Great behind the scenes view of what WPTV morning news director Charlene Mayville (sp?) goes thru to prepare the weekend morning news.
When she runs the show I wonder if she directs the camera crew only or also the anchors? It looks hard and confusing having to follow all these directions while talking about what’s on the prompter
This is a skeleton crew. Normally you have a Director who calls the shots and the T.D. who punches them. In addition, the Producer (the person who created the rundown, or in more simple terms, the outline of the show) times the show and communicated any last minute changes to the director. The producer also talks to the anchors in their IFB. Also the chyron opertor and the audio director are also in the control room. The above clip is misleading because you only see the Director.
That clip is real old. Like, a couple of years maybe. Back when Shannon Cake was a weekend anchor cos Roxanne Stein was filling in for her that day.
At WPTV NewsChannel 5 we do not utilize Technical Directors (TD’s). The director calls and punches his or her own show.
This clip was from a project that a local college student did a few years ago.
Hi Charlene and thanks for stopping by
I like to ask if I may, when you run the newscast do the anchors hear everything you say, and have to listen to it, or do you direct the camera people only?
I thought it was a great piece for being a college thing and having worked administratively for WPTV a few years back, it was nice to see the behind the scenes look. Obviously, the report focused on the Director since she was the feature, not how a control room works at full capacity.
I love Charlene’s calm demeanor and attribute the success of her broadcast’s on that.
Admin,
I promise you the anchors don’t hear her calling the show. They only hear the producer and get directions from the floor director. The director, however, speaks to the entire production staff (cameras, audio, floor director, tape playback if applicable).
I’m really surprised WPTV doesn’t use separate directors and TDs. Is that for all shows or just the AM shows?
The newscast producer mainly speaks to the on-air talent…in addition to overseeing show content and timing – HUGE job!!
As one of the posters noted, directors speak mostly to the production staff (cameras, audio, chyron, prompter, tape) and to Master Control. In terms of TD usage – we don’t employ TD’s for any newscast. Over the years we have tried that route and everyone would rather have control over his or her own board.
I actually no longer work in the News Department. Still with the station – but I’m now part of a two-person commercial production unit and help to produce local commercials. Out on location a lot and finally have my weekends FREE!!!