Picking the right prompter

by Jon Hilton
Issue 104 - August 2015





There is so much choice available today for prompting devices. From phones and tablets to full Broadcast Studios systems and with non-word prompting techniques like Interrotrons becoming popular choosing the best prompting system for your productions needs some serious consideration. 1. The Talent comes first is one of the prime rules of prompting. The Operator follows the Talents speed of delivery, never the other way round. 2. Getting the right size screen and minimum reading distance is one of the first questions we get asked. We use our Reading Matrix to determine the maximum distance from presenter to camera lens. This is a suggestion as some presenters prefer larger screens to help with eyesight (without spectacles) issues! 3. Tablet or PC tends to be a cost driven decision. PC systems may be what you want but cant be cost justified whereas a self-driven tablet or Personal Prompter to buy or hire can. Sure tablet based systems have limitations. Be aware they work in standalone operation as there is no external script connections (which can also be a benefit for handheld operation), editing script changes is not as quick as on PC and finding a software / control system that will properly scroll rather than run at a fixed speed is paramount (we use Pico Prompt & i-glue / scroll). However anything that saves production budget by helping reduce the number of takes and makes your presenter look more professional is a must consider!



4. Interrotron is a technique developed in the 80s by Errol Morris, a US film director. It allows a nervous interviewee to see the interviewers face instead of the camera lens whilst they give their answers direct to the camera for a more natural delivery. This is especially useful when the presenter may not do this for a living or does not seem natural when reading. There are two variants a Passive system using reflections by way of a customised prompting hood and reflector and an Active system which takes a video feed from a second camera feeding the prompter display. 5. Direct Read is a technique used with Jibs, Cranes (and DronesJ) where you do not want to be flying mirrors and glass over the studio floor (Health and Safety) or where you are using a Green Screen Light Ring. Mounted either above or below the camera lens eye line will be not be visibly lost on a mid-shot or wider. 6. Talent Monitors are rigged beneath the main prompting monitor these are popular with presenters who need to understand where they are positioned in a Virtual Studio and are a useful production tool for talent to see the programme output on the studio floor.



7. Robotic Camera operation. One man controlled robotic studios are becoming far more common. Rigging on CCTV dome style cameras can be a problem (there is nothing to attach the prompter to) but PTZ style cameras are now easy using specialised mounting plates to maintain camera balance and smooth movements. 8. Lightweight / folding hoods. As the demand from presenters for larger screens increases there is a backlash from Cameras, Engineering and often Prompt Operators that on camera weight is too much and balance and mobility are lost. Most manufactures now offer lightweight folding hoods which keep weight down but allow large screen sizes. 9. Prompter Control. Most manufactures offer wired / wireless hand / foot controllers although a PC mouse will often suffice. Be clear how you will work in studio and on location and then what type of control you want and can afford. 10. Practice makes perfect is an old adage but so true. You want your presenter to sound natural and relaxed. Make sure they are not just reading and they vary their pitch and tone, use pauses, dont move their head from side to side or stare into the lens. Remember they control the speed of the script delivery not the operator. Dont worry if they ab lib as a good operator will always wait for them to come back to script and dont be frightened to use bullet points if script reading is not their thing. The way to ensure this all comes together is practice to make sure they are familiar with what they are going to say as they are the experts on the subject matter! www.portaprompt.co.uk

Contributing Author Jon Hilton#

Read this article in the tv-bay digital magazine

Article Copyright tv-bay limited. All trademarks recognised.
Reproduction of the content strictly prohibited without written consent.

Related Interviews

CueScript EMC prompter and control surface at IBC 2014
CueScript Prompters at NAB 2014
Autocue DSLR Prompter using iPad at IBC 2013
Autocue at NAB 2012
Portaprompt at IBC 2015
CueiT Software from CueScript at NAB 2018
Portaprompt at BVE 2017
Portaprompt at IBC 2016
CueScript at IBC 2015
Portaprompt at BVE 2015
Autocue at BVE 2015
Autocue at NAB 2013
Datavision at BVE 2012
Autocue at BVE 2012
Autoscript at BVE 2012
Autoscript at BVE North 2011
Datavideo at IBC2011
Autoscript at IBC2011
Autocue at IBC2011
Social Media Virtual Production Switching from Sony
The Latest Production Control Solution from TSL Products at IBC 2018
Live Production with ChyronHego at NAB 2018
Playbox Production Air Box shown at IBC 2017
The all in one production system from Ross Video at NAB 2017
Snell Kahuna Production Switcher at IBC 2014
BeSteady on the Production Gear stand at BVE 2014
aQ Broadcast Production Suite at BVE 2014
Tony Taylor from TMD talks about Post Production
Blackmagic Design with the new ATEM Production Suite at IBC 2013
LiveMedia Server and Live Xpert from 3D Storm at NAB 2017
Davinci Resolve 14 with Fairlight from Blackmagic Design at NAB 2017
Calrec at BVE 2017
Prime Focus Technologies at NAB 2016
JVC GY-LS300 at IBC 2015
NewTek at IBC 2015
Grass Valley at BVE 2015
PlayBox at BVE 2015
Forscene at IBC 2014
Quantel LiveTouch at IBC 2014
Quantel deal with AFP at IBC 2014
NewTek TalkShow at IBC 2014
Broadstream Solutions at NAB 2014
PacTV Truck at NAB 2014
SGL at NAB 2014
Sound Devices at NAB 2014
AQ Broadcast at NAB 2014
Atomos Samurai Blade at BVE 2014
Atomos Ronin at BVE 2014
Atomos Ninja Blade at BVE 2014
Ross Video at BVE 2014
NewTek TriCaster at BVE 2014
Grass Valley at BVE 2014
Forbidden Technologies FORscene at BVE 2014
Forbidden Technologies FORscene App at BVE 2014
Calrec on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Orad Hi Tec Systems on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Snell on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Harmonics Tom Lattie on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Primestream on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
NewTek on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Sound Devices on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Audio Network on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Sound Devices PIX260i Recorder at IBC 2013
Aframe Cloud Video at IBC 2013
Tony Taylor from TMD talks about LTFS at IBC 2013
Tony Taylor from TMD talks about Mediaflex CI
Blue Lucy Media at IBC 2013
Facilis at IBC 2013
Blackmagic Design: Products at NAB 2013
Facilis at NAB 2013
Cobham: Mini RF Transmitters at NAB 2013
Cobham: RF Transmitter at NAB 2013
Pixel Power at NAB 2013
Autocue at BVE 2013
Autocue at BVE North 2012
Miranda at NAB 2012
Bexel at NAB 2012
Autodesk at NAB 2012
Ross Video at BVE North 2011
SGO at IBC2011
New Phone and Tablet products from Padcaster at NAB 2018
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera BMPCC 4K at IBC 2018
Glensound Dante at IBC 2014
Sonnet Technologies on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Guntermann and Drunck CrossDisplay switching and CCD at IBC 2013
Global Distribution with mLogic at IBC 2013
Lightworks on BroadcastShow Tour May 2013
Polecam Antelope Pico at IBC 2014

Related Shows

Live production with Newtek at BVE 2015

Articles

Switching to Internet Based Distribution

"An IP status check for the broadcast industry", "Resistance is futile", "IP points the way forward for the broadcast industry"...

Yes, we've read the headlines too. But rather than force you into submission, scare you, or leave you feeling like you have no other choice, we want to give you the information that helps you to make a sensible decision about Internet-based distribution.

So what’s stopping you from making the switch right now?

Contributing Author Chris Clark

Click to read or download PDF

21st Century Technology for 20th Century Content

A big challenge facing owners of legacy content is rationalising and archiving their tape and film-based media in cost effective and efficient ways, whilst also adding value. Normally the result of this is to find a low cost means of digitising the content – usually leaving them with a bunch of assets on HDD. But then what? How can content owners have their cake and eat it?

Contributing Author James Hall

Click to read or download PDF

Future proofing post production storage

Advancements in NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express), the storage protocol designed for flash, are revolutionising data storage. According to G2M Research, the NVMe market will grow to $60 billion by 2021, with 70 percent of all-flash arrays being based on the protocol by 2020. NVMe, acting like steroids for flash-based storage infrastructures, dynamically and dramatically accelerates data delivery.

Contributing Author Josh Goldenhar

Click to read or download PDF

Your two week editing future

So here we are - January again! Usually a good time to reflect on the year just gone by, and a good time to look forward to the coming months as the new year begins.

When I was reflecting on my 2018, and when thinking about what to write for my first article for Kit Plus - I kept coming back to one theme - organisation.

Contributing Author Alex Macleod

Click to read or download PDF

Test, Measurement and Standards

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), is a non-profit trade alliance that fosters the adoption of one set of common, ubiquitous, standards-based protocols for interoperability over IP in the media and entertainment, and professional audio/video industries.