Specialised Courses

Learning objectives

• To understand the use of different cameras in a live sports production
• To be able to effectively use broadcast equipment to adapt to different types of events
• To adopt best practices for storytelling across live cut and replays
• To understand the various roles in a production team and to work effectively as a team

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 15

Attendees: Production team (including directors)

Note: This course is aimed at those already directing multi-camera live events.

The session will provide the participants with the chance to enhance their understanding of sports production through experimental practical sessions.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• Review of set-up
• Practice & hands-on exercises

Part 1: Theory sessions

• Introduction and basic principles of live directing
• Working with the team and understanding roles and responsibilities of each member of the team
• Study of camera positions of top level sporting events
• Choice of most appropriate camera plan
• Review of editorial principles of slow motion for action replays and examples of different applications

Part 2: Practical sessions

• Exercises on the Live TV Simulator
• Test-match exercises
• Debriefing and review of the test match exercises
• Final live match directing

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand different camera formations and the use of each camera
• Understand the basic principles of sports storytelling
• Be a confident member of the live sports directing team
• Have a technical understanding on the use of the various broadcast equipment in live directing

Learning objectives

• To understand the use of different cameras in a live sports production
• To be able to effectively use of broadcast equipment to adapt to different types of events
• To understand the various roles in a production team and to work effectively as a team
• To adopt best practice for storytelling across live cut and replays

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 15

Attendees: Production team (including directors)

Note: This course is aimed at those already directing multi-camera live events.

The session will provide the participants with the chance to enhance their understanding of sports production through experimental practical sessions.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• Review of set-up
• Practice & hands-on exercises

Part 1: Theory sessions

• Introduction and basic principles of live directing
• Working with the team and understanding the roles and responsibilities of each member of the team
• Study of camera positions of top-level sporting events
• Choice of most appropriate camera plan
• Review editorial principles of slow motion for action replays and best usage

Part 2: Practical sessions

• Design a camera plan based on an event requirement
• Preparation of an outside broadcast and production plans including replay workflows
• A test match exercise
• Review of the test match exercise and debrief with participants

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand different camera formations
• Be a confident member of the live sports directing team
• Have a technical understanding on use of various broadcast equipment in live directing
• Understand the basic principles of sports storytelling

Learning objectives

• To know how to take a basic show to the next level visually
• To be able to effectively use outside sources within a show
• To be able to understand technical requirements in order to achieve advanced studio coverage

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Studio directors (advanced)

Note: This course is aimed at those already directing multi-camera studio shows.

The session will provide the participants with the chance to enhance their creativity and studio knowledge through experimental practical sessions.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• Review studio set-up
• Practice & hands-on exercises

Part 1: On-set shooting

• Alternative use of camera positions and shots
• Alternative positioning of presenters and guests
• Different uses of lighting
• Use of on-set screens

Part 2: Technical understanding

• Effective use of outside broadcasts
• Terminology and technical requirements involving studio and outside sources
• Filming 30 minutes show using techniques learned

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Use cameras and lighting to enhance studio filming
• Be confident in using on-set screens and alternative camera shots
• Understand technical requirements when using outside broadcasts within a studio-based show

Learning objectives

• To be able to create the initial idea for a story
• To understand the visual and audio elements needed for a story, combining new elements and library archive footage, in order to construct a powerful piece of TV storytelling
• To be able to write to pictures

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Reporters

Note: This course assumes that all participants are proficient in their job role.

The course is based on theory and practical sessions aimed at ensuring reporters and producers can conceive and deliver a dynamic finished item for programmes and news bulletins.

Attendees will be given an exercise in putting a story together, working at times as a group and at times on their own.

During the workshop, attendees will need access to an ENG cameraman and an editor.

Course content

Part 1: How to create a story idea

• Every story starts with an idea
• Story ideas that start in the public domain (for example at a sports event)
• Original story ideas
• Developing and updating a story

Part 2: The story ingredients

• The storyboard – creating a treatment for television
• Preparation and planning for all the required ingredients
• Briefing colleagues (cameramen and editors)
• Making sure nothing is forgotten

Part 3: Putting it all together

• Preparing for the edit
• Writing to pictures
• A beginning, a middle and an end
• Joining the elements to create a natural flow

Part 4: The finished product

• Review of edited pieces and discussion / feedback

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Originate their own story ideas and react to stories already in the public domain, create a storyboard and treatment for their VT package, brief colleagues for required ingredients and deliver a powerful and coherent story for programmes or the news.

Learning objectives

• To have an understanding of the production process
• To have an appreciation and requirements of the different roles
• To work together in a collaborative way to enhance the Production Process

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10

Attendees: ENG producers, ENG cameramen and editors

Note: This course assumes that all participants are proficient in their job role.

The idea of the course is for the producer, ENG cameraman & editor to discuss their specific job roles and requirements and how, working in a collaborative way, they could streamline and enhance the production and post-production process.

They then work as a team to plan and complete a short shoot and edit with a storyboard and proper briefing and discussion of the roles within the team.

After the edit a review takes place to discuss learnings and what could be done even better next time.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

Part 1: Job titles & responsibilities

• Understanding the production and post-production process
• Each participant discusses their job role and responsibilities
• Understanding the interaction between job roles
• Discussion about collaborative working, how to get the best out of everyone
• Resolving any issues between departments

Part 2: Planning shoot

• Coming up with an idea
• Writing a script or storyboard
• Planning locations
• Discuss what ideas and requirements are needed from the perspective of the different roles

Part 3: Shoot

• Travel to location and set up
• Whilst shooting discuss what limitations there sometimes are and the frustration of unforeseen circumstances, not enough time or the contributor/interviewee not giving enough information
• Editors nearly always need more shots/cutaways, whilst on the shoot he can discuss with the cameraman the variety he needs to create sequences, different shot sizes, angles, positions, framing and perspective, etc.
• Cameramen need to be well briefed about the shots required especially specific ones to illustrate particular points

Part 4: Edit

• The editor and producer discuss how they are going to put the edit together, trying to work in a collaborative way, supporting each other to get the best possible outcome.
• The cameraman also observes the edit process to see and understand how his images are being used, or not used.

Part 5: Final discussion

• Final discussion about the positives and negatives of working together, how to improve the collaboration, understanding and appreciation of stresses and strains of different job roles
• Discuss what if anything they could have done better, more efficiently

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have an understanding and appreciation of other job roles
• Collaborate in a more meaningful and efficient way
• Look to move forward and try and implement any positive ideas that would enhance the production and post-production process within the station

Learning objectives

• To develop skill sets for intermediate and advanced ENG camera operation
• To understand all tiered menu functions and operational procedures of the sports broadcast cameras
• To review storytelling and editorial concepts in context to the role of camera operator

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: ENG camera operators (intermediate and advanced)

This course assumes that participants have over two years ENG camera operator experience and will have established ENG camera skill sets.

During the course and a series of hands-on practical exercises, participants will learn in-depth operational functions of the sports broadcast cameras and enhanced camera operator skill sets, and develop an aesthetic approach to ENG image acquisition.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• The ENG camera operator role and function at advanced level
• The application of advanced functions of the sports broadcast camera

Part 1: The Advanced ENG camera operator

• The role of the advanced (senior) ENG camera operator
• Review of the sports broadcast camera advanced functions
• Interlace and progressive recordings
• Critical exposure evaluation tools
• Menu and detailed settings
• User menu (Factory Default Configuration)
• Operation menu
• Paint menu
• Maintenance menu
• File menu
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast camera
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi-matrix values

Part 2: Advanced ENG camera operating

• Taking control of the image
• Developing image style
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast cameras
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi matrix values.
• Demonstrate image enhancement using lens filtration and image adjustment using camera menu multi-matrix values

Part 3: Advanced ENG camera operating

• Review storytelling and editorial concepts.
• Image gathering for the edit
• Emerging camera acquisition technologies
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast camera
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi-matrix values
• Demonstrate image enhancement using lens filtration and image adjustment using camera menu multi-matrix values
• Demonstrate core competence with a content browser 2.0 clip management
• Software and SxS workflow

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Be confident to use all functions of sports broadcast camera
• Have a more in-depth working knowledge of the camera and accessories
• Control the file-based production workflow

Learning objectives

• Mastering camera pedestal operational skills
• Mastering picture composition skills

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Studio cameramen (intermediate and advanced)

Note: This course assumes that the participants are experienced TV studio camera operators and have proficiency with camera pedestal technique.

During the workshop and a series of hands-on practical exercises, participants using the sports broadcast studio camera in combination with the elite camera pedestal, will master their camera pedestal technique and picture making capabilities.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• Enhanced camera pedestal operational skills
• Composition theory and picture making skills

Part 1: Enhanced camera pedestal operational skills

• Pedestal operating checklist – 10 operational guidance points
• Implementation and practise of 10 pedestal operation guidance points

Part 2: Composition and picture making skills

• Frames within frames
• Closed and open framing
• Dissonance
• Lines of perspective
• 180-degree rule
• The development shot
• Execute checklist of pedestal operating techniques
• Demonstrate appreciation of image composition theories and execute an array of shots

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have a more in depth working knowledge of camera operations in a studio environment
• Understand the constraints and the technical capabilities of the cameras
• Have a more creative idea of how to enhance the programming

Learning objectives

• To understand the real objectives of television sports commentary
• To learn how to prepare properly for a match
• To add value for viewers through information and voice modulation
• To work with directors and use the monitor effectively

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: Commentators

Note: This course assumes that all participants are proficient in their job role.

The course is based on theory and practical sessions aimed at giving commentators a greater understanding of their craft and improving their commentary skills.

Course content

The workshop is run initially as a group session and then commentators will prepare and deliver off tube commentary of a football match.

Part 1: The real objectives of television sports commentary

• The history of sports commentary – radio to television
• Different commentary styles around the world
• Telling a story
• Enhancing the viewing experience – the real objective for every commentator

Part 2: Planning and preparation

• Knowing your audience and the importance of player identification
• Player biographies and statistics and how to use them
• A system for preparing commentary notes
• Preparing an opener

Part 3: During the match

• Creating a sense of occasion and context, before, during and after the match
• Anticipating key moments
• Voice modulation – creating an ebb and flow
• When to speak and when not to speak!
• Communication with the director – use of the monitor and the lazy button for talkback

Part 4: Commentary Exercise

• Individual commentary exercise (off tube)
• Individual review of performance, discussion and feedback

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have a better understanding of the real objectives of sports commentary
• Be able to prepare for commentary more effectively with the tools to develop their own system of notes
• Be able to create their own commentary style and feel more confident in delivering effective storytelling commentary