Tag: assignment 4

4.1 Use of Camera

4.2 Individual Research

4.3 Determine the Theme

4.4 Reflection on Project

Before finalizing the last project, I chose the role of GFX and vision switcher. For one thing, I have been the GFX in practice, which therefore I feel more familiar with. On the other hand, I am really interested in the control console since I firstly entered the control room, so I want to learn how to use it.

Another reason of my choice of the role is I found the importance of GFX and EVS. They belongs to extra or additional resources. It is necessary in a talk show because of a few reasons. One is for supporting the host’s argument, generating stronger effect. The other is for enhancing the satire and humor.

I personally really like the graphic in the weather report. It is not only presenting the Cyclone Malcolm but also the political situation/conflict by using the public figures of Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull.

During the rehearsal, I made a few mistakes on being the vision switcher for segment 1. I did not switch the between cameras and turn to the EVS properly. The biggest reason is because I was not familiar enough with the script and I didn’t know that there were some changes on camera. And I did not control the EVS while practice, so that was the first time for me to operate it, which made me more nervous. After talking with the director and confirmed the changes, I finally improved and solved the problem. Processed on segment 3, my role becomes to graphics. I felt it less stressful than the previous role because I have more experience on it and to be honest it is much easier to be operated with.

Through doing this project, I realize the importance of collaboration in a TV studio. A clear and specific division is an essential process. Communication makes improvement. Every class provides chance to find the existing problem and solve out. Everyone makes efforts to generate the final production. When I met something I did not understand, my teammates were willing to help me and taught me patiently. And the samples we’ve watched in class are good resources to learn. Overall, The New is a Joke is a good opportunity to learn the professional techniques in TV studio, and I obtained the best experience for the further practice.

A good plan is the essential component of a talk show. What we firstly need to do is determine the theme. Talking about the theme, my favorite segment in our Early Afternoon show is the Kim Jong Un part. I think politics is still the best category to make mocking points. We all know that he is currently the top leadership of North Korea, dominates the biggest power there. But who know he grew up in Switzerland and is a big fan of Chicago bulls? This is funny that a man who intensively hates western culture but has these experience and hobby? Using satire is a good way to to explain his life and background, and make comparison to his political aspect. Kim is a good topic since he is a public figure who has topicality with causing a serious of explosive political problems such as nuclear issues. He is constantly making conflict with other countries especially western countries.

Apart from making humor, satirical news makes it possible to remain attached to the political system but keep certain distance of it without a sense of political agency. People who feel burned by the political present can engage the intensity of the political moment through comedy news, while holding it at a distance at the same time; this distance now serves mainly to allay political discomfort (Helphand 2017).

As a result, comedy news is a good way to maintain the transparency of political system, as well as keep effective communication with the public. However, mocking on politics is illegal in some nations such as Egypt and Thailand — the shows are banned, some hosts are even arrested (Hansler 2017). In regards to these countries, make sure the topic is not that sensitive to tough their taboos. Overall, we can see how important a theme brings to the show; therefore producer and staffs should decide the theme carefully before making the production.

Talking about talk show, we are generally thinking about the John Oliver’s style, which we are currently use in our project. In fact, there are various styles in this category. Below is a talk show produced in China, named A Bright World. It is formed with 11 youths from different nations and 4 hosts, discuss about the current hot issues. The atmosphere is meant to emulate a meeting of world leaders, but presented with humor. This show contains a cultural diversity since the guests are from different regions. It not only covers the news, more importantly, it gathers multiple perspectives for one topic, which can further more promote the cultural communication.

The show is more like a debate around the topic. The advantage is that the opinions are various compare to John Oliver’s style. In the traditional American Talk Show, The only host is representing his individual opinion, which might be lack of objectivity and diversity. But after watching both of these two types of talk show, I personally prefer the monologue one since it is more incisive, and the satire makes deeper impression to me in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. What’s more, a good host is very important. Their performance is the main to bring up the atmosphere and audiences’ emotions. However, hosts as well as the guests in A Bright World cannot achieve this very well.

One thing that interest me during the studio practice is the use of camera. We usually use two to three cameras in regular program; if there’s more than one host, or guest, there might be more. Why does we need more than one camera when just filming one host? According to observation, personal understanding and further research, I found the importance of the camera setting.

Generally, when we are filming one figure (for example the host), two cameras are stand by for the immediately switching. Camera one usually films the overall frame — a medium or long shot of the figure including the front table or other props. Camera two usually films the figure to show the detail — a close-up shot of the figure. This setting is called multiple camera. Multiple camera unfold more perspectives from different camera angles than a single camera. Camera one shows the setting and background, as well as the action of the host. Camera two shows the facial expression of the host, which is holding on-screen more frequently. In my opinion, this is because presenting the host in detail can highlight the satire jokes, which is mush easier leading the rhythm of the show and driving audience emotions.

The final effect is controlled by the vision switcher. They need to operate the studio control console to make changes between cameras, which is more convenient than adjust the single camera in real time. Staff behind the screen can easily see what’s going on in all cameras; the director should ask the camera operators to adjust each camera before the recording start.

Nowadays, the method of multiple cameras is gradually replace single camera since it is more convenient and efficient. Along with the increase in elements, there are more needs in cameras, which might be increase the challenges on vision switchers. As the role of vision switcher, I need to practice more and focus on the order of director, to prevent from mistakes.

In addition, I think what we can improve is to set a camera to film audience, to capture the reaction from them. Their active reactions can promote the emotions of the audience in front of the television.