Why cant Sportsman Racing be like this on TV these days???

FED 387 · 02-20-2011, 12:07 AM

OK talked to my Son in law who has 25+ years experience as an A Camera operator for both TV and feature length films---He related to me that as far as a live TV production and determining what comes up on your TV screen this is how it works

The Chain of Command goes something like this with the people from ESPN

The Director of Photography is in direct charge of the Camera men/crews

However he can be /is sometimes over ruled by the Director/Executive Director

Who sometimes is over ruled by the Producer/Executive Producer

Who can be /is sometimes overruled by the Client(NHRA) as to what is going to be shown on TV

At NO time does a Camerman ever on his own make a decision as to what he is shooting--he is controlled by the director of photography --he can suggest something

The Dir of Photography tells the camera ops to shoot it tight or wide range or give me a low profile shot or whatever or shoot only Red/Blue/Green cars today

This is accordance to the Directors wishes(or the Producers or the clients wishes)

Then you have the Executive producer overseeing the Executive Director/Director of photography too getting his wishes involved as to what ends up on the TV

Then usually in the TV production trailer at the races in addition to the Producer/Director/Photography people a REP from the Client( NHRA ) is probably there too saying we need more John Force or less Woodrow Josey or whover on the TV

The fact that NHRA is paying ESPN they can generally dictate what ends up on TV regardless of what ever is shot by the multiple camera crews on raceday even if the Director or Producer is Woodrows Bro-in-law or whatever-(Im only using Woodrow as an example cuz many recognize his name)

Now when it comes to announcers/annoucing there is control over these people too.
The announcer may be given a general guideline/script of what is to be covered during raceday or they can be on there own. But somebody ( Director/Producer/Client ) has instilled in them that we are going to talk about the Pros or whatever---Very little leeway is generally given as to the subject matter discussed on the air

So the next time you watch an NHRA race look on the credits and get the names of the producers/directors cuz that who is deciding what will appear on the TV !!!!! Unless of course NHRA is telling ESPN exactly what they want to appear on TV!!!! Which more than likely is what is happening--If so Jerry Archambeault is the NHRA VP of Communications and Jim Trace is the Director of Broadcasting & Video Communications---these are the people to complain too as well as ESPN

FED 387

02-20-2011, 12:07 AM	#29
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,416 Likes: 522 Liked 330 Times in 178 Posts	Re: Why cant Sportsman Racing be like this on TV these days? OK talked to my Son in law who has 25+ years experience as an A Camera operator for both TV and feature length films---He related to me that as far as a live TV production and determining what comes up on your TV screen this is how it works The Chain of Command goes something like this with the people from ESPN The Director of Photography is in direct charge of the Camera men/crews However he can be /is sometimes over ruled by the Director/Executive Director Who sometimes is over ruled by the Producer/Executive Producer Who can be /is sometimes overruled by the Client(NHRA) as to what is going to be shown on TV At NO time does a Camerman ever on his own make a decision as to what he is shooting--he is controlled by the director of photography --he can suggest something The Dir of Photography tells the camera ops to shoot it tight or wide range or give me a low profile shot or whatever or shoot only Red/Blue/Green cars today This is accordance to the Directors wishes(or the Producers or the clients wishes) Then you have the Executive producer overseeing the Executive Director/Director of photography too getting his wishes involved as to what ends up on the TV Then usually in the TV production trailer at the races in addition to the Producer/Director/Photography people a REP from the Client( NHRA ) is probably there too saying we need more John Force or less Woodrow Josey or whover on the TV The fact that NHRA is paying ESPN they can generally dictate what ends up on TV regardless of what ever is shot by the multiple camera crews on raceday even if the Director or Producer is Woodrows Bro-in-law or whatever-(Im only using Woodrow as an example cuz many recognize his name) Now when it comes to announcers/annoucing there is control over these people too. The announcer may be given a general guideline/script of what is to be covered during raceday or they can be on there own. But somebody ( Director/Producer/Client ) has instilled in them that we are going to talk about the Pros or whatever---Very little leeway is generally given as to the subject matter discussed on the air So the next time you watch an NHRA race look on the credits and get the names of the producers/directors cuz that who is deciding what will appear on the TV !!!!! Unless of course NHRA is telling ESPN exactly what they want to appear on TV!!!! Which more than likely is what is happening--If so Jerry Archambeault is the NHRA VP of Communications and Jim Trace is the Director of Broadcasting & Video Communications---these are the people to complain too as well as ESPN FED 387