Firstly folks, many apologies for this being late online. It's been one of those weeks. I hope this week's show is progressing well and I look forward to spending more time with you on Wednesday, both before and after our broadcast.
So what of last week?
Well it never found the highlights of the previous installment, and was quite middle of the road fare. Keeping the momentum up is hard every week, but that is what we must strive to do. There were some stories of merit, and some that missed the mark and I think we must strive harder to find decent stories to cover, that affect PEOPLE. There simply aren't enough people in our stories to make it interesting to viewers and to reflect their views. We aren't really engaging with them.
Having said that improvements are being made in certain areas and what I will try and do is concentrate a little bit more on the packages from now on.
So last week in more detail.......:
JUSTINA: Really well done. I know there were a couple of hiccups but this was a really good effort. You look good on camera and with a little bit more practice you could be excellent. Don't grimace when you make a mistake. The viewer knows something is wrong if you pull a face. Just be that swan - serene above the desk, swimming like mad underneath!
HEADLINE CAPTIONS: I think they may be too big as they take up too much of the screen. Can we have them as a smaller, single line?
Also is "council spending" a massive tease for the viewer as a strapline, that is going to entice our viewers into watching our show? Give it some top spin.
LOUIS: I've said it before, you have a great voice and you must use that to your advantage, but don't gabble your words. Also while delivering your piece, make sure you keep your eyes on the camera at all times, or you look shifty. The viewer will either stop trusting you, or think your concentration has been lost because some gorgeous looking female (very often the weather presenter) has walked in to the corner of the studio!
You were very involved with your story, which was excellent to see, but at times, take yourself out of it, so that you can remember what it is all about from the outside looking in. Tell that story to all those who haven't heard it before.
FLICK: Again you have a strong voice and I think this is a decent story because it affects everyone in the county. You have used the unions as balance, but if you are going to quote Ken Thornber (which you are right to do) please don't pull out a piece of paper that looks like you've stuffed in your pocket after blowing your nose on it. It is perfectly acceptable to memorise what Cllr Thornber says and regurgitate it in a PTC, without referring to any piece of snotty rag. The two shots you use of the UNISON signs, are the same back to back. Tight - pullout to wide - a) it's an unnatural shot for the eye (remember you should replicate what an eye does and it can't zoom out) and b) if you do use that shot, don't make the next shot exactly the same.
LEE: This story has merit but it needs personalising, or it becomes very dry, and one Labour councillor's rant at the Tories. The shots inside the Job Club were good, well done for that. Also you have tried to construct and explain this and you have used some stats with good GFX. But ultimately we need to hear from those out of work - do they agree with this politician?
At the end of your PTC make sure you stand still for a couple of seconds - that then gives the gallery time to come off the end of your package easily, without having to cut quickly back to the presenter, or else run the risk of seeing you walk off at the end of shot, as if you've got to pick up your camera, run for the bus and say 'that job's a good'un.'
Good effort all round though.
SPORT
There was an excellent mix of stories here - leading on rugby was good, and a bit of football and ice hockey made it a well rounded sports belt.
AIMEE: Well done again, you're becoming an old pro at this. Be careful not to be too slow and deliberate at times, as it becomes a bit more like a fairy tale rather than a sports bulletin, but you look so natural now, it's very impressive.
HENRY
This is another really good local piece and you have spoken to some important people. What would have helped the package though was perhaps being able to see the dodgy parts of the ground (if there were any on view) or getting some old footage of when it's really wet or something, to show how they must improve it.There wasn't actually that much action in it at all and it may have helped to use a little more. It looked a little strange that you had on the day shots, then archive of a match, and then on the day shots again - try and keep the themes together rather than flitting in and out. Remember not to go SOT and end with an SOQ - especially not in vision as well!
Did we then go Football/Ice Hockey/Football? Not sure that makes sense.
I love the Ice Hockey story with a brilliant stat in it, but the Eastleigh replay behind the goal was not needed. Only use it if necessary, not just because you went behinsd the goal and had two cameras on show.
MIKEY
Another good strong package - but I wonder if the FX were too high - was that just the compression or were they too high to start with? We are also banning the phrase "Much to the delight of the xxxxx fans!" Hackneyed and awful. Well done otherwise. Very well constructed.
HANDOVERS:
Should be fun, playful and relaxed. Let's try and make them so. They're still a bit deliberate.
TOM: It's a great and finally piece, and once again you are blessed with a good voice. We are very lucky to have some many reporters who have good voices. Perhaps you might have had a little more fun with this.
GAMES REVIEW
This is a great way to finish the bulletin and advertise just how brilliantly diverse we are. On the intro we mentioned Ewan, but then up pops Graham as well. I have to say the delivery from both of you was excellent. Energetic and very watchable. Make sure any promo like this is ddone as a stand alone piece, and not as an edit from the real show. It should have ended with the two of you saying "So join us for the Games review every week at winol.co.uk". I like what I see of this.
GALLERY
George well done on your first effort at directing. It's hard when something goes wrong, but we all learn in those situations. Next time just get the presenter to read on and then you can work behind the scenes to get everything back on track.
The gallery really operates well. Dom is a calming hand at the right time, and thank you for bringing in the less experienced students to work on aspects of the studio and helping them to learn. Directors please make sure there is constant communication so everyone knows what they are doing. You can never be told too many times what is happening next.
Well done everyone. Please make comments here, or contact me directly via email, or grab me on Wednesday. Look forward to seeing you then.
