Introduction to Television Production
Introduction to Television Production is a one-credit course that provides students with a basic overview of television production skills and professions. Students participate in classroom and laboratory activities regarding all aspects of television performance, production, and operations. Upon successful completion of this course, students are prepared for a specialized high school course or for further study in television, film and communications at the college level. This course is a prerequisite for Television Production—Photography and Editing; Television Production—Studio Operations; and Advanced Television Production.
Career and technical student organizations are integral, cocurricular components of each career and technical education course. These organizations serve as a means to enhance classroom instruction while helping students develop leadership abilities, expand workplace-readiness skills, and broaden opportunities for personal and professional growth.
History of Television
Students will:
1. Explain the growth of communication, including telegraph, wireless, early radio and television, electronic and satellite news gathering technology, and Internet broadcasting.
Describing the development of networks, cable, and satellite television and their impact on broadcasting
Describing the impact television has on society and politics
Assessing recent technological developments in television production
Predicting the future of telecommunications
Safety
2. Identify safety hazards associated with television production.
Practicing precautions while using electrical equipment in television production
Demonstrating care for television production gear and tapes in various weather situations
Utilizing proper care for television lamps and bulbs
Identifying live television remote location safety procedures
Organizing and manipulating digital files safely in television production
Basic Camera Operation
3. Demonstrate video camera setup, movement, and operation.
4. Utilize proper handling, care, and storage techniques of camera, tripod, and accessories.
Sound
5. Critique audio quality for television production.
Recognizing audio production components, including microphones, natural sound, voice and audio track, sound-on-tape, sound bites, audio level, interruptible foldback (IFB), and earpiece
Using audio equipment correctly
Lighting
6. Demonstrate studio and field lighting for television, including back, key, fill, and natural light, and three-point lighting and camera lighting functions.
> Examples: camera lighting functions—white-balance and black-balance, filters
Performance
7. Demonstrate appropriate on-camera performance, including clear speech, diction, eye contact,
gestures, posture, and appearance.
Interviewing
8. Assess the quality of television interviews and sound bites, including length and content.
Utilizing standard television interview questions
> Examples: who, what, where, when, why, how
Describing pre-interviewing techniques for television
> Examples: brainstorming, researching
Evaluating television interview footage
Writing
9. Demonstrate effective television script writing format.
> Examples: news, audio and video, screenplay, storyboard
10. Identifying television conversational writing style, including simple word usage, short sentence structure, “say it, see it” theory, present tense form, active and passive voice, and objective and subjective point of view.
Prioritizing information for television production
Editing
11. Use applicable editing techniques for television production, including transitions, in-and-out points, trimming, and video sequencing.
Defining basic terms associated with television editing
> Examples: edit-in-camera, assemble edit, insert edit, jump cuts, linear, nonlinear, flash frames, control track
Commercials
12. Create a commercial using basic television production skills.
Utilizing basic television advertising terms and techniques, including purpose, process, and persuasive devices
> Examples: revenue, market research, target audience, ratings, humor, testimonial, bandwagon
Public Service Announcements
13. Create a public service announcement using basic television production skills.
Explaining the purpose of a television public service announcement
> Examples: informing, changing opinion, promoting a cause
News
14. Create a news story using basic television production skills.
Recognizing common television news terms, including story types and career positions
Determining format, fact selection, teases, and lead sentences in television prerecorded and live news story organization