What's Cooking in Carroll County Carroll County Government (Winner)
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Judge's comments for this category:
Behind the Scenes: Food Services:
The title sequence was slow paced and long but it matched the show content. I was lost at
the very beginning. The very first sound bite is not an introductory or opening sound bite
that set the stage. I needed some kind of welcome here's today's topic kind of a start.
Being more critical about choosing sound bites will result in a reduction of repetitive
remarks. I'm eight minutes in and I've lost track of the number of people and times
someone has mentioned temperature. Also to help avoid repetition, plan out the questions
and don’t ask the same question of more than the right one person who can give you the
answer in the most concise and authoritative terms. Once eliminating the repetitiveness
this could be a tight and more appealing 15 minute profile.
Carroll's Communities:
The title sequence was a bit long and could be shortened but all of the animated type
helped carry it. To break up the stand ups so they are not a long and thus monotonous
shot, break the shot from a medium shot instead of a zoom in, have the talent look off to
another camera as if it is a shot change. Then pick up with a medium close up and the
new graphic as he starts today’s subject. You might also have to change the background
to avoid the feeling of a jump cut. Avoid black colored fonts over non-opaque
backgrounds as they are difficult to read. The second line of the lower thirds don’t stand
out at all. The set is monotonous. Perhaps adding some lighting effects on the cyc and
avoid the seam right behind the host. Would suggest extending the middle of the
transition between the host in a stand up and the host in a studio shot. Don’t have the host
visible in both shots at the same time. Use the wipe to a background and then background
to the next shot with a very short duration probably no longer than 15 to 30 frames. Good
job on the hand held walk through on the tour segment. A little shaky at times but the
footage was appealing.
Connections: Fine Arts:
Nice selection of music, great use of graphics except the episode title of "performing
arts" was a bit sterile as it lacked any animation compared to the other titles. The
opening studio shot hung too long. I presume this was done with green screen limiting the
ability to zoom in a bit to draw the audience in at the beginning. The lower thirds were
too boxy and the college seal was too dominating. Time the music and title sequence
with a minimum of time on the studio establishing shot three to five seconds max. The
shot composition was unbalanced coming out of the B-Roll back to the host in a tight
close up. A bit too tight on a number of occasions including have her chin conflicting
with the lower third. Here shot was centered but needed "nose" room when she is looking
at the guests. Law of thirds. Live zooms on green screen looses the effect and shot
adjustments have to made off air.
What's Cooking in Carroll County:
Nice open. Graphics needed a drop shadow or outline to make it pop. Love the lower
third animated graphics with sound effects. Just be careful not to have the sound effect
compete with the primary sound. Shot framing on guest was unbalanced from shots of the
host. Try to use more light control and have lights as high to the ceiling as possible to
avoid shadows. Uneven mic levels made it sound like the guests mic failed or wasn't
used and when the second guest came on he had hardly any aural presence. If you were
down to one mic it might have been better to place the one mic on the table and then ride
levels in post rather than continuing to have the host really loud and the two guests really
soft and thus harder to control. Avoid in shot selection going from a wide three shot to
another wide three shot. Reposition standing guest a bit to director's left for unobstructed
shots and keep host camera primarily on close up. Cameras may have needed to be
pedestal up or higher to avoid obstructions on the table and not be shooting up the second
guest nose. Just wondering how different the interview would have been done before the
wine tasting (ha ha) Good to keep shots balanced but when guest discusses a highly
emotional point of his feelings working with the developmentally disabled, the shot could
have been a bit more intimate by being tighter. Review the tapes with talent so she can
become more aware of camera shot and avoid blocking her face with her glass or other
objects. A good actor always knows where the lights are brightest and moves into the
light.
Overall nice use of two cameras in the field. Just watch shot composition by allowing
enough "nose" room yet avoid too much nose room. Law of thirds. Good choice in host
and guests great on camera presence.