DIRECTING NEWSCASTS

March 2018

Most of the shows I have worked on over the years have been lost as websites are remodeled and YouTube channels are cleaned up. I managed to find this one from a couple of months before I left the station. There are a couple of things I'd change (aren't there always?), but overall this turned out pretty well. Sadly, we didn't have the ability to record director audio. The phone I rolled with at the time would have self-destructed at the thought of recording for any length of time! 

For this show, "directing" also involved technical directing (pushing the buttons), cameras, graphics, video rolling, audio (mics, music, video), and cuing the anchors. While the gig used to involve telling other people what to do (director perk!), automation meant I generally told myself what to do. I suppose you could say I talked to myself and pushed buttons for a living!  

This blog explains more about automated production. It concludes with how codes translate to what you see on air with another segment I directed. 

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This show is a great example of the importance of a solid producer-director-editor team. How a show is stacked can affect how an audience can dig into a story. Multiple angles from multiple reporters, pacing, graphic elements, audio elements, editing and live production touches all add up to a richer viewing experience and hopefully a deeper understanding of the communities involved. The producer for this show, Brian Kosciesza, has since moved on to MSNBC. 

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The rest of my saved shows live on tapes. Remember those? I'm pretty sure I have a super early director track on 3/4 inch tape. I'll bet that one is a blast! It was back in the manual days when I got to tell other people what to do! 

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Enjoy the show!