Central West and BBC Midlands Thread: Central using Gas st reception as a studio. - Page 71

PE

Pete Founding member 8 September 2003 6:31pm

tvmercia posted:

Hymagumba posted:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jamesison/caps-2/caps004/cap681.jpg

Has Kay's Traffic Information System been altered in any way or is it already perfect?

i think kays system has remained unaltered - i don't think we could cope with a new look midlands today AND a new system - that would be too much!

Oh dear - that would just set my *GASPIES* off. I've just seen Kay and her system in full operation for the first time and I'm in awe. I'd been astounded Kay before and had seen the TIS in a screenshot but to see it in motion with Kay was an experience all of it's own. I think I need to lie down.

I agree - the news cafe is dreadful but that is what BBC News seem to be in to at the minute going by News 24.

DA

DAS Founding member 8 September 2003 6:35pm

That yellow Live bug and location strap needs to change, along with the name aston. They're plain WRONG. If the live bug goes red, it doesn't alter the fact it overlays the name aston nicely (although the Midlands Today bit needs altering)

MA

mark Founding member 8 September 2003 6:41pm

A nice new look - certainly better than the old one. But I don't really understand why they're sticking with the defunct corporate style - surely that's a bit like replacing your telly but buying another 4:3 one despite the fact they're on the way out.

IS

Isonstine Founding member 8 September 2003 7:32pm

TW

Turnbull and Williams 8 September 2003 7:42pm

Yeah, it looks OK - a few comments to make though (as an outside observer judging just from those photos):

1. The desk is too small - there isn't enough space for two computers and two sets of scripts.

2. The sports guy looks a bit silly with his legs showing in front of the sofa - he should have a desk to sit behind. At the moment he looks like a scared guy at a job interview.

3. The sofa looks like it's going to come apart at any time - it just looks like a load of bits stuck together.

However, I think they've got the right idea and the window looks pretty good. Perhaps with a little tweaking it could be a good model for the future of regional news (although I agree with those who say it seems odd keeping elements of the defunct corporate look - I was expecting something more along South Today lines).

SE

Square Eyes Founding member 8 September 2003 7:48pm

I agree that coffee table looks ridiculous, it would be better if it was a circular table that extends around the sofa. That sports man looks like a spare part and just daft.

TW

Turnbull and Williams 8 September 2003 7:53pm

But whatever I think of the set, the Kay woman is fantastic - now I understand why everyone gets so excited about her! She sounds like a reassuring school teacher.

Oooh, a car has gone into a hedge and the hedge is on fire!!! Oooh, golly gosh!

If they're looking for a replacement for Natasha Kaplinsky on Breakfast, I think we've found our woman!

PE

Pete Founding member 8 September 2003 8:07pm

I've gone off the sofa - it's too fragmented. The way the main section has the gaps looks good on this shot

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jamesison/caps-2/caps005/cap147.jpg

and the legs shot is bad - camera angle problem more than his legs.

Still much nicer than Reporting Scotland though.

AP

AdamP 8 September 2003 8:19pm

It's not as flexible as the South Today look though, is it? On South Today they can stand in front of the screen, stand at the tall podium with the lap top on it, perch at the white desk, and walk around from area to area. Interviews can be at the desk, or on the screen. It gives much more scope to be innovative than just sitting on a sofa.

TV

tvmercia Founding member 8 September 2003 8:26pm

AdamP posted:

It's not as flexible as the South Today look though, is it? On South Today they can stand in front of the screen, stand at the tall podium with the lap top on it, perch at the white desk, and walk around from area to area. Interviews can be at the desk, or on the screen. It gives much more scope to be innovative than just sitting on a sofa.

but i don't think the team *wanted* that kind of flexibility - a static printed fake background a few plasmas and somewhere to perch is just *not* midlands today.

the show has to appeal to a very wide demographic from your youngu'ns all the way through to the olden's - so going down the ultra modern, standy-up move around dynamic look wouldn't work.

midlands today are doing more than fine in the ratings, so shifting the whole emphasis of the show to the whole team perching here there and everywhere with1 presenter per show is not worth it - oh and not least because ive always thought the south today look was over shadowed by the far more impressive national studio.

i see absolutely nothing wrong with the desk apart from the fact it needs a BBC Midlands logo on it - and i think the sofa looks fab the way it is - the gaps let you see the back wall and give it more shape.

KA

Katherine Founding member 8 September 2003 9:18pm

Ooh, they've got one of those desks that can be illuminated like the Six O'Clock News!! Expect Midlands Today seances when they're off-air.....

SE

Square Eyes Founding member 8 September 2003 9:25pm

From a health and safety point of view that sofa is very poor, it provides no lumbar support whatsoever. Just look at Nick, in every shot he is sat forward, it just doesn't support his back.

Everybody utilising a laptop/work station should have proper support. I expect that Midlands Today may see an increase in back pain related sickness as a result of the addition of the sofa. What kind of a message is that sending out ?

Central West and BBC Midlands Thread

Central using Gas st reception as a studio. (January 2003)