Introduction to Multi-camera Technical Operations for TV Program Production (16 to 20 December 2024)

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune

(An Autonomous Institute under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India)

Short Term Training Program (STTP)

Name of STTP: Introduction to Multi-camera Technical Operations for TV Program Production

(A) Introduction:

We all watch Television programs like any reality show (Indian Idol, Dance India Dance etc.) or standup comedy (Laughter Challenge, The Kapil Sharma Show etc.) or even sports (Football, Cricket etc.) but rarely have an idea how all these programs are being shot & recorded? How many cameras are used at a time to cover these programs? How there feeds are given? How many mics are used at a time to take care of audio? How advertisements are inserted? How all these cameras & video sources are switched so as to get only one output which we see at our homes? How audio through all mics are mixed through audio console and is embedded with video? How lighting is managed through-out the show? How alphanumeric characters are inserted in live TV program? etc. etc……

There are many questions like these which we rarely pay attention as viewer. But technically, all these things are managed by Engineers and this STTP will let you know how all these activities are carried-out. It is fully practical and application oriented STTP wherein participants will be performing basic operations on equipments like Cameras, Vision Mixer, Lighting Console, Audio Console, Monitors, Character Generator machine, Camera Control Unit machines, Tele-prompter machine, Video Recording & Playback machine etc. and will also get introduced to the role of Technical Director of such TV Program Productions.

Finally, as end product, each participant will get a copy of their own TV Program of 02 – 05 minutes apart from participation certificate, as per rules.

(B) Objectives:

1. To understand Multi-camera Technical Operations used for producing a Program in a Television Studio.
2. To demonstrate different types of equipments used in Multi-camera operations.
3. To use these equipments independently, at basic level, by team of 15 – 20 members at a time to produce Television Program
4. To lead a team and to learn importance of teamwork & team-sprit using industry led – application oriented method.

(C) Outcome:

1. Participant will understand how a TV program is technically shot and recorded using a Multi-camera setup.
2. Participant will undertake basic operations on multi-camera equipments like Camera, Vision Mixer (VM), Camera Control Unit (CCU), Audio Console, Lighting Console etc.
3. Participant will participate in a TV program production and will carry-out different roles like that of Cameraperson, VM Engineer, CCU Engineer, Audio Engineer etc.
4. Participant will be allowed to take copy of recorded TV program against undertaking.
5. Participant will get participation certificate as per published terms.

(D) Other details & terms:

(1) Dates: 16^th to 20^th December 2024 (One week)

(2) Timings: 9 am to 6.30 pm (Total 45 hours) with lunch break from 1 to 1.30 pm

(3) No. of participants: 20. (STTP will be conducted only if min. strength of 16 is reached)

(4) Age: Participants must be 18 years or above in age as on 01^st December 2024.

(5) Educational Qualification: HSC (12^th std. pass). In exceptional cases, 10^th std. pass may be considered

(6) Nationality: Indian

(7) Venue: TV Engineering Department, FTII Main Campus, Law College Road, Pune – 411004

(8) Per participant fee: Rs 5,000/-

(9) Limited Hostel accommodation for outstation participants: Rs 1,800/- (Rs. 300/- per day for 6 days) on triple sharing basis on our extended campus in Kothrud (5 Kms from main campus). Participants need to make to & fro self transport arrangements at their own cost.

Fee and Hostel Accommodation Fee is excluding breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/ coffee, snacks etc. Hostel accommodation fee payment details will be shared separately with the participants who are selected & who need said accommodation, on First come first served basis

Fee of selected participants will be non-refundable, non-transferrable, non-adjustable, etc. under any circumstances. Fee of all the non – selected participants will be refunded within 21 working days of the STTP commencement. Also, due to any other reason, if the STTP is cancelled by FTII, full fee will be refunded.

(10) Last date to apply: 29^th November 2024 by 6 pm

(11) Medium of Instructions: English and Hindi.

(12) Selection Criteria: First – Come – First – Served basis. Selected candidates would be communicated by email. List of the selected participants will be published on FTII website.

(13) Certificates: All participants would be given participation certificate on successful completion of STTP. Minimum 90% attendance is mandatory. 

(14) Queries: For any queries contact Mr. Milind Joshi, Assistant Outreach Officer – 020 – 25580085, info.cfol@ftii.ac.in

(15) Communication with participants: All communications with the participants will be carried out through email only. List of shortlisted participants will be published on FTII website and selection email will be sent to the selected participants on their registered email.

(16) How to apply:

a. Click open the link -  https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/sbicollect and search/ find FTII Fees Account in Educational institutions name and click submit.

b. In the payment category select “S2 STTP on Intro. to Multicam Technical Operations”

c. Fill-up the application form with requisite details and proceed for payment.

d. Make necessary payment of Rs 5,000/-

e. Once payment is done, please note "SBI collect Reference Number" (mentioned in payment confirmation receipt). This may be required for future reference. 

f. If possible, digitally store the receipt of payment. This can be carried out in one of the following ways;

(i) by taking printout of receipt of payment, scan & save it

(ii) by taking screenshot of payment (if using mobile) or print screen (if using computer)

(iii) by simply taking a photograph from mobile

(iv) check your bank account to confirm whether money (fee) has been deducted or not

(v) After a day or two, once again check to see whether money (fee) has been refunded.

(vi) In case of refund, it is transaction failure and so, once again apply for STTP afresh.

g. No document/ certificate related to educational qualification, age etc. is to be attached. Participants’ self – declaration in the application form is sufficient.

h. Terms & conditions: By agreeing to the terms & conditions in the application form, participants are confirming that they have read & understood the website advt. They are eligible to apply and fulfill all the requirements as stated in the advt. Also, it is presumed that participants will be staying and or attending the STTP at their own risk & cost and will not be held responsible for anything or matter of what-so-ever nature. Further, participants agree that decision of Director, FTII regarding admission to the STTP and its conduction in all respect will be final.

(E) Contents:

Module 1: Introduction to Multi-camera setup

Positions & roles of multi-camera setup operators – Cameraperson, Floor Manager, Floor Assistant, Talent (Artiste), Producer, PA, VM Engineer, CCU Engineer, Lighting Assistant, Lighting Engineer, Microphone Assistant, Audio Engineer, CG Operator, VTR Engineer, Technical Director. Audio – Video signal chain. Types of shots, Camera Angles, Rule of 3^rd for visual composition.

Module 2: Studio Floor

Different types of studio lights, lighting accessories – barn-doors, full net, half net, focus, use of butter papers & gelatin papers. Three point lighting system. Ways to carry-out lighting – flying grid, studio floor, atrium and cyclorama. Microphone connections, Audio and Video studio monitors, Introduction to cameras and its basic operations – pan, tilt, zoom, focus, view finder, talkback. Camera dolley – operations & movement, Floor Plan.

Module 3: Video Switching

Use of Vision Mixer for mixing of video sources, switching effects – cut, mix, wipe, keying, camera cards. Teleprompter, Character Generator insertion, Monitor adjustments. Remote Control Panel of Camera Control Unit – White balance & black balance, aperture, gain, pedestal level controls. Necessity & importance of Waveform Monitor and Vectroscope, standard colour test signal.

Module 4: Audio Control

Types of wired microphones & applications. Wireless microphones – lapel, handheld cordless, transmitter – receiver pair for wireless microphones. Audio patch panel, Audio effect generator, Audio console operations – pre fed listening, feeder, filters, equalizers, audio pan, foldback, line input, mic input, gain control, audio test, master gain control, VU meter monitoring.

Module 5: Lighting Control and audio talkback

Lighting console panel controls – fixed lights, lights on dimmer, combination of lights on feeder using AND, OR and EXCEPT operations, flash point lighting control, blackout. Lighting grid operations and DMX controller. Use of audio talkback to communicate with different operators.

Module 6: Recording and Program Production Control

Montage, video Inserts and AV controls. Introduction to Master Control Room equipments like Sync Pulse Generator, Frame Synchronizer, Routing Switcher, Audio Distribution Amplifier, Video Distribution Amplifier. Equipments mounting of 19 inch rack. Interlinking and connections through false flooring. Purpose of tie lines. Connecting two TV studio floors for single program production. Final recording in card format. Audio – Video Playback setting for instant screening.

(F) TV Program Production & Terms:

            As many as 20 TV Program Production (depending on no. of participants) will be carried out, each of not more than 5 minutes in 45 – 50 minutes (including rehearsal time). Each participant will be assigned role in each TV Program Production and after every production, their role will be changed. These TV programs are to be made on given set with available resources and in given lighting conditions. No budget and or Artistes will be given for making these programs. No additional resources will be provided. If participant Producer fails to complete his/ her exercise in 45 – 50 minutes, no additional slot or time will be given and STTP will proceed as per schedule. Focus of this STTP will be exclusively on introduction to technical operations of multi-camera TV program production and not on the content or style of the production.

Since each participant will be producing one TV Program say an Interview or a news bulletin or standup comedy or solo singing/ dancing etc, he/ she need to come-up with an idea which his/ her team members will have to agree upon. These programs are to be made in only in Hindi or English or Marathi language. Using derogatory/ foul language and or signs is not permitted and FTII reserves all rights in this regard. FTII may cancel the program as well as candidature of participant without assigning any reason thereof and also without refunding fee apart from taking other legal action as per law of the land.

            In this STTP, following positions will be assigned to the participants on rotational basis;

(1) VM Engineer, (2) Audio Engineer, (3) Camera 1, (4) Camera 2, (5) Camera 3, (6) Producer, (7) Floor Manager, (8) Floor Assistant, (9) Production Assistant, (10) Lighting Console Engineer, (11) Artiste 1, (12) Artiste 2, (13) CG Operator, (14) CCU Engineer, (15) Mic & Audio Assistant, (16) MCR Engineer, (17) VTR Recordist, (18) VTR Playback, (19) Producer – Preparation, and (20) Production Assistant – Preparation.

(G) Tentative time – table (16^th to 20^th Dec. 2024)

(H) Course Director: Mr. Sandeep Shahare, Professor, TV Technical Operations, FTII

            Prof. Sandeep is working with FTII since 2006 and is having 18+ years of experience of teaching multi-camera technical operations in FTII. He completed his Masters degree from Govt. College of Engineering, Pune (COEP), under Pune University, in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. Before joining FTII, he worked as Assistant Professor in MIT Women Engineering College, Pune, for 04 years. He is having in-total professional & teaching experience of 29 years. He is Life Member of The Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) since 2004.

At present he is Head of TV Engineering Department in FTII and is also holding additional charge of Dean (TV). He was National Coordinator of Skilling India in Film & Television (SKIFT) and is now Executive Head of Centre For Open Learning (CFOL) under which various short courses are conducted by FTII. He was also holding additional charge of FTII Director from Nov. 2021 to Aug. 2024.

(H) ForFormat of certificate:

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