Mobile Image Co

Digital Outside Broadcast Van
for Live-switched multicam TV production

phone 61 2 9953 3833
mobile 0408 446 603
email: mail@mobileimage.com.au

 

HOW TO ORGANISE

A “LIVE SWITCHED” OB  TV PRODUCTION

On this page:

 

·         Planning And Budgeting Tips:

·         A Typical Schedule:

·         Typical Crew Requirement:

·         Out-Of-Town Locations:

 

See also link to:

·         Costs of OB Productions

PLANNING AND BUDGETING TIPS:

  • Equipment typically uses up to roughly half of the budget; the crew makes up the balance.
  • Good-quality TV broadcast crew are worth paying for, and help avoid expensive production stuff-ups and gear-trashing, which YOU may end up paying for!
  • If some aspect of the job is really important, then hire a specialist to look after it. Don’t hire juniors or “luggers” to do specialist skilled duties.
  • The best insurances against stuff-ups are: adequate crew levels; adequate equipment; sufficient preparation time; a good game-plan for doing the job.
  • A well-directed and well-switched coverage should require little or no editing later, saving on editing costs, and allowances for extra iso VTRs and tape stock.
  • Don't do unfair day-rate deals on your crew; it isn't worth the aggravation or the rushing of the job.
  • OB pricing in Australia is very cheap on a worldwide scale, and the quality of service is usually very good.
  • Allow enough videotape for all recording VTRs in use, plus some to spare. Plan when your tape changes should take place: in breaks, not in the middle of important segments. Don’t use short-length tapes that require frequent changes during the show. Tape costs run out at 75 cents to $1.59 per minute

TYPICAL CREW REQUIREMENT:

Crew usually charge a minimum half day call, (from an average $250 plus GST), plus additional per-hour rate (range $40 to $70 per hour plus GST). Out-of-town and overnight calls may incur extra costs and per diems.

 

If we book the crew, we charge a booking fee as a percentage of the raw costs we pay to the crew. Some of our clients prefer to book and pay their own crews directly.

A Minimum Crew:
Switcher/director
2 or 3 camera operators
Audio director
Technical director/CCU operator
Assistant

A Comprehensive Crew:
Director
Vision Switcher
CCU operator
4 camera operators
2 camera assistants
Floor manager
Audio director
Audio assistant
OB Supervisor
Autocue operator
Graphics operator
Tape operator
CCU operators (one per 3 or 4 cameras)
Rig and de-rig crew

 

A TYPICAL SCHEDULE:    maybe 12 hours on site.

OBs are quite labour- and time-intensive, but good preparation contributes to good results.

Draw up a realistic schedule, with time allowed to get everything right.


A TYPICAL EXAMPLE, FOR AN EVENING CONCERT O.B.

Week before

RECCE.

Visit the site a few days in advance, and check out everything.

Day before

TRUCK PREP

Prepare, configure, test and pack van (2 to 4 hours).

1100-1200

DELIVER

Deliver van to venue

1200

CALL TIME FOR TECH CREW FOR RIG

 

1200-1500

RIG:

 (2 to 4 hours approximately) load-in, cabling, pre-check van, build cameras, set up audio and comms, test everything.

1500-1600

CREW MEAL BREAK

MEAL BREAK: (1 hour) crew break after every 4 hours or so; consider feeding the crew, to keep them on-site and happy.

1600

Hand-over

The time from which the van is available for production operations.

1600

CALL TIME FOR OPERATIONNS CREW

8-hour call if rehearsals included

4 hour call if no rehearsals

Director briefs crew

1700-1900

REHEARSAL

Rehearsal with crew and equipment, to look for and work out problems, check camera angles, practice camera moves, playback cues, listen to the audio mix, look at the lighting.

1900-1930

CREW MEAL BREAK

Once every 4 hours.

1930

STAND-BY

Audience walk-in; crew in place by 1945

2000-2230

SHOOT THE SHOW

Allow event duration plus say 1/2 hour either side)

2230-0000

DE-RIG & LOAD-OUT

DE-RIG: usually 90 minutes with a good crew..

0000

WRAP CREW

RETURN van to base.

0000-0100

VAN RETURNS TO BASE.

production crew on minimum 4 hour calls.

OUT-OF-TOWN LOCATIONS:

Most city and suburbs locations can be handled easily, both by the vans and the crew.

Our van travels to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Orange, Camden, Newcastle, Canberra and the South Coast.

Be prepared for extra costs for out of town locations (say over an hour's travel time). Crew may charge for travel time. The Van may incur fuel, tolls and driving time.

When working interstate, crews can often be hired locally, saving airfare, transfers and motel costs.

back to the index page