Electronic field production

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see related article at Electronic journalism

also see Outside broadcasting

Electronic field production (EFP) is a television industry term referring to television production which takes place outside of a formal studio, in a practical location or special venue. Some typical applications of electronic field production include, awards shows, concerts, major newsmaker interviews, political conventions and sporting events.

Electronic field production (EFP) places the emphasis on high-quality, multi-camera photography, advanced graphics and sound.

[edit] Sports

Sports broadcasts make up the majority of EFPs. Major broadcast networks once owned their own production trailers for covering major events, but since then, with the explosion in networks on cable and over-the-air, they and broadcast rental companies rent production trucks by the day or week for more routine or remote productions.

A typical sports production truck includes:

• A large video switcher with an external digital video effects unit and several mix/effect busses, to allow the director flexibility in calling for certain visual effects in the broadcast.
• Several tripod-mounted and handheld cameras.
• A variety of zoom lenses for the tripod-mounted "hard" cameras, typically at least 50x to 100x magnification, and a maximum focal length of at least 600 mm. The extreme amount of magnification is necessary because the cameras can be located quite a distance from the action.
• Several video recording and playback devices such as VCRs or hard disk recorders. Certain cameras or video feeds can be "isolated" to specific decks, and when something happens that the producer or director wants to see again, the deck can be rewound and shown on the air as an instant replay. Hard disk recorders typically allow some limited editing capabilities, allowing highlight reels to be edited together in the middle of a game.
• Several character generators allowing scores and statistics to be shown on screen. The scoreboards used in most sports facilities can be linked to the truck to drive the television production's graphics as well as the arena scoreboards.
• An audio mixing booth and a variety of microphones to capture audio from the sportscasters and from the field of play.
• Several miles of various types of cable.

[edit] Related techniques

• Contrasted with the production values of EFP, in electronic journalism or ENG, the emphasis is on quickness and agility in acquisition and rapidity in the process of editing, leading to final transmission to the audience is the goal. The two terms are often seen paired as EFP-ENG and vice versa.

• Many episodic television shows, four-camera situation comedy, television drama, such as PBSs Masterpiece Theatre all draw upon forms of EFP