Help with justifying use of PD170 on "TV Broadcast" quality work.

Liam_Vegas wrote on 4/5/2004, 11:50 AM

I need your help.

Through a combination of sheer hard work and being in the right place at the right time (I think they call it luck) I have a unique opportunity where I may get a chance to produce some regular programming for a PBS station.

The content of the shows will likely feature local interest stories from around the area that I'll pull together into a 15 or 30 minute program (possibly weekly).

My "angle" on the whole deal is to produce the shows in a professional manner while not requiring a big-budget production crew (and costly equipment).

I have produced some content that has so far impressed many of the people who need to be convinced... but it would help to have some more "bullets" that I can use to solidify the case.

I know that my camera is one that is often used in documentary/news style programs. I also know that the BBC spends a lot of time training people to shoot video using such cameras (see their online training guide)

What I am looking for is more information on everything ranging from contacts that I can speak to, links to online articles and lists of programs that have been produced using this sort of equipment.. If anyone here knows someone at the BBC who would not mind getting a call from me... that would be awesome.

Can anyone help?

Thanks a bunch. If this comes off... I'll be on cloud nine!

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 4/5/2004, 12:40 PM

Liam, as I've said before (and I think Spot has, too), so long as the finished product looks good, i.e., professional, and is up to standards from a narrative point of view, the (knowledgeable) broadcasters could care less what equipment you use.

For what it's worth, every major television network and cable channel has used the smaller DV cameras to produce hundreds of documentaries for broadcast. We've all seen them and been none the wiser! At any rate, try this:

http://journalism.berkeley.edu/program/courses/dv/cookbook.html

If I were you, I'd be focusing on making sure you get good, solid scripts to shoot! If you're script sucks, so will the program, regardless of the equipment you use!

J--

Liam_Vegas wrote on 4/5/2004, 1:01 PM

I agree with everything you say... and that is definitely right on the money as far as where I am positioning stuff.

There are however often people in positions within these companies who try to spread fear and doubt regarding the use of such equipment. What I am trying to get is some nuggets that I can use to calm the fears somewhat.

I know once I am going the problems (at least those ones) will be behind us and we can just get down to producing a meaningful and compelling story... but for now... this is where I am at.

Thanks for the link.. .form a quick browse of that site it is exactly what I was looking for.

RexA wrote on 4/5/2004, 1:35 PM

That Berkeley web page is a great resource. Never saw it before. Thanks for sharing.