STUDIO PRODUCTION: FIRST REHEARSAL

Today was our first rehearsal with our Presenters, a script and show full structure to the show. Although, we didn't have any contributors, we did have stand ins organised for this rehearsal.

Del walked me through Directing the Vision Mixer, Explaining the 2 screens in the Gallery, Preview and Transmission. The preview lets us preview the shot and the Transmission is what is going out live. We were told the following for setting up and cutting to a shot:

- Stand-by ___, Cut to _____
- Stand-by VT, Roll VT
- Stand-by Graphics, Animate (bring up), Fade (take away)
- Stand-by _____ (sound effect), Cue _____ (Sound effect)
- Lights up (saying the correct section for the lighting team which will be in the script)
- Cue Presenters (Presenters can begin speaking)

Del also explained that in TV, we don't say Wide, Mid and close up shots, we say 2 Shot (both presenters in the shot), single (single person), Tight single (close up shot), 3 shot (3 people in the shot) and we work it from there. Del said the only time we should say 'Cue' is when cueing the Presenters. For this rehearsal, we didn't have TalkBack for the Presenters so our Floor Managers were cueing them in and out. We ran through as much of George's section as we could, all the while I was watching and taking notes, simply because if George goes sick, I will have to Direct the entire show. Through the rehearsal we were making notes about graphics needed, lower thirds for the Presenters and also the graphics that will have the prices for the clothes on them for Steal the Style. We only just got through Steals of the Season and we then took for lunch and came back, Del then explained we were going to swap and start from Old to New so I could get some practice in this section.

Working with the script, I found this incredibly difficult. I missed cues, timings and found cutting and reading the script incredibly difficult. I made more mistakes than good choices as well with this run through. I found it all too much to deal with and had to take a break for a moment. Del then suggested that we watch him and how he did it.
Del didn't look at the script, he continually asked the P.A. for counts and how long was left on the section. He listened to the presenters rather than follow the script and watched every camera for the next shot. Once watching this, I tried cutting by watching and listening rather than reading the script. I found this much more helpful as I could see what was going on and could follow with the action rather than trying to stick to what we had written down. Although I still didn't get through more than 2 sections, this is a huge step forward for me and I am now starting to see what the best way for me to work is.

During my blocking, Del suggested having a split screen for the Dad shoes, as this adds a little extra to Old to New and is often used in Studio Production (Example to the left from Celebrity Juice). The idea is having a single of the model showing their entire body and then a single, tight shot on the 'Dad Shoes'. Talking to the Producers, they want this section cut down and have the shoes coming out on the model, rather than having 3-4 different pairs.