Studio Production: 'Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?' Research

As part of my research on vision mixing, I decided to study an episode of a programme similar to Teach 'Em A Lesson - 'Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?'. While this show is pre-recorded instead of live, I found this research to be useful in analysing vision mixing. I decided to analyse the following...

• Any differences between a pre-recorded show and a live show
• The style of camera shots and how they held / cut
• The pace of cutting between cameras
• The amount of stings, GFX (graphics) and VT's (video tapes) and how they are transitioned

Pre-recorded VS Live

• The show being pre-recorded allows for a 'coming up' segment of the episode. This being a humorous montage of different parts of the show featuring the presenter and contestants. This allows the viewer to get excited for what will be featured in the episode - an effective way to start a pre-recorded show.
• The largest difference for a vision mixer is the fact that any mistakes made during recording can be fixed and adjusted in post-production, whereas live programmes are being broadcast as they are filmed, leaving no room for mistakes. Thus I found no mistakes in this show.

Cameras

• The first camera shot of the show is a rigged camera that begins on the presenter and zooms out into a wide shot to reveal the set. As opposed to typically cutting between a number of shots within this first 20 seconds, this one shot is held. Typically this would be an unusually long time for a vision mixer to hold on one shot, but due to the manoeuvrability of the camera, it provides a number of angles and distances in from one camera.
• The shots greatly vary between wide and medium close-ups, especially when cutting between the children on the show, the presenter and the contestant. However the above feature of a rigged camera panning and travelling around the set is heavily used throughout the show.

Pace & Changes

• The pace of the show's cutting between cameras are extremely quick, giving at least 4 different shots focused on one subject (such as the children featured in the show) within a matter of seconds. This seems to be overly used as the shots are extremely similar - for example, 3 wide shots from 3 slightly different angles.

Stings, GFX & VT's

• Within the first minute of the show there is a sting for the show's logo that wipes across the screen before the 'coming up' montage, along with a GFX lens flare styled wipe that transitions out of the montage and into the presenter's introduction to the show. These are both fast paced and appear to give the show a bit of extra creative excitement.
• The logo of the show is heavily featured throughout in a GFX form that overlays the current shot and allows a transition into the next shot. Typically the GFX/sting lasts approximately 5 seconds.
• The use of GFX consists of a list of money, highlighting how much the contestant has earned so far on the show - this is wiped in and out next to the contestant in shot. The other is a lower third, recapping to the viewer at home which subject the contestant has decided to be quizzed on. The GFX on the show seems to be used as a highlighting of information tool or a recapping tool for those at home, a professional use rather than for extra visual flare.
• The closing credits begin by being laid over the last shot of the show, and are then cut into the only VT of the show as the credits continue, now laid over an image of a scribbled-on blackboard.

The two types of GFX used in the show
(aside from the logo)

What I've learned

I found that a pre-recorded television show allows for a more solid structure, removing or adding shots or parts of the show, a 'coming up' segment to begin the show and a faster pace when cutting between camera shots and GFX. While live or as-live shows can't allow for coming up montages, any mistakes to be made, the timing of the show to be under or over the permitted length and cannot be cut together as quickly unless using a number of vision mixers and graphics operators.

However, live shows allow for a solid focus on the most important parts of the show, such as reaction shots and certain lines being said. Whereas 'Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?' seemed to use a number of unneeded shots more than once to simply give the show a faster pace.

I've mostly learned a vision mixer that it is more vital to focus on the important and key shots and segments of a show when going live instead of cutting the show together as quickly as possible. As content is more important in a show whether pre-recorded or live.

The analysed episode of Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? can be found below...