Studio production- "Research and development- Finding and Organising talent and contributors"

Studio production- "Research and development- Finding and Organising talent and contributors"

Exploring:

Research & Development

Pre-production/production meetings

Setting and agreeing initial goals and objectives

Research, research and more research!

At this stage of the production we are all researchers

Working within your teams you will need to contribute ideas for:

• Content
• Contributors
• Locations
• Design/branding

Finding people

Typically you will need to find people to fulfil the following roles:

Presenters/actors

Contributors

Audience

Artists/guests

Research: 

Casting Talent

Talent includes; performers, presenters, reporters, contributors-anyone who appears on screen who needs to be cast

They may or may not be paid or have a contract

What do we look for?

Relevant skills/experience

Performance

CHarisma/engaging character

'Look' appropriate to brand/style

Representation+relevance to audience

Finding talent

Talent can be found in many ways, these include;

Own contacts

Auditions;

Advertisements calling for new talent to come forward to relevant press/online 

Showreels

Agents

We would need to negotiate their contracts and payments in advance to the filming.

Scouting;

Visiting talent performing elsewhere

Talent websites/journals

Issues

Scouting 

Talent can be found in a variety of places;

Theatres

Pub performers

Online etc.

It gives you the opportunity to find new talent that could be cheaper in the long run

An issue with this could be that it is time consuming, to try to avoid this try and do background research, get names and try to see them-ask around for people.

Auditions

These could be open aka anyone can apply or closed so they are only open to specific entrants

You can find undiscovered talent this way and you an record the audition to view later.

Showreels

Often an agent or individual will send this in, you should ask to see showreels from anyone you are considering to cast.

They should be used to give you an idea of their:

Style

Experience 

Showreels are only apart of the process within casting, they are useful at the early stages but you should meet with the person to get a sense of who they are.

Always audition talent.

Dealing with agents and talent

Ensure you conduct yourself in a business like manner.

Introduce yourself and explain your requirements, email with more info if reuested

Check availability, find out what else they are working on and find out any potential clashes.

Make sure you are clear about the terms and conditions of the deal you are doing, establish:

Hours/days of contract-rehearsals

Rate of pay-daily/hourly

Expenses-beware of rates ie. mileage/meal rates rather then receipts

Consider setting limits

Artists contracts & release forms

It is essential that all talent and contributors are given contracts or release forms, get people to commit on paper.

This should be done in advance to any recording or rehearsals, as early as is possible. 

Liaise with your PRODUCTION MANAGER at all times who can assist/provide/action and collate these. 

Finding contributors

In order to find 'ordinary people' for your show you'll need to apply the same research techniques used in doc film making;

• Appeals/ads
• Sourcing and contacting relevant organisations/interested parties
• Contacts
• Press offices/media liaison

Finding audiences 

You need to decide what purpose your audience serves;

• Passive- is only there for the applause/background
• Active- involved in some way in the programme
• Representative- discussion
• Supportive- there to support particular contestants

You can use many techniques to find audience members such as:

• Open advertisements- inviting anyone to contact you to get tickets- "Eventbrite"
• Professional programming 
• Targeted advertisements
• On Air promo/social media
• Your own or your contributors' contacts
• Targeted calls/research (In the same way as finding contributors)

Representation-Audiences

Audiences in the show should reflect the audience at home.

Accuracy

Keep good records through out the pre-prod process, it's essential that all information is accurate and checked. 

This includes;

• Spellings of names/titles/other on screen information
• Programme content-UP TO DATE
• Information imparted on screen about contestants

Scheduling and organising talent, contributors and audiences

Negotiations have to be had to establish the level of commitment need and the amount they are prepared to give, major contributors are needed as much as possible from the pre to the production phase, audience obviously only on record day.

Some talent might even be needed for post-prod

Departments should as much as possible seeks to minimise the time needed with talent and contributors REMEMBER-BOOKINGS WITH YOUR TALENT AND CONTRIBUTORS MIGHT HAVE BUDGETARY IMPACTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I found this lecture really helpful as it gave me ideas to find contributors for the Fashion Fails segment. As the show is aimed a large age range and both men and women I will be using online sites and shop advertisements to try and find some fashion fail stories.