Home sweet home.
It is always nice to work with your home crew. When you work with the same people for 75 + games, there is a comfort level that only enhances the telecast.
As the director, the camera operators know what I want and the shots are there. On road telecasts, each camera operator is given certain responsibilities. Since every director cuts the game differently sometimes an operator has to be reminded to, for example, "give me the runner."
When a shot is not there at a precise time the "flow" of the show suffers.
Same with the producer. The producer calls the replays and if there is hesitation with the tape operator than the "flow" is disrupted.
The flow of a telecast is very different in home to road telecasts.
Another difference between a home telecast and a road telecast for a director is that on the home shows there are very few wasted shots. Shots that do not mean anything. When the telecast is flowing there are no wasted shots.
For the producer and his tape crew, there are fewer instances of wasted video on home shows than there are on road shows. A good example of wasted video is when there is a play at the plate the viewer sees the throw come in from the outfield and most high home and high first or third camera operators are very adept at pushing to the ball all the while staying in focus. A very nice looking picture. However, many times I see the second angle following the ball in as well. The story, however, is the play at the plate. So, why waste 3 or 4 seconds on another look at the ball in the air when there could be another angle of the play at the plate. 3 or 4 seconds is a long time in a replay sequence.
Tonight's telecast was a great example of a telecast flowing.
The game had all the ingredients for a good flow. It was well pitched by both teams. Both starting pitchers worked fast and threw strikes. There was timely hitting and good defense. Also as important, the home plate umpire called the strike zone the way it is supposed to be called. (If major league baseball wants to speed up the game then call strikes the way they should be called.)
When the telecast is flowing, there are very few wasted shots and there is very little wasted replay video. A good flow only enhances the viewing experience. It is on the flowing telecasts that some of the most memorable moments of the season are captured and remembered.
It is always nice to work with your home crew. When you work with the same people for 75 + games, there is a comfort level that only enhances the telecast.
As the director, the camera operators know what I want and the shots are there. On road telecasts, each camera operator is given certain responsibilities. Since every director cuts the game differently sometimes an operator has to be reminded to, for example, "give me the runner."
When a shot is not there at a precise time the "flow" of the show suffers.
Same with the producer. The producer calls the replays and if there is hesitation with the tape operator than the "flow" is disrupted.
The flow of a telecast is very different in home to road telecasts.
Another difference between a home telecast and a road telecast for a director is that on the home shows there are very few wasted shots. Shots that do not mean anything. When the telecast is flowing there are no wasted shots.
For the producer and his tape crew, there are fewer instances of wasted video on home shows than there are on road shows. A good example of wasted video is when there is a play at the plate the viewer sees the throw come in from the outfield and most high home and high first or third camera operators are very adept at pushing to the ball all the while staying in focus. A very nice looking picture. However, many times I see the second angle following the ball in as well. The story, however, is the play at the plate. So, why waste 3 or 4 seconds on another look at the ball in the air when there could be another angle of the play at the plate. 3 or 4 seconds is a long time in a replay sequence.
Tonight's telecast was a great example of a telecast flowing.
The game had all the ingredients for a good flow. It was well pitched by both teams. Both starting pitchers worked fast and threw strikes. There was timely hitting and good defense. Also as important, the home plate umpire called the strike zone the way it is supposed to be called. (If major league baseball wants to speed up the game then call strikes the way they should be called.)
When the telecast is flowing, there are very few wasted shots and there is very little wasted replay video. A good flow only enhances the viewing experience. It is on the flowing telecasts that some of the most memorable moments of the season are captured and remembered.
posted by Cutting The Game at 9:14 PM
1 Comments:
As one of the home camera guys I first want to thank you for the kind words. It's very rewarding to work for a Director that appreciates your hard work. It takes a little out of you when you are working hard trying to get shots in sometimes difficult and uncomfortable conditions and your work goes unnoticed by a lesser Director.
Second there are few people in this business or any other business that will fight for you. To acknowledge our work is to show professionalism.
To fight, is to go beyond.
T. West
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