ICTV SAMPLE PRODUCTION PROPOSAL

1. Your Name
   
   
2. Major, Minor, Current Class, Year of Graduation, GPA
   
   
3. Campus Address, Telephone, Email
   
   
4. Why do you want to be an ICTV producer?
   

1. Title
   "Majors"
   
   
2. Synopsis
   A weekly half-hour, live-to-tape, studio discussion. Ten programs, each program being a freeform examination of a different field of study by some of its local teachers and practitioners. I would like this discussion to be moderated by a professor.

   Each week, professors from Cornell and Ithaca will discuss directions in their fields. High school teachers, professional practitioners, and graduate students may appear, too. “Majors” is a subject-driven show that depends for success upon solid guest bookings and lively discussion
   

3. Rationale
   Why should ICTV produce this show? Why is this good for us?
   1) The series takes advantage of an abundant natural resource in Ithaca…professors. Pedagogues need not be pedantic, and with a good mix of people the programs can engage viewer interest and be fun. Despite its scholastic connections, ICTV rarely examines the academic world. There is no other program focusing on academic topics on local cable. Having a professor as moderator will further distinguish this series from other ICTV discussion shows.

   2) The simplicity of preparation lends itself to ICTV’s limitations. Little field-shooting will be required, at most one package per program. The series can provide a good experience for student participants.

   3) Advance planning will aid promotion. Our specific listings and topics can be publicized in advance of airdates. The nature of this series will bring ICTV to academic departments’ attention.

   4) Because the content won’t go out of date immediately, the programs can be repeated on ICTV the following semester, and used as standby.
   
   

4. Topics (Themes)
   Ten will be selected from this list:
   Psychology – include working psychologist
   History – include high school teacher
   Mathematics – include high school teacher
   Biology – include high school teacher
   Human subject research - (can include provost)
   Sociology
   Anthropology
   Physics
   Political Science (at Cornell this is Dept. of Government)
   Economics
   English (fairly ripe for a PC discussion)
   Journalism
   Computer Science
   Teacher Education
   
   
   
5. Discussion Content
   What developments are influencing these studies?
   What is the subject’s relevance?
   How is the subject being taught?
   Undergraduate v. graduate subject matter?
   What are the current controversies in the subject?
   Who are the stars? Who’s out of favor? Turf battles?
   What texts are the bibles for the subject?
   What do students do with these majors?
   Current research?
   
   
   
6. Booking Guests
   1. Sources
      Where will you find your guests?
      Primary – Referrals from department chairs and other professors to “lively” individuals
      Secondary – Profiles from past editions of The Ithaca Journal, Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell Chronicle, IC & CU news bureau releases.
      
      
   2. Strategy
      How will you attract guests to participate in your program? What is your overall plan?
      Once I get one person committed for a program, I will ask them who else should be invited, particularly people they know to have an opposing viewpoint or different approach to the study. Some balance between IC and CU faculty will be struck. I plan to overbook one to two discussants per program. Guest recruitment would go something like this:
      1. Contact department chairs – ask for names of profs
      2. Contact those individuals, giving name of person who referred them.
      3. If yes to participation
      Ask what evenings in spring they are NOT available
      Follow up with letter, confirming and saying I’ll provide production time as soon as it is scheduled
      Ask for other names
      If no, ask for other names
      4. Call each “yes at beginning of Spring – give them projected tape date
      5. Follow up with letter of confirmation, including names of other guests
      6. Prepare a press release for each program. Include names of participants and send copy to each participant. They will take their commitment to the program seriously.
      7. Call each participant a week before taping, asking if they will be bringing any visual materials.
      8. Call each participant the night before taping.

      Guests will, by this time, have a vested interest in the program, reducing the chance of cancellation.
      

7. Production
   Discuss how the show will be recorded/cablecast. Include challenges, methods for engaging crew, and studio times.
   Three hours in either studio A or B. A weeknight is preferred, as early as possible for guests’ convenience. A studio audience is not planned. A set is not necessary; grey curtain with gel lighting for background. Guests arranged in horseshoe.
   
   The production challenge will be to have lighting, cameras, audio, CG, director and TD cover discussions characterized by different numbers of people each week and quick conversational ball-tossing. Heavy character generator use, some lighting expertise needed, a perceptive audio person, and a flexible director who can go with the program’s conversational flow. There will be few Ready cues.

   I want the production team to meet as a group with guests and moderator before each taping to create a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere. This isn’t Sixty Minutes and no one is being put on the spot. I notice that on many ICTV programs there is little contact between the guests and the production staff. So when the guests arrive they will meet with the moderator and plan out some of the half-hour’s direction. Then, they will tour the control room and meet with the students. Show them how their names are typed on the CG to check spelling and in case they wish to be designated differently. Following the tapings there will be a brief meeting for questions & comments that guests can stay for.

   
   
8. Format
   Basic overview of finished show, start to finish.
   Moderator introduces guests, starts with a question and off they go. No internal breaks. Any package (i.e., talking with student majors or visiting a site) may be run at beginning or at a logical place in the discussion. Roll credits at 28:00 over discussion.
   
   
9. Timetable
   Provide a semester timetable of events, including all taping dates, all meetings, and any planning days.
   Do no give generalities, please provide actual dates.
   This assumes a Thursday night studio time.
   
   I can largely pre-plan at the tail of this semester. By mid-December, a list of subjects will be ready, a moderator will be recruited, and a list of specific guests assembled. More guests may be added or substituted.
   
   August 24 – ICTV recruitment
   date– production staff assembled
   date– production staff and moderator meeting
   date– tape the run-through. This will be a special production to get everyone acclimated.
   
   The guests will be IC students discussion their choice of major with the moderator. Although results may be shaky, we plan to air this as the first program.
   date– tape regular program 1
   date– tape program 2
   date– tape program 3
   date– tape program 4
   date– tape program 5
   date– tape program 6
   date– tape program 7
10. Thanks giving Break
    date– tape program 8
    date– tape program 9
    date– tape program 10
    
    

1. Unit Positions
   List the various technical and non-technical positions you will need to fill.
   Director, technical director, CG operator, audio director, lighting director doubles as camera operator, four camera people who double as lighting/production assistants. (Fourth camera is a cover shot – operator doubles as floor manager), assistant director (handles still store materials.) Any production team members may double as field shooters/editors. All crewmembers are asked to contribute on researching topics. Each will be assigned to topic, to help prepare questions and background for the moderator.
   
2. Pre-Selected Positions
   List the technical and non-technical positions that have already been filled.
   I do not have anybody currently selected for any position
   
3. Equipment Needs
   List all of the technologies you will need, including Master Control Decks and Control Room.
   Studio A, Studio A Control room, all Studio A VTRs (Deck 4, 5, 6), Frame Sync 1, Camera 4 - Jib, various microphones and XLR cables as needed.
   
4. Set / Props
   Describe your plans for your set, specifically discussing the design and props needed.
   3 8-foot flats, 1 round table, 3 stools, 2 light patterns, gels
   

1. ICTV participation history
   technical director on Panorama, writer for Solarium, shooter for NewsWatch
   
2. Facilities / Equipment qualifications
   GY camera approved, some Final Cut Pro usage, lighting & chyron
   
3. Management background
   Head cashier Red Lobster, ran Putnam County summer playground
   
4. Other
   Eagle Scout