14 TVBEurope
www.tvbeurope.com July 2017
Feature Tim Burke finds time for some personal hygiene in the gallery at 7am
Directing operations
at a glance all the upcoming declarations and
flexibility. The system is universal and works for
With such a long night ahead of her, how did
names and locations of two-way interviews. “I
cameras on pedestals, cranes and and hand-
studio director Claire Bellis prepare? “I stopped
talk directly with my hub technical contact to
held cameras.”
drinking coffee around 8pm and survived on sips
confirm exactly what is ready to go on air. Tim
of water and wine gums overnight. The adrenalin
will liaise directly with our output editor, Sam
industry and introduced a method with its
and excitement of election programmes always
Woodhouse, who prioritises what he wants to
StarTracking technology that replaces all other
keeps me going. I could pop out during the news
do next.”
more specialised methods. “It is easier, more
bulletins, but I usually find if I stick to the plan I don’t need to!”
“I use ten manned ped cameras, five in the
Geissler says Mo-Sys has changed the tracking
accurate and cheaper. It looks like it is the best
main set, three in the raised interview area
solution in the market when it comes to this
and two tracked in the VR Jeremy Vine area.
technology. Our aim is to make the life of BBC
mixers – one cutting the main programme and
We also have a 30-foot technocrane, which is
operators easier and give viewers an experience
the other looking after inputs into the two-
also tracked, a Steadicam and a tracked slung
that’s even more exciting.”
way screen or DVE boxes – in a fast-moving
hot head.”
She continues, “I always have two top vision
programme with 16 outside sources available at any time, it definitely takes two pairs of hands.” There was just one production assistant who
On reflection
Being prepared Bellis summed up the feelings of many. “This
That tracking system mentioned by Bellis came
general election programme was made more
looked after the running order in the ‘Live Tips’
from Mo-Sys Engineering. This was the fourth
challenging because there was very little set
system and kept the team on top of timings.
time in a row the BBC has used StarTracker to
up time. There are so many people involved
‘Live tips’ is a web-based running order system
drive their VizRt graphics system to visualise a UK
across so many different areas that co-ordinating
developed by the BBC’s Dave Bevan which
election. The principle behind the StarTracker
all these teams to deliver such an ambitious
allows anyone who can access the system to see
system is simple. LEDs or infrared lights mounted
programme is a mammoth task. Steering
the running order and offers.
on the systems navigation camera pick up
everyone in the right direction is made so much
reflected light from ceiling (or anywhere else)
easier by the fact that we have an incredibly
incredibly complex and are under the control
based ‘stars’ to locate the broadcast
talented group of people working on the
of Monica Coyne who does a remarkable job
cameras’ positions.
programme and, frankly, I just let them get on
Bellis goes on: “The election comms are
of making sure everyone can talk to, and hear,
“Mo-Sys is the originator of the ‘star
with it!”
everyone they need to. I have about 33 people
constellation’ star tracker concept and over
on my comms panel!”
the years, the whole system has matured with
team worked well. But as Burke observes: “You
The carefully laid plans of the broadcasting
the help of the BBC,” explains Michael Geissler,
always have to be ready for the unexpected.
put in the details of everything they’re offering
CEO, Mo-Sys Engineering. “There has been a
I am already working on my spreadsheets for
into the ‘Tips’ system, allowing the team to see
fast uptake due to its simplicity, reliability and
the next election!”
She explains that Burke and the OB hub team
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20/06/2017 15:31