Posted by jakdedert on 01/06/08 08:00

blackburst@aol.com wrote:
> On Jan 4, 11:18 pm, Chuck Reti <chuckr...@yahoonospam.com.invalid>
> wrote:
> The rehearsal also lets the director and TD get "in
>> sync" with each other, so the TD will know whether to switch shots when
>> the director says "take THREE' or at "TAKE three," or by a finger point
>> or a snap. And invariably, "ready three, take TWO."
>
> THAT's funny, and so true. A few years back, I taught a college course
> on live directing, and I warned the TD-hopefuls that I would be doing
> just that - taking a different camera than I just readied! I also
> instructed them that, if I gave a command they KNEW was wrong, to
> disregard it. And they all pretty much "got" both things!
>
Unfortunately there are also directors who will almost NEVER take the
cam that they just readied...or the director who comes to a two camera
shoot, occasionally calling cam THREE (don't laugh, I've heard it).

> My classes would ask why I called the cameras by number rather than
> name. I played them a tape of a 4-camera show I directed. I gave a
> quick command to Bill to open left for an over-the-shoulder. THREE of
> the operators were named Bill, including the camera that was online at
> the time... And yes, HE panned, too.
>
I've never worked with a director who called by name, even when we were
well acquainted and worked many shows together.

And of course there are the directors who don't have the sense to simply
switch to a camera with a real shot, when the one they want is obviously
having some difficulty--focus or whatever--slavishly holding on the cam
they called despite having two others with acceptable shots...simply
because he CALLED cam one.

> But live directing is becoming a lost art. There used to be books
> about it, etc, but I found NOTHING about it at this year's NAB
> bookstore. Everybody uses NLEs now. And even though there are a
> zillion networks, everybody is "afraid" of Live.

As detailed, there are whole segments of the industry out there that do
it live. Maybe not your cuppa...but it happens every day.

jak

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