Researching your studio programme and inserts

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Researching your studio programme and inserts

• 1/ Research aids
• 2/ Finding guests
• 3/ Research Interviews
• 4/ Filming your inserts
• 5/ Doing a Recce

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How to Research

• When youve chosen your format youll need to
  research each item in your running order.
• You may have to research topical issues and then
  plan to find guests/ contributors who can talk
  about these issues.

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Where to look for stories and guests

• Local newspapers (back copies on Lexis Nexis
  website), various websites ITV, BBC, Channel 4,
  and programme websites
• National newspapers
• Local Government Press Office for information on
  council issues/planning etc

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Who do you want to be in your programme?

• Analyse your format and discuss who you want as
  contributors.
• Are they guests for a discussion show?
• If they are, they will have to have different
  viewpoints so you can have a debate. Points For
  and Against a topic.

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• Are they guests for a news programme?
• Whats your news topic? Think about MPs, Police
  Officers etc who could be interviewed.

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How can you contact them?

• Police contact the relative Press Office like
  Staffordshire or West Midlands.
• Local Government is the same contact the Press
  Office.
• MPs either via their individual surgeries, the
  House of Commons, or the Central Office of
  Information (this is the Government Press
  Office).

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How to get a celebrity guest

• Are they celebrity guests or bands?
• 1/ Find their agent. Look on websites like
• or for actors phone Equity or for bands The
  Musicians Union.
• OR
• 2/ Phone the individuals agent direct and ask
  for your celebritys availability. But be warned
  there could be a fee!

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• Depending on the category of celebrity, most will
  do you a free turn if they have something to
  plug a new single, DVD or a book.
• Who is coming to the theatre?
• Who is around for a book signing?
• What band is playing in the region?

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• Its probably best not to dwell on the big names,
  but you never know. You never get anything unless
  you ask!

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Topical Guests

• If you are covering a topical issue think
  laterally who you could get locally to come in to
  the studio to talk about the subject on your
  programme.

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Examples

• A national health headline/story about diabetes.
  Contact the local hospital to see if a doctor or
  consultant in this field could come in.
• A story about lack of police on the beat. Contact
  Staffordshire Police and see if any of their
  training officers would like experience.
• The Iraq Conflict. Your local MPs. Remember not
  to be biased. You must get hold of the local
  Labour, Conservative and LibDem candidates or at
  least have approached them and offered them the
  chance to attend. (Other parties could also be
  considered, plus think about Community Groups
  local Muslim community etc).

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Research Interviews For A Live Production

• These are crucial to any live studio programme
• Research your topic/guest as much as possible
  before phoning them for an interview.
• Plan all your questions thoroughly before talking
  to them on the phone.

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• You must tell the guest what youre programme is
  about and how they will contribute.
• You may need to phone them more than once to get
  the full interview details. (When youve done
  this breakdown your notes and script the live
  studio interview to time and slot into your
  running order).

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What to do when youve booked a guest

• Once youve booked your guest
• 1/ Send them a headed letter stating the date,
  place and time for the studio programme. (At the
  moment tell them this will be confirmed in the
  New Year).
• Note We can sign this for you.

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• 2/ What to wear. Tell them not to wear anything
  with stripes (it will strobe) or a logo (no free
  advertising).
• 3/ Set an arrival time ahead of your production
  time so you have time for a run-through.

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The Recce

• Its important to do a recce before filming your
  3 inserts.
• A good recce can contribute a great deal to a
  shoot and to the finished programme.
• Do as much preparation as possible in the office.
   

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• 'Pre-recce' are things to do before you go.
• 'Pre-shoot' are tasks that may take place before
  the recce but must be done before the shoot.

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Recce the Location

• Do all the research you can about the location
  before you leave.
• Use the internet, the phone, local tourist
  offices, specialist organisations, books etc for
  background information.

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Scheduling your Recce

• When you schedule your recce think about
• When your interviewees/contacts are available
• When you can see specific events at the location
• What time of day you're likely to be shooting so
  that you can see events/locations at a similar
  time on the recce

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Ask Permission to Film

• This is for private premises eg a nightclub, a
  shop or any other owned place.
• A filming pass is needed at some locations, eg
  Royal Parks. This must be obtained in advance.

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Contacting the Police

• If filming in a public place that could cause
  obstruction or distress to the public.
• You must contact the police if you're doing
  anything that affects public safety, eg
  reconstructing a crime with actors or needing
  crowd or traffic control.

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Shoot Recce

• Before filming check out your location for
• Sound where youre filming will effect the
  sound ie in a nightclub, a swimming pool or near
  traffic.
• Plan how you will overcome any problems.

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Lighting in your Recce

• Lighting what will you need?
• Cables
• Bulbs if they go DONT try changing them
  yourself. You will have to return and get them
  changed by a technician
• Check with technicians before you go if there are
  any spare lamps you can borrow

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Check your electricity supply

• You must check the wattage of each piece of
  equipment you intend to use and the total wattage
  does NOT exceed 3,000 watts. (You would blow the
  system!)
• Other high wattage equipment (e.g kettles, irons,
  Hi-Fi, immersion heaters, electric fires) should
  not be turned on at the same time or during
  filming.

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Shooting Script

• You will also need a shooting script.
• This will show what and where you will be
  filming.
• This must be handed in to either myself or Peter
  Rudge before you go filming.

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Be Aware of Special Events

• Check your location for special events
• Local events such as festivals, roadworks or even
  putting up the Christmas lights may compromise
  your shoot. Your contact at the location may be
  able to help with this one. The local authority
  film liaison department or police can also be
  good sources of information.

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Health and Safety

• Think about what problems and dangers you and
  your crew and the general public could encounter.
• Note any foreseeable problems BEFORE filming
  this is a hazard assessment.