TV Studio Production

I've curated a collection of films that offers a comprehensive and multi-faceted look into the world of television production, serving as an invaluable visual textbook for students. The list is not just about the technical aspects of filmmaking; it's a deep dive into the business, ethics, and cultural impact of the medium.

👉 Click to view the full list of Movies that highlight important aspects of TV production.

The Power of the Medium and Ethical Considerations

Films like Network, Good Night, and Good Luck., and Quiz Show are essential for understanding the immense power and ethical responsibilities of TV. They highlight how television can be used to influence public opinion, the moral dilemmas faced by producers and journalists, and the fine line between entertainment and truthful information. Viewing these films helps students recognize the potential for both greatness and corruption within the industry.

Behind-the-Scenes Dynamics

The list excels at showing the chaotic, collaborative, and often stressful environment behind the camera. Broadcast News and the documentary Showrunners pull back the curtain on the producer's role, showcasing the balance between creative vision and logistical challenges. Similarly, the “unauthorized story” movies, like those about Full House and Three’s Company, and the documentary Saturday Night, offer a raw, unvarnished look at the inner workings, creative clashes, and unexpected challenges of managing a TV show and its personalities.

TV Personas and Performance

Many films on the list focus on the talent and the on-screen persona. Anchorman and Wayne's World are comedic examples of how TV personalities are created and how their on-screen image can be a performance. Being the Ricardos and Bewitched provide a historical look at the demands of sitcom acting, from the intricate timing of a live studio audience to the challenges of a dual persona.

The Nature of Reality

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this list is how it explores television's role in blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The Truman Show is a chilling look at the ultimate reality TV show, where a person’s entire life is a set. Pleasantville demonstrates TV as a conduit for a new reality, showing the stark contrast between a black-and-white, idealized world and the complexities of modern life. Even a film like Groundhog Day, while not directly about TV, explores the cyclical and repetitive nature of daily TV production and performance.

By watching these films, students can gain a deeper understanding of the television industry's history, its creative and business-related challenges, and the cultural responsibility that comes with being a TV professional.

Class Overview

In this class, students will learn the basics of video production from pre-production to post-production as applicable to TV Studio Production. We will cover an introduction to theory, terminology and operation of a multi-camera television studio and control room. Topics include studio signal flow, directing, theory and operation of camera and audio equipment, switcher operation, fundamentals of lighting, graphics, video control and video recording and real-time video production. Total of 36 hours lecture and 54 hours laboratory.

Course Goals

• Create introductory level multi-camera productions, as an individual and as a member of a production team, using written, oral, and/or audio-visual means.

  
  

• Appraise the processes and/or techniques employed in the creation of introductory level

  multi-camera productions.

• Integrate professional standards of conduct into all introductory level multi-camera

  production activities and assignments.

• Develop technological proficiency in introductory level multi-camera productions.