Magazine shows

These programmes have a number of sections that may or may not be editorially connected. They use studios with a number of separate areas (often referred to by their function, e.g. interview area, demonstration area, kitchen etc.).

Large chunks of magazine shows may not have a full script, e.g. demonstrations, so running orders will simply have sections saying ‘As directed’.

Clearing cameras

You will not have a complete set of cameras for each area. This is not a problem – camera pedestals have wheels. Feel free to use them.

It does mean you must be aware of when an item is about to finish, and ‘clear’ one or more cameras to the next area, ready to shoot the start of the following programme item.

The big danger in moving cameras around a studio to different areas is getting the camera pedestals caught in cable loops. Cables can be lifted over cameras, although that takes time. Cameras cannot run over cables.

Spinning cameras

Some magazine sets have two areas with the cameras in the middle. To shoot the second area, the cameras spin by 180°. Be aware that this effectively reverses the order of your cameras, and this will affect your view in the control room.

Switching directing styles

The nature of magazine programmes is that the directing technique changes depending on the item. One moment you may be directing a demonstration, where you decide which shots to use while the item is ‘on air’. The next minute you may be running a very structured piece where you have a number of VTs and graphics which have to hit precise words on a script. There is a real difficulty of switching between the two styles at a moment’s notice.

On a simple two-set magazine show like this the cameras would swing round to cover both areas. This changes the view in the control room (cameras left to right become right to left) but keeps the cables nice and neat.