Working with the production team

The producer is responsible for the programme content. If it is a long programme or a programme that’s on air every day there will be a programme editor who has a number of producers working under him.

The role of the director is to make the script work on screen. While producers, researchers etc. work to the editor, all the studio technical staff work to the director.

Who’s the boss?

This question regularly crops up and is completely irrelevant. The producer and the director must work as a team. I don’t expect a director to override the content the producer wants unless it is absolutely necessary, which usually means it is not technically possible.

The technical crews must all follow the director. If a producer starts yelling instructions over the director’s shoulder there is a danger that half the crew will do what the producer says, the other half what the director says. Needless to say this is the surest route to disaster.

A director must always have something ready to put on air, so if you have not been told what is next have something up your sleeve. You cannot cut back to your presenter with nothing to do.

If anything goes horribly wrong I expect the director to make the immediate decisions. You will be in a far better position to make whatever call is necessary as you should be aware of what options are open to you.

Managing the team

Most crews work very hard to give the director a first-class product. People who have made a special effort are far more likely to repeat it if you acknowledge their efforts and thank them. It’s not hard, but a skill many directors have not spent long enough developing.

Making mistakes

If you make a mistake, say so. Nobody respects a director who refuses to admit when they were wrong. The worst mistake you can make is to blame other people for your errors. Trust me, everyone knows when the director is at fault. So impress everyone and admit to it.

Courtesy ITN

The programme director working with the programme editor before the live transmission. Being aware of the editor’s intentions early gives time for potential problems to be cleared up before everyone moves into the studio.

Even though this programme Is being prepared on an electronic newsroom system which can be viewed anywhere in the building, it is still helpful for the director to be based near the rest of the production team.