BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting

Hello, my name is Lauren O’Connell and welcome to my professional blog detailing my learning and development whilst in University study. I am a third year BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting Student at the University of Portsmouth, and throughout the year I will be blogging about the roles I have taken on, research I have done and some of the learning and technical details about the equipment I have used. I hope these paragraphs manage to capture your attention and provide an interesting read! Throughout my third year of University, my peers and I were allocated specialist teams and asked to produce an half an hour length live show every Friday at 12pm for a television channel that is embedded within our course curriculum entitled Creative and Cultural Industries TV, or CCI TV for short. The shows produced go out live to the CCI TV Channel website, YouTube and on the Portsmouth Big Screen situated on Guildhall Square in Portsmouth.

Above: Image of Portsmouth’s Big Screen situated at Guildhall, where our shows go Live. Each team were allocated a support group to help fill all the roles within the studios for the live broadcast days. Within the University, we have three studios; the CCI Studio, the Eldon Broadcast Hub and the Rotunda, which for third year, the teams only use the CCI Studio and the Eldon Broadcast Hub for Live broadcasts. As stated before, we were allocated specialist teams. Overall, there are 6 teams and each team was allocated a colour (Red, Green, Orange, Yellow, Blue and Black). My team was allocated the colour Green. The shows produced are of three different topic areas. ‘CCI Live’, is a magazine TV programme made for the Creative and Cultural Industries Faculty, otherwise known as CCI. Within this show, it features CCI news and upcoming events in aim to target a wide audience. The show is targeted at all CCI students and staff, though we also try and target the public so they get an insight into what the faculty does. ‘Eye on Portsmouth’, is targeted not only at the University students but also the Portsmouth public. The show is a collaboration between the University of Portsmouth and the City of Portsmouth. The TV programme is based on local news, information and upcoming events within the Portsmouth Area. Finally, ‘World on a Plate’, is TV programme where you learn about different cultures, and where everyone gets an insight on sports, food and other material that they may not have known came from a certain culture. Feel free to comment, message or like my posts, any feedback is appreciated!

If you would like to get in contact with me:

- My university email is [email protected]

-You can email me on my regular email on [email protected]

-You can connect with me via LinkedIn ( http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/lauren-o-connell/6a/114/690 )

-Or you can connect with me via Twitter (@Lauren2694)! Thank-You for visiting my blog, I hope you find it a rewarding read☺ Lauren

Third Year BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting Student

Role: Camera Operator

I was asked to help out with the lecturers’ live show on Friday 6th March as our student shows for this unit have ended. I was willing to help and managed to get a Camera Operator role in which I was excited about, as I am really enjoying the experiences I am getting being a Camera Operator. It also felt good as I was asked specifically to do the Camera Operator role because they have seen me previously do this role and thought I had done a good job, which made me feel very happy. Being a Camera Operator for this show was a challenge as I was in charge of two different cameras at one time. One of the Cameras was the Sony EX3, where the other Camera was the Canon XLH1. Both of these cameras I have previously used and I feel quite confident with how to control each one. I felt that even though I knew these cameras, I was scared of the challenge given to me for what I had to do during the show. As the two cameras I was in charge of was for the guests I couldn’t practice my shots during the rehearsal before the show went live at 12pm, because they were not there. I made sure that I was as calm as possible to help me take the situation upcoming better, and made sure I was organised by setting up the cameras by linking them to the TriCaster through a BNC Connector, and had white balanced both cameras. The Director briefed me as to what shots my cameras will have during the show. The Sony EX3 was for a Mid-Shot (MS) of the guests and the Canon XLH1 was for a Close-Up (CU) of just one of the guests, depending on who was being spoken to by the presenters. The Director reassured me that I will be instructed to change shot when it was needed throughout the live show.

Above: Me setting up the Canon XLH1 Camera.

Above: Me setting up the Sony EX3 Camera.

Role: Camera Operator

As the Red Group didn’t have anyone assigned to help them I offered to help them out, as it means extra experience for me as well as feeling good for helping a team out. The role I was assigned was Camera Operator, in which I was happy to do as I am now used to using the Canon XLH1 Camera. The Red Groups broadcast went Live on the 20th February 2015 at 12pm. 

I was told to come in between 10-10:30am on the day of broadcast, in which I made sure I was in earlier in case they needed help setting up any of the two studios. As only a couple of members were setting up the downstairs studio, I helped out by setting up the Canon XLH1 Cameras, turning the Studio Lights on and turning the Autocue, Vision Mixer and Tricaster on. Once everything was set up I was briefly told what shots I was supposed to do. Usually in shows I am given a script but as I wasn’t, it tested my memory skills to remember what I needed to do. The first shot I needed to complete was a Close-Up (CU) of the two presenters downstairs. After two interviews, I had a camera move, in which I had quite a long time to move the camera, and so was confident about moving the camera and wires safely but promptly. I was told to do a Mid-Shot (MS) of the presenter and guest throughout this section, but it wasn’t till the live show I was told to do other shots, in a little amount of time. I felt my skills improved because even though I was told in very little time to do the shots, I managed to set it up in time so that the Vision Mixer could go live onto my shots. Another skill I learnt was that we had dogs come into the studio, so I had to concentrate very well because if the dogs went out of shot with the presenter and guests, then my shot would be ruined. Luckily, the dogs were well behaved and the shots went well. Unfortunately, the Camera shot I was told to do with the dogs, was not briefed to me before we went Live, and so I had to follow the directions from the Director to set up the shots wanted. For me, I felt that I was successful in listening, moving the camera and was aware of what was going on at this given situation. As Gail Jenkinson, a Camera Operator at the BBC states that the skills you need are ‘to anticipate, listen and to be aware of what is happening around you’, in which I felt I did. After this section, I had to move the cameras back but in half the time as before. All went well and both me and the other Camera Operator moved and set up our cameras in time for the final section of the live music performance before the end of the show.

Above: Me setting up my first shot for the Live Show.

Role: Vision Mixer I was asked by a member of Yellow Team if I could help with their broadcast because they did not have enough people, in which I was willing to help. The broadcast was on the 6th February 2015 at 12pm, and the role I was asked to do was Vision Mixer in the main gallery because they thought I was good at the role and would do well with little practice needed. The equipment used was NewTek Live Control LC-11, which is connected to the TriCaster. I was happy to do this role as I have used the equipment many times before and Vision Mixing is a role I enjoy as I have previously stated. 

On the day of the live show, I was asked to come in at 10am, in which I did. When I arrived the team seemed to be in a bit of a panic, and I was asked by my course leader if I could go and ask them if they wanted me to do anything. I asked the Director, in which at first he said no but gave me a script so that I could have a read through. As always, I highlighted and wrote down what buttons I needed to press at which point to help me be organised and in control of the situation at hand. Once this was completed none of the team were in the gallery, but I had noticed there were not any camera angles on the script, meaning that me and the presenter wouldn’t know what to do at certain points. When the Director came in, he asked me to sort out which shots should be used during the show. I was shocked as I thought he would do this, but I took on the challenge as if it was my own show and decided on the shots.

Role: Camera Operator

My group and I were the support team assigned to Orange Team for their show going Live on the 30th January 2015 at 12pm. I was offered which role I would like to pursue, which I chose Camera Operator as I have previously enjoyed this role and wanted to improve on my skills.

I was asked to come in for a practice on the 29th January so I can be told what shots I am going to be doing. I was given generic shots of Close-ups (CU), Wide-shots (WS) to give the audience a view of the set and the guests facial expressions, but also got given a skilful task to do, in which I had to turn the camera round and set up shot in a matter of time at two different points in the show. The first move where I needed to turn the camera around 180 degrees, I had a few minutes to do, but the second move, I had to turn the camera 180 degrees in 30 seconds. This was a huge pressure brought upon me and I was scared about the second move, but I was lucky enough to have a few run throughs due to the good organization of the Orange Group, which made me feel confident and calm about tomorrow. At the end of the practice I was told to come in for 10am the next day.

Above: Me setting up shot on the Canon XLH1 camera during practice.

Role: Vision Mixer

On the evening of the 22nd January 2015, I was asked by a support team member if I could help out and be a Vision Mixer for Blue Groups show ‘World On A Plate’, going Live tomorrow at 12pm. I was up for doing the role but was scared at the same time as I didn’t know what I had to do and whether I would get a practice tomorrow morning. This was overcome though, as I have been a Vision Mixer quite a few times before, but the worry of getting something wrong is always at hand.

The day of 23/01/15 was Blue groups Live Show, in which I was told to come in at 10am, in which I turned up on time. When I arrived I asked what I should do in which no one responded or told me that they are trying to sort something. I decided to go to the CCI Studio Gallery where I was pursuing my Vision Mixing role, to make sure it is all set up and ready for a practice. Finally, everything was ready with just under an hour to go and I was given a script in which I highlighted what I needed to do as I have always done with a Vision Mixer role as it makes me feel more confident and organised. The director decided that he would like to try and squeeze a run through in before we went live at 12pm. As there were some technical issues there wasn’t a full run through but I felt confident as I have been a Vision Mixer multiple times before. The Vision Mixer used is a NewTek Tricaster 860 Multi-Standard Vision Mixer with Control Surface.

Above: Image of me being a Vision Mixer and the equipment used

Role: Director

Before the Christmas holidays, my group were told that we had ‘CCI Live’ once again for our Live show on Friday 16th January 2015. We decided to have a meeting to discuss roles and what we could possibly do for our show because there have already been CCI Live shows this year and so we did not want to have a repetition of anything that was previously broadcasted. I decided to say that I wished to be a Director for this show as it was a role I had previously done but not to the full extent, and because I enjoyed it I wanted to enhance my skills. The ideas we came up with were to interview some third year fashion students about their skills and work, and to also ask if we could have them to do a live performance, exhibiting pieces of their work they had made themselves. We also talked about interviewing the animation students and lecturer and decided to try and contact them. As we have to now include a live music performance we discussed how we could ask a music technology student or students to perform Live on our broadcast day. As we had a lecture about doing a Masters degree, this was also another idea we wished to pursue as many third year students at University have to consider whether or not they wish to do a Masters degree, and so we thought we could interview someone Live and then get the Live audience involved by getting them to ask any questions they have about doing a Masters degree.

Once we had the meeting we started to email all of these courses so that we could maybe film something before we broke up for the Christmas holidays. I was able to receive the email address for the animation course leader, and so emailed her to see if she could email around to ask if any students wished to get involved. The fashion students and lecturer replied quite quickly and we were able to have a shoot on Wednesday 10th December 2014. For this shoot only three members were available, which was good as I got to experience two roles, which were Camera Operator (which was my main role) and Sound Operator (which I helped out with) and then one member of the group was the interviewee. There were some technical issues with the Mix-Pre that we were given but luckily we sorted it to the best of our knowledge and filmed the interview with the two fashion students.

After we returned back to University, my group decided to have a production meeting to discuss what we have received back via emails and to see what we have done so far. Unfortunately animation did not reply to us and so we discussed the option of interviewing television and film production students about what work and roles they have experienced, in which I contacted two people I know, who were willing to be interviewed. Fashion had also kept us up to date saying they are still interested in doing a Live performance on our show. Another problem faced was that the lecturers who teach the Masters degrees within the Creative Technologies were not available, and so my group decided that we will continue trying to find someone as it would be interesting content for our show.

On the 8th January 2015, me and two members of my group went to film the interview with the two television and film production third year students. The roles I took on this shoot were Director and Lighting Operator. With the space we had and because of sun exposure, setting up the lighting equipment was a task as I needed to make sure that the Dedo Lights were not too bright or too dim. Overall, I feel that it was not as successful as other interviews we had done previously because the only room we could have, had bright sunlight streaming in, so we had to shut the blinds, turn the lights on and use the Dedo Lights to try and make it work. This ended up working and an interview particularly with one of the third year students went well as they were very good at giving long answers with the questions that were given.

My group were told by our lecturer that a television and film production student had recreated a scene from ‘Back to the Future’ and so we wanted to interview him live on our show and play his recreation, in which he was happy to do. We also found out that he is in a band and was willing to do a solo acoustic performance in our show. Unfortunately, when producing shows, sometimes things do not go to plan. Our lecturer did not like the VT involving the two television and film production students that was filmed because it needed to have a different approach in regards to the questions, but my team and I worked together to try and see how we could fill the gap. Another event that occurred was that fashion stopped replying to emails so we had to restructure the show and script. Academic Skills Plus is a university student support place for students to go to in times of struggle in regards to essay writing. We felt that this would be a good feature, and luckily even though it was last minute, a member of staff accepted to be interviewed live on the show.

On the 14/01/15, we had our first rehearsal using the upstairs studio. This was our chance to make sure the correct script and footage had been uploaded and to make sure all straps were ready for the show. Unfortunately our support group did not turn up to this rehearsal, meaning I had to find other students to help out for it as otherwise we could not practice. Luckily, there were people who were willing to help, and overall it was a successful rehearsal for the team and the presenter.

Above: Image of me being a Director in Rehearsals.

Role: Camera Operator

On the 28/11/14, I was the support group for the Orange Team. My group were asked what role we would like to have, in which I asked if I could be a Camera Operator as it was a role I had not entailed in a show for third year, apart from in my groups shoots, in which I used a Sony EX1 or Sony EX3, whereas in the Eldon Broadcast Hub the cameras are Canon XLH1. Being a Camera Operator was a role I wanted as I have the pressure of being in charge of setting up one of the Camera shots that the Director wanted, whilst making sure the camera is in focus at all times. I wanted to make sure that the shots had enough talk space, as otherwise it would make the shot incorrect, as I wanted the audience to know which direction the person they are speaking to is sitting at, even if you couldn’t see them. The Show was ‘CCI Live’ which is a magazine TV programme on the Creative and Cultural Industries and went live at 12pm on Friday 28th November 2014.

Being a Camera Operator gave me the chance to learn how to set up the Canon XLH1 with a talkback system. The Canon XLH1 is able to have many frame rates, but for this broadcast I used 25fps because it works with Broadcasted TV and is the most commonly used frame rate in the United Kingdom. As a Camera Operator I know I am in charge of making sure the Camera I am in control of is rigged and set up correctly. Therefore, I connected the talkback system to the Directors Box via a 5 pin XLR cable and attached the headphones with a 6mm headphone jack to the talkback. The talkback system I used was a DataVideo ITC-100SL-A2. I hadn’t used any of this equipment before so it was another learning development for me as I got to learn about how to set up part of the studio correctly, as I also had to make sure that the camera itself was connected correctly so that the Vision Mixer and TriCaster Operator could see my shots on their screen. This also meant I learnt this along with how to set up the Sony XLH1 Camera, which I hadn’t previously used, which also had a reflective glass mirror attached to it for the AutoCue for the presenters to read from.

Above: Image of the 5 pin XLR cable used to attach the Talkback System to the Directors Box.

Above: Images of the Talkback System used - DataVideo ITC-100SL-A2.

Role:  Director and Vision Mixer

As my group got the faculty based show ‘CCI Live’ for our next show we decided to have a meeting to discuss ideas. We wanted to do an Architecture special and so got in contact with an Architecture lecturer who was willing to be interviewed on our show that went Live at 12pm on Friday 14th November 2014. We decided that we wanted to feature first years to interview them about how they are finding their University experience so far, and my group wanted to feature our live audience and thought a Q&A would be good to ask the two first year students any questions they would like an answer to. With regards to Architecture, we found a few third years that were willing to talk about what they have learnt and what they have seen because they came to Portsmouth University to study Architecture.

After our meeting, we booked out filming equipment we needed, and interviewed one of the three third year Architecture students on the 28th October 2014. For this interview I decided my role would be Lighting Operator as I wanted to improve my skills and to see if I had learnt from the previous shoot. As I was responsible for using the three Dedo Lights we booked out, I decided to use the 3 point lighting technique I had learnt previously to produce a high quality shot. There were problems at first as the room was quite dark, but this was overcome by making sure that the lights in the room we were using were on, whilst also adding more light to help with the Dedo Lights. The interview went successful after facing the lighting problems and we stayed organised by arranging with the other two Architecture students when we can film them before our deadlines for the VTs.

On the 4th November both of the Architecture students we asked were free for an interview. We decided to take a smaller crew this time and so I had the role of Lighting Operator and Camera Operator. This was a bit more pressure as I had to keep going back to the Sony EX1 Camera to check that the lighting technique I used was good enough and that the lighting was not too strong on the interviewee’s face. It also meant that I got to learn the pressure of taking on multiple roles, which I felt would be a good skill to gain, as it shows I can handle huge pressure. I decided to set the Sony EX1 Camera up first so that then me and the Director could decide on what to do with the lights. The lights used were the three Dedo Lights, and once again I used the technique of the three point lighting to create a high quality video. Overall, even though I have previously done both of these roles, I feel that it still is a lesson as with every shoot as you are in different locations, with different weather types and people, so even though I know about the equipment, I also get to learn every single time what is best to do for any situation I am in.

Above: Image of the Lighting and Camera set up at the Architecture interview shoot.

Role:  Second Unit AutoCue Operator (Eldon Broadcast Hub).

On the 7/11/14, the Red Team, asked me last minute to step in and be an AutoCue Operator, as they needed one extra person, in which I was happy to assist. I had previously been an AutoCue Operator before and so I didn’t feel too pressured as I only had one rehearsal before the Live Show at 12pm.

The AutoCue programme used in the Eldon Broadcast Hub is called QStart. This is a programmes I hadn't previously used before, but found that it was quite simple to figure out how to upload the script and change the font size. The computer is linked up to the Canon XLH1 Camera’s in which it is available for the presenters to read (via a glass reflective panel on the front of the camera) whilst looking directly at the camera. I had to work with the presenters to make sure the script is the correct size for them to read. I also had to make sure I moved the pace dial at the correct speed so that the presenter doesn’t talk too fast or too slow and to make sure I haven’t skipped past a section they haven’t finished reading yet. This is made easier by the use of a white arrow pointing to the part of the script that is at the top of the AutoCue at that moment in time. During the rehearsal I got the chance to make sure I got these details correct, whilst also being given the task to alter the script slightly as told by the director. As Camberwell studios states ‘The Autocue operator will work closely with the director and on screen talent. They will also be very in tune with repetition, dodgy takes, eye-line and will react accordingly the speakers needs and wants. This will offer a subtle calming effect to get the most out of the subjects performance.’ I felt that I can relate to this statement because as stated I made sure I moved the pace dial in time with the pace the presenter spoke, whilst being told by the Director when to slow down or speed up so they can stick to the show times.

Above: An image of me being an AutoCue operator, with the white arrow pointing to the script that is at the top of the AutoCue on the Canon XLH1 Camera.

Role: Vision Mixer

In August, my course were emailed and divided into six production groups with colours. My production group is called the ‘Green Team’, and we were told we had to produce a live show called ‘Eye On Portsmouth’ for the second week of university. Three members of the team had a brief meeting to discuss ideas on what we could produce for our show that was going out live on Friday 3rd October 2014.

Once we updated the rest of the group, we were told a brief outline on what the shows content should be about, before we discussed who should do what role. As a group we wanted to all go to the shoots so that we could take turns in experiencing Camera, Sound and Lighting roles. Having everyone or most of the group going to the shoots worked out as there are only six in my group including myself. For the studio roles we decided on specific roles, in which I was assigned the role of the Vision Mixer.

Eye On Portsmouth is a show that gives the information of events and news that is happening within the Portsmouth area. From the first meeting with the group, we told them the ideas we had come up with from the VTs which were, a feature on the BBC Big Screen (situated at Guildhall, Portsmouth) and the man in charge Oliver Ing, (as this is one of the places our show goes live to), the ‘Lest We Forget’ exhibition at Portsmouth Museum (as Remembrance Day 100Year Anniversary was next month) and then maybe one more VT if these are not a long enough length.  Plans were made during the meeting to email the council to get permission to be able to film at Guildhall, whilst also getting permission from Oliver Ing and Portsmouth Museum.

All three emails were positive and we were able to film a couple of days after. The first shoot was at Guildhall. My role for the VT was Camera Operator using the Sony EX3. This is a camera I have only had experience with in third year, and so brought it upon myself to learn how to use the camera, so that I was confident in using it when we went and filmed. As I hadn't used the Sony EX3 before, I wanted to have the Camera Operator role on shoots, as it would mean I gain a new skill and would from then on know how to use this certain camera. On the day I had to reset the camera so that we had the right formats on it, otherwise we would have problems within the edit, meaning that we would have to reshoot. I then went around different parts of Guildhall to get different cutaway shots and angles such as Pans, Wide Shots (WS) and Slow Zooms, that could be used within the VT. Once this was completed we filmed the interview with Oliver Ing.

The next day we went to the museum to film cutaways and an interview a lady named Tracey Teasdale questioning her about the ‘Lest We Forget’ exhibition. The role I decided on for this shoot was Lighting Operator. The reason for this is because I wanted to improve the skills I have, as I was not the most confident person in lighting. For the shoot, I decided to use the Dedo Lights to make the 3 point lighting technique I had learned from my previous two years at university, and once the shot was set up, I felt as though the shot looked good, in which the director agreed. The picture below shows the set up of the interview. Tracey had told our group that she had never had such a respectful and nice group of students come in to film before, in which made me feel happy as we all tried to be as professional as possible during the shoot.

Above: Image showing the lighting set up I had done for the interview.

Role: Second Unit Vision Mixer (Eldon Broadcast Hub).

On the 25/09/14 and 26/09/14, I was the support group for the Red Team.  The Director told our groups what roles needed to be filled and to choose which ones we wanted. I decided to do the Second Unit Vision Mixer role in the Eldon Broadcast Hub, which is situated downstairs within our University building. I wanted to be a Vision Mixer, as it is an important role within the industry and so I wanted to learn skills on how to use the piece of equipment (In the Eldon Broadcast Hub the Vision Mixer is the NewTek Live Control LC-11) as I was in charge of the camera shots being broadcasted, and in this show, it was for the interviews taking place in the downstairs studio. Naomi Neufeld, a Vision Mixer from the BBC states that a Vision Mixer works 'closely with the Director, to the Director, and a Vision Mixer will cut the camera shots that the Director wants onto the screen'. I also wanted to improve my skills from previous times when I have entailed the Vision Mixer role because I have enjoyed doing the role as you get an adrenaline rush with the pressure of making sure you broadcast the correct camera shot. The Show was 'CCI Live' which is a faculty based show (I explained in the beginning introduction section of my blog) and went live at 12pm on Friday 26th September 2014.

Above: Images of the NewTek Live Control LC-11 Vision Mixer I operated during the Live Show.