Smart Arts - Creative New Zealand

• Find out if the programme is produced live-to-air or filmed in advance.• Select a visual, dynamic excerpt for the crew to shoot. It can be difficult conveying thespirit of a performing arts work on screen.• Television can be very time-consuming. It can take a couple of hours to get two or threeminutes of television time. Help speed up the process by being prepared at your end:know what you will do, who is needed and when they need to be ready.• As the publicist, you should be there for the entire interview or shoot. Be cheerful andhelpful, even if it’s just to make coffee for the crew.• Let the crew know what your ideas are, incorporating what will add “visual” appeal –unusual location, animals, artefacts etc.• Ensure everyone is briefed about what’s happening, when it’s happening and for how long.Often, the crew will want to shoot the same segment two or three times to get differentcamera angles. Make sure everyone at the location knows that they will need to be quiet.• Always have extra copies of your media release and include a list of those beinginterviewed/photographed. Make sure all names are spelled correctly and that the personbeing interviewed and interviewer know the correct pronunciation of any words in te reoMäori, foreign words and unfamiliar names.• Try not to be overwhelmed by celebrity on-air hosts. Be polite to all the crew andremember to thank everyone for their time.• Make arrangements for your own tapes. It’s unprofessional to ask them to provide youwith a video of the programme.Interviews and OtherLies by Tim Barcodeat the Fringe NZFestival 2002The media5Smart arts | Toi huatau59