The coordinating of the pre-game show, the game, and the post-game show requires the production team in the truck to be organized.
When a pre-game show is produced and directed out of the same mobile unit as the game, as is the case with our production, the Producer of the actual game and the Producer of the pre-game show must work in tandem as they pre-produce segments for each show. The sharing of crew and equipment for two different shows that originate from the same mobile unit on the same day requires that each Producer understands and respects the fact that each position has a job at hand.
Without a mutual respect and an understanding of each other’s needs, the sharing of equipment and crew could not and would not happen, and the quality of the pre-game show and the game telecast would suffer.
The theme of the game, the development of the theme during the game, and “wrapping up” of the theme at the conclusion of the game is the responsibility of the game Producer.
Pre-production for the game revolves around this theme.
The Producer will meet with the Director, audio, graphics, and tape with pre-production instructions concerning building of the elements necessary to capture the game “theme”.
The pre-game show on our telecast includes five segments.
The pre-game Producer arrives with the pre-game format that outlines the audio/video requirements necessary for the implementation of the pre-game plan.
Each segment incorporates the use of live shots, video game highlights, sound bites, and graphics to process the subject matter of the segment.
The Technical Director uses many different visual effects to attain a certain “look” for each show. (The pre-game show and the game-telecast each have a very different “look”)
The Duet (graphics machine) operator builds full-page and lower 1/3 graphics, “coming up” graphics, and all sponsored graphics for BOTH the pre-game show and the game.
The lead audio technician inserts highlight music, tracks the sound bites, and lays “highlight” or “theme” music over pertinent parts of every pre-produced element.
The lead tape operator and the other two tape ops in the truck build video packages requested by each Producer. The camera operators look for “live” batting practice/warm-up shots of players from each team.
At any time during pre-production, the tape room may be working on packages for both the pre-game show and the game, the Technical Director may be building a pre-game effect, the Duet operator may be loading game-specific information, and the A-1 (audio) may be simultaneously coordinating the audio requirements for the pre-game set and the announce booth that is used during the telecast. One camera operator may be looking for a shot for the pre-game show, while another camera operator is searching for a game “theme” related shot.
Certainly, production for the game takes precedence over the pre-game show production, but this fact makes the pre-game show no less important.
The most important facet that determines the success of the pre-production process is the organizational skill of each Producer. The more confidence a Producer has in his/her ability, the more organized a Producer will be.
Confidence = Organization = Quality
“This is what we are doing for the game tonight and here is how we are going to do it.”
“This is the plan for the pre-game show and this is what needs to be done.”