Basic Production Styles

Although TV programs cover a broad spectrum of entertainment, three radical approaches to production techniques are widely used.

The ‘stylized routine’ approach

This approach works within a systematic framework. However, many a working format eventually degenerates into a stylized routine that is applied whatever the program subject. Let’s look at a typical example:

The show fades up on opening credits.

CUT to a wide shot of the scene, discovering Person ‘A’.

CUT to a mid shot of ‘A’: Who proclaims ‘Hello and good evening I’ and introduces Person ‘B’…

CUT to mid shot of ‘B’ entering … pulling out to a two-shot as ‘B’ meets yp with ‘A’.

CUT to close up of ‘A’ …

 

We could continue with this kind of shot breakdown ad ...

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