To start the day, we were put into little groups to each rig up the different sections of equipment. I was in a group with Imogen, Ellie and Josh, and we were to rig up the camera equipment and make sure they all looked the same. Then once everything was rigged up and working we were put into our actual roles for the real show. Due to Josh being the producer and not having much else to do before rehearsals, and Ellen and Sam were lighting and VT operator, it meant they were free to be the talent.
I started off with my role of director, however due to only just starting to prepare myself for what I have to do during the live show, Del started off as director. This was quite useful for me as I was able to see and hear what he was doing, which in turn will help me with knowing what to say and how to direct the cameras and so on.
As Del started to direct our first practise show, which was a interview talk show, I realised that there is a lot to say and a lot to cue. This did make me slightly nervous but I know when we rehearse the show over and over again I will eventually get used to saying everything I need to. To help me remember what to say during this 3 minute show, Del wrote a few phrases down to help me and the rest of us when directing.
With everyone in their roles, it was time for us to start the workshop. Considering I was the first one to direct, I don't think I did too badly. Obviously, my performance wasn't as good as it needs to be when the real show comes along, but it is only my first day of doing this properly. I did find it quite difficult to remember what needs to be seen on screen and how, but this is something I will learn over time.
After finishing the first 3 minute show, we switched round to different roles.
My next role was working on one of the cameras. I found working on the cameras not too difficult, as I just stuck on my shot size unless I was told otherwise through talkback. I found talkback very useful, when I heard my camera number being cut to I made sure to keep my shot still, then once my cut was over I could move.
I did enjoy being a camera operator, and it was good to try out the different shot sizes that every camera was on.
In between working on the cameras, I was either the host of the show or one of the interviewees. Doing this job was quite tricky as I found it hard trying to find things to talk about, but luckily this job wasn't too technical, and none of us will be doing this on the actual day and rehearsals.
Then I moved on to do the sound. Both sound operator and sound assistant where fairly easy roles, however when there's a lot more to do and structure, which there will be for the actual show, I know the job will be a lot harder and complicated. The sound operator played the stings on the laptop and the sound assistant used the mixing desk to track the sound levels of the microphones.
The last studio floor job we got to do was being the Floor Manager. I found this job alright to do, but since you are in charge of the whole floor and making sure everyone knows what they are doing, the job will be a lot harder. Knowing all the hand signals will be quite difficult to remember, and telling the host and everyone else on the floor and making sure they keep an eye on you as the floor manager would be quite a tough job.
The other jobs in the gallery that we were able to do was the PA job, which involved counting down the show and the sting, the graphics operator, and the vision mixer. After doing previous masterclasses involving graphics, I knew this role would be difficult, but having the graphics set up already made the job a lot easier. I still had to change the name tags and make sure that they played at the right times, which is part of the graphic operators job. Within the show, there will be more for the graphics operator to do during the show, so that role will be a bit more complicated than it was in this masterclass.
Doing the role as the PA was actually quite fun. I enjoyed timing the different sections to the show, however this was just 3 minutes long. For the whole 30 minutes show, the timings will get a bit more complicated and there will be quite a bit more to count. I think this job is very important and is complicated but it's also enjoyable, and I'd quite like to go into this job in the future, potentially.
The last role in the gallery is being the vision mixer. I also really enjoyed this job, and after having several sessions with the vision mixing desk, I already knew where to put my hands and fingers, and how the desk works. I found following instructions and cues were quite easy and do able, but it was doing it in time with the director that I found quite tricky. You have to be focusing on the directors call the whole time, while also paying attention to the screens in front. This role is enjoyable but also quite stressful, similar to the PA role and Director role.
After lunch, we did the same set up, just a different type of TV show. Instead of a talk show we did a teleshopping show, which meant we had to show a lot more close ups of the objects that were given to us. Again I started off as the director and directed the show after Del did a run through of it, showing me how he would do it. Then we went back around and tried everyone else jobs.
I found this useful, but I kind of wanted to stay directing for a little bit longer as I had only just started that role in this masterclass. I know there were others that felt the same way, so instead of doing everyone's jobs again, we did a few switches and then went back to our actual roles.
We did this show a couple more times and I felt having these run throughs as the director was useful and would help me with knowing what to do in rehearsals next week.
I found doing everyone's roles very useful and I definitely have more respect for everyone's roles. I definitely think that everyone is very important in this show and I think, its everyone having respect for all the roles, it makes working as a group a lot easier and much more fun.
Even though my role is director, and I like this role, I'm glad I got a chance to trial other roles. I now know that being a PA or a vision mixer might be something I want to go into, as I really enjoyed doing those roles.
This workshop has prepared me for our first rehearsal next week, and now I know what type of things to be saying when cueing everything. Having Del with us will be really good as he can let me know any new terminology I need to know, while also helping us work together as a group.
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