Stage to Screen

I think there has been a misconception that productions on stage are vastly different to that on screen. While the content of a stage production, such as a concert, differs in content and presentation from a broadcast program, like news broadcasts, the technical aspects, organisation skills and general stage designs are, for the most part, similar.

What do most broadcast studios have, well in general, stage lighting with a control console, video switcher boards and cameras with a director, soundboards and in ear monitoring systems and most importantly, a producers. Now, if we look at a live performance we see similar elements as well. In a concert, for example, we also see stage lighting and consoles, video switcher boards to switch between the different feeds from cameras and stage backgrounds, soundboards for front of house sound, in ear monitoring for musicians, and a stage director or producer to ensure the show runs to plan.

Therefore, contradictory to what most think, we actually see many similarities between the two different set ups, with those working in both industries having extremely transferable technical skillsets.

However what might not be transferrable would be the soft skills required by both set ups. Having an eye for a shot in a stage configuration is different from what is required for production. How lighting should be designed, camera angles, and number of switches between cameras differ between the industries. Broadcast tends to require more frontal camera angles to deliver clear, distinct shots, free of distractions, with hosts well lit. While stage shows generally frame their shots wider, displaying as many aspects of the show as possible, while lighting dimmer to give an immersive experience for the viewer.

There is also a difference in audio production as well, even if we compare speech of a play against speech of a news broadcast. A sound engineer of a play needs to consider the acoustics of the stage, how the sound bounces off the walls, while also facing the arduous task of setting the EQ of the lapel microphones worn by stage actors. They generally aim to achieve a "fuller" sounding voice, with depth and volume. On the other hand, a sound engineer mixing for a news broadcast does not face the challenge of having a different set up each week, depending on the theatre, as the studio is always the same. They also look to achieve an EQ which balances both clarity and smoothness of a voice.

I hope you now have a better understanding of the similarities and differences of how the production of stage and broadcast shows. While the set ups may be similar in terms of equipment, the two shows differ in what they set out to achieve, thus producers need to be aware of the purpose and goal of the show before beginning, and work towards that.

Image: Kin Leonn at The Esplanade Recital Studio 2019

#production #audiovisual #television #broadcast #stage