Production Parameters

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Cordelia Ellen Martin
5 years ago
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1 Production Parameters Every television series has a set of production parameters within which the writers and directors have to work. These are a function of the overall budget for the series and the budget per episode. They are also a function of the number of shooting days allocated per episode. For example Ship to Shore I had 5 days per episode = 4.5 minutes per day. Other shows might shoot an episode in 2 days = 11.5 minutes per day.

2 Time and Money Time and money determine the simplicity/complexity of the show. Studio-based shows are generally much cheaper and faster to shoot because everything is controllable and the crew does not have to move. Shows that require a lot of locations, day and night shooting out of doors are expensive and time consuming. However, that may be the appeal to an audience. Contemporary drama is less expensive that period, fantasy or future because of art department, costumes, props makeup, etc.

3 Key Factors CAST How many principal cast are there who will appear in a significant number of scenes per episode? How many secondary and tertiary cast are there who appear on a regular basis, either a few scenes per episode or once every few episodes? These people will be on a different kind of contract. Are there scenes which require extras on a regular basis? Hospital waiting rooms, school corridors, pub background, workplace background. Does the show require frequent guest characters: disease of the week, case of the week, etc.? Cast is a line item in the budget.

4 Sets/Locations SETS what are the common places where the action happens? These need to be employed throughout the series and used frequently, otherwise there is no point in building them. Some sets can be easily re-dressed to create a new space. Hotel rooms, bedrooms, etc. In Sweat two rooms were used as the dormitory quarters for everyone. Sometimes the number of sets is determined by the size of the studio. It s expensive to take things down and put them up. Generally speaking, you will need to design your show around a relatively small number of interiors that can be frequently used. The early series of Heartbreak High moved everything into a decommissioned high school: production offices, catering, postproduction.

5 Locations Does the show use a standard set of locations? Sea Change, Ship to Shore, Ballykissangel. Are special locations required? If so, for how much screen time? The most expensive, time-consuming thing is for the entire production unit to have to move. How difficult/complex are the special locations in terms of crowd control, permission, cost, etc.? Airports/train stations, Underwater World, busy streets. DAY/NIGHT shooting exterior night is always expensive and time consuming. Night interior is easy you just change the light.

6 Action Major action like car chases, crashes, fights, fires, explosions, rescues, action on/in water are always difficult. Competitions of any kind require a lot of coverage. Any kind of fight, shooting, stabbing, pie-throwing, even eating requires a lot of care with continuity. Sometimes it s a matter of how tightly controlled you keep the action and how much you can suggest is going on by showing the intention and the result but not the actual action.

7 Special Effects and Stunts Special effects encompass a myriad of things from gunshots, falls,wounds, fires, explosions, transformations and so on. Some require experts - armourers, animal wranglers, special effects make-up, stunt doubles. All of these things take time and money, but if they are essential to the show then they must be included. SUMMARY: Examine your concept to see exactly what will be required in terms of all the above. What are the essentials? These become the production parameters for the show.

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