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Producing for TV and New Media, 3rd Edition

Producing for TV and New Media, 3rd Edition

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by Dustin Morrow, Cathrine Kellison, Kacey Morrow
Publisher: Focal Press
Release Date: February 2013
ISBN: 9780240818979
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Book Description

This book provides a thorough look at the role of the producer in television and new media. Written for new and aspiring producers, it looks at both the big picture and the essential details of this demanding job. In a series of interviews, seasoned TV and new media producers share their real-world professional practices to provide rich insight into the complex, billion-dollar industries. The third edition features more on the topics of new media and what that encompasses, covering the expansion of the global marketplace of media content. The traditional role of a television producer is transforming into a new media producer, and this book provides a roadmap to the key differences, and similarities, between the two.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Authors
  8. Introduction
  9. Chapter 1 • What Does a TV Producer Really Do?
    1. I. The Producer’s Domain
    2. II. Defining a TV and New Media Producer
      1. Who and What Makes a Good Producer?
    3. III. The Many Roles of a Producer
      1. The Five Stages of Production: From Idea to Wrap
      2. Stage One: The Idea (Project Development)
      3. Stage Two: The Plan (Pre-production)
      4. Stage Three: The Shoot (Production)
      5. Stage Four: The Final Product (Post-production)
      6. Stage Five: Next Steps (Wrap Up and Distribution)
      7. Why Become a Producer?
      8. Creativity, Clout, and Control
    4. IV. Producers’ Titles and Job Descriptions
      1. Producers’ Titles
    5. V. The Need for People Skills
      1. Focus on New Media
      2. On a Human Level…
      3. Summary
  10. Chapter 2 • Television: Its Past, Present, and Future
    1. I. Television is a Unique Medium
    2. II. How Television Works
    3. III. The Impact of Human Vision on Television
      1. Lines and Pixels
      2. NTSC, PAL, or SECAM?
      3. Aspect Ratios: 4:3 versus 16:9
    4. IV. The Creators of Television
      1. The Battle over Television’s Paternity
    5. V. Television’s Evolution
      1. Early Television and Commerce
    6. VI. Television’s Transitions: From the 1920s to the Present
      1. Television’s Early Systems: Mechanical versus Electronic Television (the 1920s)
      2. Television’s Experimental Steps (the 1930s)
      3. Television in the Trenches (the 1940s)
      4. Television’s Golden Age (the 1950s)
      5. The First Television Society (the 1960s)
      6. TV Boldly Reaches Out
      7. Television in Transition (the 1970s)
      8. Television Merges with Electronics (the 1980s)
      9. Television Moves toward Digital Technology (the 1990s)
      10. The Potential of High Definition Television
      11. The Transformation of Television in the Twenty-First Century (the 2000s)
    7. VII. Television Merges with New Media
      1. The Transformative Trends in Television
      2. Technology Introduces New Programming
      3. Can it Make Money?
      4. On a Human Level…
      5. Summary
  11. Chapter 3 • The Big Idea: Script and Project Development
    1. I. Think it
      1. The Global Demand for Content
      2. The Harsh Reality of the Marketplace
      3. New Media’s New Frontiers
      4. Ideas for Programming are Everywhere
    2. II. Write it
      1. The Writer/Producer
      2. Writing for TV versus Film
      3. Television and New Media Programming Genres
      4. From Idea to Script
      5. Sitcoms
      6. Formatting Your Script
      7. Script Components
      8. The Spec Script
      9. Working with Other Writers
    3. III. Develop it
      1. Protect and Control Your Idea
      2. If it is Someone Else’s Idea, Buy or Option it
      3. Find the Best Market for Your Idea
      4. Getting a Pitch Meeting
      5. The Role of a TV Pilot
      6. The Impact of Budget on an Idea
      7. Basic Budget Categories
      8. Focus on New Media
      9. On a Human Level…
      10. Summary
  12. Chapter 4 • Connecting the Dots: Breakdowns, Budgets, and Finance
    1. I. Break Down the Idea
      1. Understand the Big Picture of Production
      2. Create a Production Book
      3. Break Down Your Script
      4. The Breakdown
      5. Storyboarding
      6. Shooting Schedule
      7. Cross-Boarding
    2. II. Budget the Idea
      1. Budgeting Costs: Two-Part versus Three-Part Formats
      2. Costs: Estimated versus Actual
      3. Researching Budgets Costs
      4. Creating a Working Budget
      5. Budget Templates
      6. Hiring Union versus Non-Union Talent
    3. III. Find the Financing
      1. Possible Sources for Funding Your Project
      2. Options for Self-Funding
      3. Crowdfunding
      4. Bartering, Clever Negotiation, and Tips to Save Money
      5. Focus on New Media
      6. On a Human Level…
      7. Summary
  13. Chapter 5 • Welcome to Reality: Legalities and Rights
    1. I. Own it
      1. The Entertainment Lawyer
      2. Intellectual Property Law
      3. Fair Use Defense
      4. Public Domain
      5. Writers Guild of America Registration
    2. II. If You Don’t Own it, Get Permission to Use it
      1. Licensing
      2. Literary Rights and Clearances
      3. Music Rights and Clearances
      4. Stock Footage
      5. Network Footage Clearances
    3. III. Protect it
      1. Both Sides of Plagiarism Protection
      2. First the Pitch, Then the Protection
      3. Most Common Contracts
      4. Contracts for Television and New Media versus Film
      5. Fees and Compensation
      6. The Three-Phase Deal
      7. The Step Deal
      8. Fees and Funding, Rights and Territories
      9. Most Favored Nation
      10. Insurance Coverage and Policies
    4. IV. Double-Check it
      1. Find the Right Attorney
      2. Review Releases, Clearances, and Permissions
      3. Check All Production Contracts
      4. Location Agreements
      5. Agreements with Unions
      6. On-Screen Credits
      7. Ancillary Revenues
      8. Making the Deal: A Final Checklist
      9. Focus on New Media
      10. On a Human Level…
      11. Summary
  14. Chapter 6 • Pitching and Selling the Project
    1. I. Pitching and Selling: The Big Picture
      1. It’s All about Business
      2. Know the Market
    2. II. Research Your Pitch
      1. Pitch to the Right Place
      2. Get Your Pitch in the Door
      3. Potential Markets
      4. Understand the International Marketplace
    3. III. Create the Pitch
      1. The Cover Letter
      2. Writing the Cover Letter
      3. The Written Pitch
      4. The Title Page as First Impression
      5. The Synopsis as Storyteller
      6. The Presentation of Information
      7. The Video Pitch
      8. Next Steps with Your Pitch
    4. IV. Pitch the Pitch
      1. The Verbal Pitch
      2. Prepare Your Elevator Pitch
      3. Energize the Pitch
      4. Work with a Partner
      5. The Follow-Up
    5. V. Keep Pitching
      1. The Demo Reel
      2. The Pitch Reel
      3. Networking and Connections
      4. Focus on New Media
      5. On a Human Level…
      6. Summary
  15. Chapter 7 • The Plan: Pre-production
    1. I. The Script
      1. Script Breakdowns
      2. Production Book
      3. Equipment List
      4. The Look and Sound of Your Project
      5. Storyboarding and Floor Plans
      6. Shot List
      7. Production Meetings
    2. II. The Talent
      1. Casting Talent
      2. Hiring Talent: Union or Non-Union?
      3. Rehearsals
    3. III. The Crew
      1. The Key Production Department Heads
      2. Key Players, Key Teams: The Script, and the Visual, Aural, and Support Teams
    4. IV. Scheduling the Shoot
      1. Shooting Format
      2. Sets, Sound Stages, and Studios
      3. Locations
      4. Actors and Talent
      5. The Timing of the Shoot
      6. Call Sheet
      7. Production Report
      8. Focus on New Media
      9. On a Human Level…
      10. Summary
  16. Chapter 8 • The Shoot: Production
    1. I. The Producer’s Role
      1. The Producer’s Team
      2. Production Protocol and Politics
    2. II. On Set and on Location
      1. Virtual Locations
    3. III. The Camera
      1. Shooting with Digital Video
      2. Digital Storage
      3. Shooting High-Definition Video
      4. HD Systems
      5. Shooting in 24p Video
      6. Choosing Your Camera
      7. Time Code
      8. Capturing the Image
    4. IV. The Lighting
      1. Hard versus Soft
      2. Three-Point
      3. High-Key versus Low-Key Lighting
      4. Hot and Cold Lighting
      5. Interior and Exterior Lighting
    5. V. The Audio
      1. Sound Design
      2. The Four Major Elements in Audio
      3. Recording Production Sound
      4. Some Sound Advice
    6. VI. The Actual Shoot
      1. Arrival of Cast and Crew
      2. Blocking for the Camera
      3. Rehearsing the Actors
      4. Lights. Camera. Action!
      5. The Equipment Breakdown and Location Wrap
      6. Focus on New Media
      7. On a Human Level…
      8. Summary
  17. Chapter 9 • The Final Product: Post-Production
    1. I. The Producer’s Role
      1. The Post-production Supervisor
      2. Post-production Guidelines
    2. II. The Editor’s Role
      1. Working with an Editor
      2. Working with Editing Technology
      3. The Steps in Editing
      4. Editing High Definition TV—In Five Steps
      5. Styles of Editing
      6. Techniques in Editing
      7. Editing Pace and Rhythm
      8. Editing to Manipulate Time
      9. Editing Transitions
      10. Graphics, Animation, and Plug-Ins
    3. III. The Sound Designer’s Role
      1. Working with the Sound Designer
      2. The Technology of Audio Mixing
      3. The Creative Components in Sound Design
      4. Stylistic Uses of Sound
      5. The Steps in Mixing Audio
      6. The Final Cut and Locked-in Audio
    4. IV. Delivering the Final Product
      1. The Client Deliverables
      2. Focus on New Media
      3. On a Human Level…
      4. Summary
  18. Chapter 10 • It’s a Wrap! Now, the Next Steps
    1. I. It’s a Wrap!
    2. II. Professional Next Steps
      1. Create a Resumé
      2. Build a Demo Reel
      3. Make a Short
      4. Network and Make Contacts
      5. Find a Mentor
      6. Take on Internships
      7. Get Experience
      8. Take a Course
      9. Stay Current
      10. Get a Job
    3. III. Festivals
      1. Package Your Project: Press Kits
      2. Submissions to Festivals
      3. Acceptance to a Festival
      4. Networking in the Festival Circuit
    4. IV. Grants
      1. Guidelines from Funders and Grant-Makers
      2. Preparing and Writing a Grant in Five Steps
    5. V. Publicity
      1. A Sample Press Release
      2. Press Release Formatting
      3. Some Other Thoughts on Generating Buzz
    6. VI. Starting Your Own Production Company
      1. The Realistic Components of Being Your Own Boss
      2. An Independent Production Company Checklist
      3. Keep it All Legal
      4. Dealing with Clients
      5. Focus on New Media
      6. On a Human Level…
      7. Summary
  19. Chapter 11 • Conversations with the Pros: Producing in the Real World
  20. Glossary
  21. Sample Forms
  22. Resources by Chapter
  23. Index