The Television Production Process: From Control Room to Post-Production
THE CONTROL ROOM
A room adjacent to the studio, separate from the institutions, coordinates all production activities. This is where the director, assistant director, producer, production assistants, and mixer are located. This room receives and processes all signals to form the program that will be taped or broadcast live. The television control room need not be adjacent to the set or have direct visual contact with it, but it should not be too far away to avoid excessively long cables. This room is where equipment adjustments are made, signals are mixed with others received from outside broadcasts or pre-recordings, and graphics, titles, and music are inserted while assessing the technical quality of the signal being generated.
The control room includes:
Video Monitors
Even simpler control rooms have a large number of monitors.
- Normally the mixer has two outputs: preview (PVW), which allows the director to see the next video source before using it, and the program output (PGM), which is the output signal being recorded. The program output is usually recorded on a VTR and transmitted through the master control switcher to the transmitter. The program outputs are sent to their corresponding monitors for viewing.
Intercom Systems
Used to contact the studio team. Normally, one channel is set up to instruct the camera operators, while a second channel is reserved for communication with the rest of the technical staff. For the director, presenter, and other studio technicians, belt packs are used (bidirectional communication pouches attached to the belt that can be connected by cable or radio systems).
Also in the control room are:
1. Sound Control
The sound booth is usually attached to the television control room, often connected through a large glass window. The sound engineer listens to the director’s instructions through the intercom system.
2. Lighting Control
May be located in the control room or in a corner of the studio. Like the rest of the crew, the lighting operator is connected to the director by intercom.
3. Master Control
Coordinates everything that happens on set. Found in major television networks where it is common to have several control rooms, each with their corresponding sets. Master control handles the following functions:
- Makes the necessary switches for each studio to provide the signals needed for program development.
- Executes the technical supervision of the signals to be broadcast.
- Serves as a liaison with other production and transmission centers involved in program dissemination.
- Establishes a single synchronization pattern for all program production centers, distributing it to production controls that depend on it.
4. Continuity Control
Centralizes control in audiovisual production and determines what is reported, in what order, and when it will be broadcast. All these elements appear in the rundown or program schedule, a document that reflects broadcast times, programs to be aired, their origin, those that must be archived, local and regional connection and disconnection windows, and so on. This is also where advertising is managed, defining the spots and their display times. In short, this control regulates the content that reaches the public.
Continuity control receives program feeds from master control, production controls, and external controls. The console or mixer switch determines which of these sources is returned to master control as the broadcast signal. This signal goes to a generator that inserts the station’s logo during the broadcast and removes the screen time devoted to advertising. This room also houses a character generator that allows text messages with breaking news or information to be superimposed on the broadcast.
Although master control management is computerized, all controls have a manual selector similar to a studio mixer, used as a backup in case of computer problems.
5. Transmission Control Room
This room is the last link in the chain, as it transmits the program signal to the end user. Like continuity control, this room is closely related to master control. The transmission room provides master control with all signals received from external sources, such as satellite transmissions from other stations, signals from mobile units, etc. Associated with this room is the communications tower where the antennas for all equipment are installed.
POST-PRODUCTION ROOMS
These are small rooms where quick assemblies of scenes recorded by reporters for the newscast are made, or where more complex reports are produced. These rooms may include:
- Voice-over Booth: A soundproof room for recording voice-overs that will later complement the images.
- Editing Room: Where the final assembly work is carried out.
- Graphics Room: Where graphics used for titles, end credits, statistics, and clocks are developed.
7. SUPPORT AREAS
No studio can operate properly without a minimum of support areas. These include:
- Set storage space.
- Makeup, wardrobe, and hairdressing rooms.
- Utility room.
- Lighting room.
TELEVISION TECHNICAL STAFF
The staff working on the launch of a television product.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Responsible for creating an audiovisual product of the highest quality and profitability with the lowest possible budget without compromising quality.
Executive Producer
- Manages both human and technical teams, distributing resources among production projects.
- Responsible for proposing ideas and developing programs.
- Secures funding from public and private entities.
- Establishes a rational budget allocation.
- Ensures the expected product quality.
Producer
- Draws up the breakdown and schedules the first meetings.
- Finds the sets.
- Prepares the work plan and preliminary budget.
The producer, director, and screenwriter are the first people to join an audiovisual project. The producer:
- Performs coordination, planning, budgeting, recording, and post-production tasks.
- Manages and provides technical and human resources.
- Manages and controls all production payments.
- Deals directly with two types of problems: economic and artistic.
Production Assistant
- Handles coordination, preparation, and complementary tasks, all directed by the producer.
- Works closely with the producer and assistant director/producer.
- Responsible for production logistics and administrative activities.
- Assisted by production assistants, drivers, secretaries, receptionists, and extras handlers.
Production Coordinator
- Also known as the second assistant production manager or props master.
- Required for drama programs, children’s and youth shows, and those with significant set and content changes.
Production Secretary
- Responsible for administrative organization in the program office.
- Manages the production schedule.
- Updates planning boards.
Assistant Production Assistant
. Make production assistant functions, with a view to training for what will gradually meet more complex operations.