Machine breakdowns

VT

Probably the most common machine to give you short notice problems. What you do depends on the severity of the breakdown. VT errors range from a few flashing green lines to complete loss of picture and sound.

The decision to stay with it or ‘crash out’ depends on how bad the picture is (can the audience clearly hear and see the story?) along with the importance of the story (if It Is the top story and your next two VTs have to run off the back of it you will want to stay with it if possible).

If you decide to come out of the VT early go through the standard routine. Let everyone know what you are going to do, fade the sound from the outgoing tape, mix through to the presenter, apologise and cue on.

Graphics

This can be serious for programmes that use chroma-key (which includes many news programmes). If you lose the stills store you may have nothing to put behind your presenter. For this reason it is vital that you have a separate standby background available from a completely independent source. This could easily be a VT machine offering a static frame.

Cameras

It is unusual to lose multiple cameras, so simplify the range of shots you want and work around the one that is missing. Cameras themselves don’t break down very often, although cable faults are quite common.

If you have to change the presenter’s camera, be aware if it doesn’t have a prompter unit on the front.

Capgen

Editorially captions are very important. If possible the presenter should ‘back announce’ who was on the tape. Short and sweet, please, ‘Peter Strop MP talking to us earlier today.’

Vision mixer

Most studios are equipped with an emergency bypass switcher. This allows you to do simple cuts between primary sources (cameras, VT, SS etc.). It means you cannot usually do any chroma-keying, or put captions up, but it will get you through a programme. Be aware and warn everybody that cue lights on the cameras will not work.

Working around the problem

While carrying on directing you must also look ahead to see how the loss of a machine will affect the rest of the programme. Let the programme producer know in plenty of time if compromises need to be made.

© Sean Preston/GMTV Magazine

Use the siudio design So your advantage. Many studios have separate technical areas with windows, which reduces the noise level in the control room without cutting off the operators completely. If you are giving an instruction and you can see the person you will know immediately if they have heard and understood. A simple thumb up or down from the operator is a quick and effective response.

If something is going wrong, or people aren’t responding when you expect them to, look to see if they have a problem. It’s quicker than using talkback, and reduces unnecessary distractions to other operators.

Many studio floors are visible from control rooms. While it shouldn’t be necessary to see the floor, occasionally it’s useful to look over your shoulder and see what problems they are having.