Studio: Initial Planning
Here are some questions which need to be answered at the initial planning stage.
The studio’s function
What is the function of the studio, what types of production are envisaged and, most important, how much money is there available for the project?
The possible size of the viewing audience and of the budget available depend directly on the function of the studio, whether it be university CCTV, educational TV to a widely dispersed audience, industrial training, a ‘professional’ small TV studio producing inserts to a large TV network, medical teaching, producing television commercials, pop promos, corporate video etc.
The types of production to be mounted affect the studio area (see page 18) and the facilities required.
What turn-round time is required between productions? A quick turn-round requires more staff and/or greater flexibility from the studio facilities to meet changing production requirements.
What post-production facilities will the complex require?
Remote productions
Are all the programmes to be carried out in the studio? If location work is required, e.g. on-the-job training, this could be covered either by a film crew or by using a mobile control room. The mobile control room could also be used for the studio productions on a ‘drive-in’ basis, i.e. it could be parked adjacent to the studio, and the camera cables, microphone cables etc. would be run from it to the studio.
This may be a solution to the problem of trying to mount studio and location productions on a limited budget.
Constructional considerations
Where should the studio be located? If it is to be part of a school or university, it must be adjacent to the ‘consumer’, unless the studio is to feed a large number of consumers by radio or cable links. If there is a free choice of location, ‘man-made’ hazards for sound insulation should be avoided— motorways, railways, airports. Local high-powered radio transmitters can also cause interference problems.
Will the studio be purpose-built or be in a converted existing building? Suitable buildings in the correct location are not easy to find. The main factor to bear in mind is the height required in the studio (see page 18).
Finally—what about future expansion? The philosophy should be optimistic—try to see where possible expansions may take place—extra studio area, new studio, etc.
Typical planning considerations
| General | |
| ● Intended function of television facilities | Educational, industrial training, broadcast (commercial or other uses), medical teaching etc. |
| ● Types of production | Package programmes, interviews, presentations, demonstrations, commercials etc. |
| ● Frequency of use | Daily use requires more staff and greater investment in equipment flexibility to achieve faster turn-rounds. |
| ● Commercially viable or ‘in-house’ use only? | If programmes are to be sold or hired (particularly to broadcasters) or if facilities are to be hired out, broadcast or near-broadcast facilities will be required. |
| Technical resources | |
| ● Broadcast or non-broadcast facilities | Dependent on above considerations, with major cost implications. |
| ● Manning arrangements | Local or freelance staff or a combination of both. |
| ● Method of programme realization | Studio or single location camera unit or combination of both. |
| ● Investment costs | Dependent on above factors. Full broadcast equipment is dramatically more expensive than even slightly down-market equivalent. |
| ● Depreciation | Depends on equipment and its usage. Could be as short as 3 years for some equipment, as long as 10 years for others. |
| ● Running costs | Production, crewing and maintenance costs must be added to those above and should include (where appropriate) wardrobe, make-up, artistes’ fees, location costs etc. |