Technical
Director - Commonly referred to as the T.D. - is responsible for
operating the On Air switcher during a telecast.
Prior to the newscast,
the T.D. will set up the switcher, still store, and digital video
effects generators.
During this pre-production
time, the T.D. will also assist the character graphics operator in
producing full-page graphics and over the shoulder graphics.
Want a Virtual Reality tour of the control room?? Click
the link below for a 360 degree view of ISU's control room.
Or check out the maps page to get an idea of the station layout.
The
T.D. must be familiar with all the special functions of the switcher
such as the chroma key, which is used to create the weather maps
behind the weather person.
Key in and key out
are used during interviews to identify names, titles, and locations
as well as on-air talent and guests. Over-the-shoulder graphics
are used to project graphics inside a specific camera shot.
Check out the RVS 630 Video Switcher page to
get an idea of what a T.D. works with.
The
content used in this site was created specifically for this page
by myself except where otherwise noted. Thanks to Sean McGivney
for TD pics used at the top of these sections. Thanks also to Sean
McGivney and Shannon Bonner for their help in the early versions
of this project and for assistance with the position descriptions.
The use of these materials was done solely for the educational purpose
at Illinois State University.
These are just a few
of the many operations of the switcher the T.D. must perform. The T.D.
will also assist the director when necessary in directing the telecast,
mainly during live shows with multiple camera shots.
The T.D.'s job and responsibility
during a telecast is one of the most challenging and rewarding crew positions
on a newscrew.
Check out what some production students
have to say about technical directing. Highly compressed Real Audio
files (RA) clips are provided. Download
the Real player and install to play the RA files, if these do not
play when you click on the links below. Check out theInterviews
section to hear all of the clips.
Technical Director (TD)
Sorry there are no TD clips available right now. Check back soon
and check out the interview section using the link above.
Technical
Director - Commonly referred to as the T.D. - is responsible for
operating the On Air switcher during a telecast. 
The
content used in this site was created specifically for this page
by myself except where otherwise noted. Thanks to Sean McGivney
for TD pics used at the top of these sections. Thanks also to Sean
McGivney and Shannon Bonner for their help in the early versions
of this project and for assistance with the position descriptions.
The use of these materials was done solely for the educational purpose
at Illinois State University.