Movies for TV - Early Television Foundation

254
THE PROGRAM ANGLE
staff might find it well worth their while to investigate this
fully.
Several attempts have been made to reduce costs of producing
films for television programs, but so far it has not seemed to work
out too well. The only solution appears to be the continuous production
of films somewhat in the style of a production line in a
in advance so that it
factory. If a series of films can be planned
can be treated like a single production with all the actors, crews,
and scenery as well as equipment used in most of the sets then
costs can be reduced to about $12,000 per film (half-hour) or
perhaps a little less. The most costly recurring expenses, excluding
payrolls, are the sets. If the script can be arranged to call for a
few simple sets with only a minimum of actors so that moves from
set to set with consequent time wasted in moving equipment are
reduced to a minimum it should be possible to turn out a good
piece of work for about $12,000. Of course, it will not be Hollywood
standard, but it will be good and quite satisfactory for tele-
vision. In fact, if made on 35 mm film stock it is quite possible
that a market can be found for work of this kind in independent
movie theatres provided it is good enough.
In the following paragraphs is given a general review of things
to consider in planning, setting up, and shooting a film whether
it be a twenty-second commercial or half-hour drama. If due at-
tention is paid to these points, the very least that will result will
be a usable production and a reasonably handled budget. This is
addressed to the man in an agency who has to supervise produc-
tion, perhaps without much previous experience in motion pictures,
and also it may be useful to the film director who is new
to his job, or just beginning to make his way in the industry.
Sets, Props, and Lighting Simple sets, without any violently
contrasting blacks or whites for the background are best. If this is
unavoidable, be sure the players are dressed in a contrasting color
but are not in white against black or vice versa. For backgrounds,
avoid anything which has a lot of complicated lines in it ; in other
words, a busy background which blends with the actors in much