Teleprompter Training Tip #23: Location, Location,
Productions can take place in studios, offices, houses or even streets. The most basic rule of any shoot, regardless of the location is simple. Safety first.
Check for loose cabling on the floors, overhead rigging, standing lights and any other props in potentially dangerous spots. The lights are not only intense, they often burn very hot . . . so don’t touch them!
Once you get to the set, the Director will probably walk you through the setup of the shoot and make all the introductions to your crew.
If you’re using a prompter or auto cue, you should have at least a four member team . . . the sound operator, the camera operator, the auto cue operator, and of course, the director.
For the most part, the technical piece is done before you arrive and after you leave.
First port of call will be wardrobe and makeup. If you’ve made any alterations or additions to the script though, make sure the teleprompter operator is aware of these as soon as possible.
The main function of the teleprompter is to take a screen of text from a computer and project a smooth scrolling page of text onto a screen. Editing functions are basic, so allow the operator plenty of time to make any required additions. For single, this is quite easy to do. If new text blocks need to be included though, it takes time to either type these out or copy from a file.
When all the script is in place and you’re ready to go, grab a glass of water (not too cold) and get ready for the Director’s “3-2-1″… action.
When you are ready to bring your presentations in-house, use professional teleprompter software . . . it will make a huge difference to the success of your production.