The other day I got a call for a job, it was to shoot a sales tape for a cooking show. It sounded interesting to me, I enjoy cooking, and great food, and I was also interesting in the idea of working on a show from the ground up. That is to say, the idea of shooting a sales tape and seeing the idea get formed into a food network series interested me. I said, “sure”.

Here are the lessons that I have learned about television producing from this day of shooting. (I have learned these lessons over the years but it is always great to have a refresher course)

1. Just because you are doing a documentary or reality show does not mean that you do not need to direct.

It seems to me that new producers that are trying to make an easy buck in TV will come up with a “reality” series with the idea that they just need to have the camera rolling at all times and they will get something great. This is a giant misconception. Scenes need to me thought out, and many times set up and prodded out.
This really all leads to number two.

2. Documentaries need preproduction and planning.

Once again some people have the idea that you just show up somewhere with a camera and you are going to get the material that you want. Pbbbbbbt, good luck with that, these are the same people that buy lottery tickets as a retirement plan. It might work, but your odds are not good. Planning is the backbone to a great show, it is true that with reality, a scene might pop up that you did not plan for, but that is all gravy if you get the scenes that you need and properly planned for. As far as a reality cooking show, it is import to plan what recipe to make on camera, plan camera placement, lights, the style, is the Chef going to address the camera? All this might seem a little obvious, but then again.

3. Don’t make a show about a buddy that you like to party with.

Just because you think your drinking buddy is a kick ass chef with amazing skills like keg stands, and bong construction, please don’t think that you should make a show about him. And if you absolutely have to make a show, hire someone else to produce and direct, because well, let me just tell you what will happen (this is what happened). By the time three o’clock rolls around only 1/3 of the shoot is done, but you, the producer and your director are too drunk to formulate a coherent direction and your subject won’t listen to you any more because he is too high and is trying to shoot the kitchen staff in the ass with a BB gun.

Posted by csbaron on Wednesday, January 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm.