Overview

Since 1948 when television began its rapid--almost exponential--growth, America has literally focused on TV, but the average viewer has been unaware of the key behind-the-scenes role of the TV director. In Take One, Jack Kuney shows what the director does in his equipment-filled twilight zone--the TV control room. The author identifies the crucial aesthetic contribution of the director who in selecting shots determines not only what millions of viewers will see but also how closely they will see them and in what sequence. More important, Kuney's interviews affirm that generally the director's talent, aesthetic judgements, and instincts set the tone of the program and determine a show's impact on its audience. The volume consists of a series of ten interviews, collected over a period of four years, with directors of television programs, each a specialist in a different field, who show a diversity that ranges from New York to Hollywood, the Metropolitan Opera to the Super Bowl. Their insights explain that various types of programs dictate the degree of the director's involvement: the director's role changes with the nature of the program, be it concert, game show, news, discussion, documentary, special event, drama, panel show, or the Miss America Pageant. In each interview the author's commentary acts as a guide and summation to the observations of the director. Dealing with the unique aesthetics of contemporary television, Take One is the most up-to-date work in the field and will be important and useful reading for students of production, and aspiring directors in the field.

Full Product Details

9780275935467

Table of Contents

Reviews

Take One is quite remarkable, unique among books about broadcasting. It's the best--and most practical--of the texts on production I've seen. But it's much more: valuable not only for the student and teacher, but also for the professional already in TV who wants to raise his sights and sharpen his skills, and it's fascinating reading for anyone who just wants to go behind the scenes and meet closeup the creative forces behind the medium's greatest programs. -Richard Pack Editor, Television Quarterly; former Senior Vice President Programming and Production, Westinghouse Broadcasting Co./Group W.

Author Information

JACK KUNEY was a producer, director, and writer in television and radio for more than thirty-five years. He was employed by NBC and CBS, as well as individual stations and public television. He has been the recipient of many awards, among them five Emmies, awarded by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for excellence in television. A retired Professor of Television and Radio from Brooklyn College, Kuney is currently at work on two books and a play.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available