Movies for TV - Early Television Foundation

248
THE PROGRAM ANGLE
stages, scenery, props, scripts, and scenario writers, and cameras,
of course. But for television only the instantaneous, fleeting image
is picked up and transmitted.
The methods of production are very different, too. In films
the story is shot out of time sequence with perhaps the last scene
first. In television the story is shot in one take and editing is done
instantaneously by the director who switches and cuts cameras.
In a typical Hollywood production there are more workers and
the work is less integrated so that even the cameraman may never
see the complete script, whereas in television the whole production
is made more as a unit with everyone being able to feel that his
part mattered.
In the choice of films for television, there are many points to
watch. The legal ones of libel and slander together with releases
and television are covered in Chapter 22 and in any case these are
the worries of the legal department that's what they are paid for !
On the other hand, an intelligent interest in what is going on in the
field, and restraint from using films which are known to be badly
involved legally or of dubious origin, will help one's position and
chances of promotion. The question of censorship is not difficult
although merely to accept a film for television showing does not
mean that there will not be repercussions from various viewers or
Sometimes it will
busybody, self-styled, religious censorship groups.
be obvious that certain films are not suitable for transmission until
seem the ever
after the usual children's bedtime. Strange as it may
popular cartoon which is well liked by child and adult alike is not
always a safe bet for freedom from censor or good taste trouble.
Some cartoons, just as some live films, suffer from lapses of taste
which may upset people. Then, after all questions of propriety have
been settled, it is time to examine the film with an eye to the technical
quality of photography and processing. A film which is eminently
suitable for theatre is projection usually not as well suited for use
over the television film camera chain. A film print to be used on
television should be in tones of gray rather than black and white.
There should actually be no black and no pure white, but very pale
and dark grays.