appearance. The makeup may create a drastic change, such
as aging, alien appearance, or injuries, or it may simply enhance the tal-
ent’s natural features while in front of a camera.
Graphics
Graphics are all of the artwork seen in a program, including com-
puter graphics, traditional works of art, charts, and graphs (discussed in
Chapter 14, Image Display). When choosing or creating graphics for televi-
sion, pay particular attention to the amount of detail in a graphic. Losing
the fi ne detail in images is natural in the process of creating an analog tele-
vision picture (digital technology is continually evolving and changing
this limitation). For example, a beautifully detailed title font of medieval
style writing may look wonderful on a computer screen, but will likely
dissolve into mush on a television screen. The television screen requires
bolder images than a computer screen. If the audience is unable to read
what is written on the screen or cannot clearly see the information pre-
sented in a chart, then you are not effectively communicating.
Camera Operation
The portion of the program that you can see is called video. The cam-
era operator is responsible for capturing the program images with a video
camera.
Talk the Talk
The term “video” has different consumer and professional defi nitions.
Consumers often use “video” to refer to the tape or the
DVD you rent or purchase for viewing at home. Television
production professionals use “video” to refer to the visual
portion of a program; the part that is seen by the audience.
A frame is the actual edge of the video picture; the edge of the pic-
ture on all four sides, Figure 2-16. Framing a shot is the camera opera-
tor ’s responsibility and involves placing items in the picture by operating
the camera and tripod. Shooting a vase of fl owers sitting on a table seems
simple until you realize there are an infinite number of ways to shoot it
(long shot, close-up, from a side angle, from below, from above, zoom in,
or zoom out). A good camera operator has the ability to frame shots effec-
tively for the audience.
We have all seen home movies taken of someone else’s family. Home
movies are usually not tolerable to watch for long periods of time. One
reason is camerawork—it is generally shaky and out of focus, Figure 2-17.
An important production value is quality camerawork. Put the camera on
video: The portion of
the program that you
can see.
frame: The actual edge
of the video picture; the
edge of the picture on
all four sides.
framing: Involves
placing items in the
camera’s frame by
operating the camera
and tripod.