Directing style during action elements of a sporting event must be basically invisible. Directors must place themselves in the position of the audience to show them what they need and want to see.
Directing Continuous Sports Quicker pace of camera changes ▪ Continuous action contest provides little or no time to interrupt for color analysis and replay. ▪ Few natural breaks for commercial insertion or for the audience to take a break in their viewing
Directing Stop & Go The need to maintain audience interest during timeout periods is the primary challenge. ▪ Pauses in action are frequent and sometimes very long (at least from the viewers’ standpoint). ▪ Replay devices have provided an excellent production value for such periods.
If the sport provides a conflict ▪ (such as tennis or boxing) Coverage may concentrate on the dominant player ▪ Not always be the winning player. ▪ Example - a loser who is suffering from injury or losing control of a match may be the story the director wants to cover.
With team sports there is a built-in interest ▪ because of the complexity of the teams working together. Individual sports also have their advantages. ▪ The director can increase the emotional level by concentrating on close-up production techniques
Sport should be fun, and I want viewers to share in the enjoyment I get from the games. ▪ But I also owe it to those same viewers to be thoroughly prepared and to know what I am talking about. Chris Berman, Commentator, ESPN
Former athletes or coaches Often chosen for the role of analyst since an in-depth knowledge of the sport is required. The play-by-play person (Bill Schonley) Describes who the athletes are & what they are doing
The key to good interviewing is to find the things that aren't so obvious. ▪ Interviewers should strive to get responses that tell us something we don‘t know or something that adds a level of depth to the scene. ▪ Ken Colemen and Brad Schultz
The key to obtaining great story coverage. Asking the right questions when interviewing ▪ Don’t shy away from asking a player or a coach what his/her rational was behind a bad play. ▪ Talk about the big plays, but don’t forget to discuss what led up to them. Who were the playmakers?