WHAT TRANSPIRES BEHIND SCENE?

Opportunities happen once and today marks mine to see Face to Face being shot live. I got the chance to join a crew of four together with the host, Mr. Umaru Sanda Amadu for Face to Face. Today’s face-to-face is with Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong, the CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

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  The host and guest Umaru Sanda Amadu, Justin Kodua Frimpong respectively

It is known that before the start of any interview, the setting needs to be checked and it was seen here as I joined the noble team of Mr. Amadu. The crew headed by the producer, Fred, director Paula and the Camera and Sound guy, Rollex and Emmanuel respectively went to check the office where the interview will be conducted. They returned to arrange the office, load off and set up the cameras, light, Lapel Microphone for the interview to be recorded for the 9pm Face to Face show.

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It should be noted that in producing shows and news, pre-production, production, and postproduction must be done. And every successful show depends on a successful research and planning. Therefore, pre-production includes brainstorming ideas which includes, the topic for discussion, guest, location, thorough research on the temperament and subject for discussion.

So here, what kind of information do you want your audience to know and what do you plan to achieve at the end of the interview? Pre-production is similarly like getting the listed foodstuffs bought and using the necessary items to cook for a dish.

Now, we move to the production stage where the first camera is positioned on the host, another on the guest and the last one taking a full showt of the set, artificial lighting adding up to the light in the room, checking if both the guest and host are on the same sound level, checking the pixel of the camera to get a good picture for the video shoot. And postproduction is basically like pointing out flaws and applauding if it was done right.

Before the start of the interview, they make up the face of the interviewer and interviewee. This is done to everyone who sits on the set whether beautiful or ugly to suit the screens of the public. I realized that the host built a rapport with the guest by engaging him in a conversation like his Personal Assistant giving him the treat of his life, work issues and finally to the interview. This is done to release the stress and pressure on the guest and to make him or her have an easy flow during the interview.

I realized that during the interview the director communicates with the host, prompting him when it wasn’t done right and asking to redo if there were noise that interrupt during the process.

Asking to redo was done when unwarranted noise from a convoy, ambulance, money van interrupts the interview and the director would say

“stand by, Umaru… in three, two, one …. action!!”

Said by Director, Paula

I kept saying this after the interview and to me that was the most interesting part of it all. 

The producer on the other hand, was keeping track of the time to avoid overtime . One thing that stood tall was the fact that the producer, director, camera man, sound guy and host could multitask at the same time because the sound guy was the same driver who drove them to the location.

The host also asked for internet connection purposely to check on information if the need be.

To be frank, trust me when I tell you that seeing a shoot on set and seeing it face to face as the name of the show says, is a different ball game all together because there are pauses, stop, take it again at the spot where the interview is conducted, but looks all good when you watch it on television.