Prompter -- Questions and options

Don Bloom · February 12th, 2013, 01:30 PM

A few months ago I ran one of 3 cameras at a trade show "tv station" that we had built on site. Big show, big studio (2nd floor of building trade show was in). This was all going to the associations web site so it was very much like a live to tape show for almost instant play. Anyway one of the sets we had was a newsdesk and the "news reader" was a gal that had done this show many times before and was a consumate professional. If I didn't know better I would have said she was going of the cuff but I DID know better...she was reading from the prompter. She was one of the very best I had every worked with. Here's the key though. She would come in a few minutes before we went "live" sit at the desk and go thru the script on the promter even though she had read thru it on paper numerous times. When crunchtime came, she was absolutely spot on and we did not have to do a single re-take because of her. Other's, not so much but her, not a one! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! ;-)

Allan Black · February 12th, 2013, 06:25 PM

^ +10. Here's a way to learn. Get a local newspaper and circle suitable news items, 2 a page for 3 pages. Get by yourself and record them.
Speak clearly, but if it's really bad, erase and do it again next day. Learn to sight read the items.

Start with basic news, 2 or 3 syllable words. Every day for 15-20 mins only, then STOP! Any longer you'll just get frustrated.
When you make a mistake, never stop to correct it, keep going.

When you 'know' the items and get bored, start again, circle more items. After some days, you should get better becoming more fluent.
Then try a full sports page.

This is how some actors classes work, teaching new Thespians to get commercial gigs to survive, while they wait for their big break.
We were always looking for new voices, Russell Crowe, Geoff Rush and Jacki Weaver were a few.
Crowe was always late to the studio, caused more than a few hassles.

Novice newsreaders learn their trade like this.

Cheers.

February 12th, 2013, 01:30 PM	#16
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Prompter -- Questions and options A few months ago I ran one of 3 cameras at a trade show "tv station" that we had built on site. Big show, big studio (2nd floor of building trade show was in). This was all going to the associations web site so it was very much like a live to tape show for almost instant play. Anyway one of the sets we had was a newsdesk and the "news reader" was a gal that had done this show many times before and was a consumate professional. If I didn't know better I would have said she was going of the cuff but I DID know better...she was reading from the prompter. She was one of the very best I had every worked with. Here's the key though. She would come in a few minutes before we went "live" sit at the desk and go thru the script on the promter even though she had read thru it on paper numerous times. When crunchtime came, she was absolutely spot on and we did not have to do a single re-take because of her. Other's, not so much but her, not a one! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! ;-) __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

February 12th, 2013, 06:25 PM	#17
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,928	Re: Prompter -- Questions and options ^ +10. Here's a way to learn. Get a local newspaper and circle suitable news items, 2 a page for 3 pages. Get by yourself and record them. Speak clearly, but if it's really bad, erase and do it again next day. Learn to sight read the items. Start with basic news, 2 or 3 syllable words. Every day for 15-20 mins only, then STOP! Any longer you'll just get frustrated. When you make a mistake, never stop to correct it, keep going. When you 'know' the items and get bored, start again, circle more items. After some days, you should get better becoming more fluent. Then try a full sports page. This is how some actors classes work, teaching new Thespians to get commercial gigs to survive, while they wait for their big break. We were always looking for new voices, Russell Crowe, Geoff Rush and Jacki Weaver were a few. Crowe was always late to the studio, caused more than a few hassles. Novice newsreaders learn their trade like this. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.