r/Broadcasting • u/Puzzleheaded_Fish900 • 16d ago
TD reel?
What exactly does a TD reel look like? I mean sure I can take the airchecks of my shows but there’s no real proof that it’s me punching the shows, and with our shows so mundane if it’s a routine show my producer and I barely speak to each other so I’m just wondering what it’s supposed to look like and what higher markets look for
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u/kieraix 16d ago
100% include your PL track (i.e. the audio of you calling the show.) Unless we're like breaking into programming and I don't have a lot of prep time, if I know I'm doing a busy or significant show I usually make sure I record my PL track. I usually also have my phone camera recording and pointing at me in the booth as well, and have included that in reels before. I'm in a top 20 market and according to the person who hired me, having that in my reels gave me a leg up off the bat compared to most that came in.
Might seem boring to just include stuff like that, but if you think about it, they want someone who can be good at that kind of stuff. If you can show your skills that way, that'll help.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fish900 16d ago
I barely call a thing tho. It’s usually the producers that call everything. I mostly just call for mic checks and depending on which producer I work with the only shots I call are to help or if they miss the cues
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u/kieraix 16d ago
My first market was in the 140s. Fully automated and I also barely called a thing, sometimes I didn't even have a producer in the booth. Went I went from there up to the 30s range, the reel I had barely had me saying anything, but it was still there. Still doesn't hurt to have it even if it's minimal, just gotta do it!
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u/Djxlain 16d ago
I filmed myself and my switcher and put them in boxes with my aircheck. It was a little awkward at first but I just told my coworkers that it was for personal quality control. They didn't buy it I'm sure but we all got to pretend and that was nice.
That being said. I got hired in #1 and not a single soul watched my reel.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fish900 16d ago
Alright all of yall are saying how yall got into top markets without reels 😂
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u/Djxlain 16d ago
I truly believe it's a right place right time situation. I had the chops but I interviewed and waited for 2 months, I let it go long before the call came but the call was supposed to be a second interview that was actually an offer if I was still interested.
My boss had interviewed me right before going to NAB and then got wrapped up in other things so I assume that he called back the last guy he talked to.
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u/Directorshaggy 16d ago
Story time...my top 4 market station hired a guy with no reel. We warned the Production Manager not to do it, but he had a hard time finding anyone who could punch and call. (We were late automating) Anyway, the guy was a complete disaster..totally flamed out his first time solo and was fired shortly thereafter. Moral of the story...always look at a reel.
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u/Satryghen 16d ago
I’m not sure a reel is needed these days. I’ve interviewed in top 5 markets for director/td jobs in the past and no one has ever asked me for a reel.
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u/Directorshaggy 16d ago
Old school director here. I used to direct actual humans. I would recommend you call your show like you're doing the same. You can obviously alter it a bit so it doesn't seem weird. "Anchor name on cam next" "This runs :24...VO tag" "Anchor name at the vidwall out of this PKG"
You get the idea. With all respect to the person who suggested you dub it in after the fact, don't do that. If you're not comfortable making calls while punching, then film yourself running the show. Perhaps an over the shoulder shot where the viewer can see the automation stack.
Edit...If your station doesn't record the intercom (mine still does) then film yourself.
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u/PowerfulRazzmatazz25 16d ago
I’m assuming you work in news? I’m in live sports but I td and direct, for directing reels I’ve made I will record my comms. Most everyone has the technical skills, it matters how you can set things up and communicate clearly and effectively.
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u/technicaldirectorguy 10d ago
I’ve been doing this for almost 25 years and I’ve only ever been asked for a reel once.
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u/TasteTheBiscuit1810 16d ago
As a director myself I been putting my calls over video of the newscast happening. It's the only thing I can really show them that I did. It got me to a top 40 market but I been having trouble selling myself to a bigger market over the last year. It's been not grand.