Birth of a Cooking Show
Anne P. Mitchell, Esq.
Brian,
I can give you a couple of pointers, having hosted a cable-based television
talk show for quite some time ("Fathers are Parents Too", still playing in
some areas, I believe...)
First - your crew is your gold. *Especially* when doing cable access, when
they are nearly all doing it on a volunteer basis, for no money. Some
studios like to rotate people through the jobs, giving everyone a chance to
do everything. However, if you find a good producer and a good director,
do what you can to keep them in those positions - nothing can ruin a show
more quickly than someone who doesn't really "get it" - your content can be
great, but if it isn't translated well for the audience, it doesn't matter.
The same holds true for camera crew - even if your best friend thinks
you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, if they don't know the
difference between a two-shot and a vodka shot, don't put them behind the
camera.
I always made a point of taking the crew out, or bringing pizza in, or
what have you, to show my appreciation.
If at all possible plan on taping 2, 3 or more episodes per taping session.
You will burn out a lot more quickly if you have to tape one show every
week, than 2 shows twice a month, or 4 shows once a month. Of course, you
change clothing and audiences and such in between. This is how the big
network shows do it.
If you feel that the show is doing well, consider "bicycling" it out to
other cable networks. During its heyday, we had FAPT showing on 50+
stations, in more than a dozen states, just by contacting other cable
stations and saying "hey, we have a series of 36 shows already wrapped
which we can send to you" - some of these stations are desparate for
quality programming. Find out whether they want to return the tapes or
keep them for future airings - if the former, send along an SASE so that
you can recycle the shows. Always be sure to check and see whether they
use only SVHS, or can accomodate regular VHS (which is cheaper to dupe).
Most of all - enjoy it! And stop doing it when you stop enjoying it - you
can't fake it, and it will come across the air.
Good luck!
Anne
I am: Mom, Attorney, Professor, Advocate for Fathers and Against Spam
http://www.annepmitchell.com
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Brian Connors
shed...@stop.mail-abuse.org (Anne P. Mitchell, Esq.) wrote:
> Brian,
>
> I can give you a couple of pointers, having hosted a cable-based television
> talk show for quite some time ("Fathers are Parents Too", still playing in
> some areas, I believe...)
>
> First - your crew is your gold. *Especially* when doing cable access, when
> they are nearly all doing it on a volunteer basis, for no money. Some
> studios like to rotate people through the jobs, giving everyone a chance to
> do everything. However, if you find a good producer and a good director,
> do what you can to keep them in those positions - nothing can ruin a show
> more quickly than someone who doesn't really "get it" - your content can be
> great, but if it isn't translated well for the audience, it doesn't matter.
> The same holds true for camera crew - even if your best friend thinks
> you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, if they don't know the
> difference between a two-shot and a vodka shot, don't put them behind the
> camera.
So I've been told.
> I always made a point of taking the crew out, or bringing pizza in, or
> what have you, to show my appreciation.
I could just cook for them...
> If at all possible plan on taping 2, 3 or more episodes per taping session.
> You will burn out a lot more quickly if you have to tape one show every
> week, than 2 shows twice a month, or 4 shows once a month. Of course, you
> change clothing and audiences and such in between. This is how the big
> network shows do it.
That's a very good idea, actually. As for audiences, that's not quite
how I'm looking to do it. As I mentioned in a previous thread, I expect
to do a fair number of location shoots (I'm hoping a clambake will be
one of them, if I can get all the necessary beach permits from the Town
of Yarmouth), though there will be plenty of kitchen episodes as well.
BTW: catchphrases. Not that I don't already know what most everyone is
going to say here ;-) but... fun or annoying?
> If you feel that the show is doing well, consider "bicycling" it out to
> other cable networks. During its heyday, we had FAPT showing on 50+
> stations, in more than a dozen states, just by contacting other cable
> stations and saying "hey, we have a series of 36 shows already wrapped
> which we can send to you" - some of these stations are desparate for
> quality programming. Find out whether they want to return the tapes or
> keep them for future airings - if the former, send along an SASE so that
> you can recycle the shows. Always be sure to check and see whether they
> use only SVHS, or can accomodate regular VHS (which is cheaper to dupe).
I do hope to do that, at the very least around the Cape and in a couple
of places where friends of mine live.
> Most of all - enjoy it! And stop doing it when you stop enjoying it - you
> can't fake it, and it will come across the air.
Yeah. That is true, isn't it?
Actually, anyone who's got a show running right now, I would appreciate
it if you could send me a tape or two so I can study them.
/Brian
Ranee Mueller
Brian Connors <conn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> BTW: catchphrases. Not that I don't already know what most everyone is
> going to say here ;-) but... fun or annoying?
Can be fun for some of your audience, but has the potential to turn
off the a large number also. A risk, I'd say. I think they are
annoying. If it's something you really say, though, don't stop.
Regards,
Ranee
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