Alec Bray
Yes, I know it is the “competition”, but there is an interesting trailer (?) commercial (advert) (?) – I am not sure what to call it ! – on ITV at the moment (August 2017) which purports to show the development of studio techniques in the production of the studio-based continuing drama (current name?) or “soap” – “Coronation Street”.
Interesting to me who has not operated a TV Camera since May 1967.
The video can be found here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n3FIiwU0Ew8
I recognise a Marconi Mark III
and an EMI 2001: :
(that’s my limit …)
Now, questions:
1. Did Granada use Marconi Mk IVs or EMI 203 4″ IOs ? I know that Associated Rediffusion were using Marconi Mk IIIs long after the BBC had upgraded to later cameras (this was based on the one day that I did at Wimbledon, where BBC and AR cameras were next to each other on Centre Court and the Interview Studio.
(Edit: 22 August 2023 – I have found some photos I took on that one day at Wimbledon: here.)
2. Can we (collectively) identify all the equipment shown in the infomercial or trailer or … (?)
3. Is the rest of the trailer (promo) accurate in its depiction of the stages of the development of techniques for studio-based soaps? Are any stages missing? Any equipment missing (OK, it does not cover post-production…)
4. Is this advert (?) actually STAGED – that is, recreated specially? My guess is yes – for these reasons:
1. The aspect ratio. It does not look like a conversion, as the framing is fine for the aspect ratio actually used.
2. A film camera in a working TV studio would not be able to get many of the shots, especially dolly/crane shots.
3. The picture quality is consistent throughout.
It would be great to know what you all make of it – and if and/or where it has gone wrong. Otherwise it could be an interesting but all too brief “history” of Television technical operations over the years – and we could just send the link to ADAPT (and all the others who ask about Tech Ops development!).
Chris Woolf
Quite sure it’s staged, but impressive that they could find operating equipment as “props”.
Bernie Newnham
This is gear from Golden Age Recreations – http://www.golden-agetv.co.uk/ . I don’t think there’s anyone else in this country that has that stuff.
I’m sure early “Coronation Street” would not have been directed for the floor (man with two monitors), as it was live or nearly live. No proper gallery shots, as they don’t have the gear.
I think our sound friends will have something to say about the boom operating, and indeed, booms.
Crane up to Strand pattern lamp, bit I don’t think any of the others are contemporary.
All shot in 21:9 on something like an Arri Alexa. Now that all TV is 16:9 it just isn’t good enough for trendies. And to think that I once had to persuade a telecine man to do terrible things to his machine to get a the full width of the picture for a trail for “Carousel”, and then was told off.
Graeme Wall
That was my thought.
Also it looked like a toned down BBC TV Colour logo on the side of the EMI 2001.
Alec Bray
This is as close a match as I can find (quickly).
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“Corrie” promo on the left – John Henshall’s BBC training video on the right.
Bernie Newnham
I don’t think their 2001s work either – .
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Tony Nuttall
Check with:- http://www.golden-agetv.co.uk/index.php: I think that they were involved with the production of the ITV/Corrie Promo.
The Marconi MK3 with the Camera ‘3’ logo is ex BBC MR Dicky Road. This was a spare channel but was used on TOTP etc. Golden Age acquired the camera from ex BBC MR BBC BM & GTV Cameraman Dave Norris. Lots of his Videos on You Tube under the title:- unhaban https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7cXf_qnn8
Golden Age has a very skilled Engineer Paul Marshall who keeps the working Hire Kit up and running and provides “implant view finders” for the non-operational kit.
http://www.golden-agetv.co.uk/aboutus.php§
Dave Norris’s other TV “You Tube” bits:-
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=unhban
Pics of the ex Dicky Road MK3:
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and below a 2001 used in a previous Granada recreation programme: you would have to check with Golden Age as to its original owner. Note the ungassed ped on the Granada recreation 2001!
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