Congratulations! to the cast, crew, writers, and producers of Frasier for winning the Emmy for Best comedy a record five years in a row....



Wednesday - This is day one of a show on Frasier. Overnight the swing sets from last week have been struck and the new sets (if any) are being constructed on the stage. The first production meeting for the new show is held in the morning in the upstairs conference room. All the department heads are required to attend. The special requirements for the particular show are clearly laid out during the meeting. This is the first time most of the staff has seen the script. Till now, only the writers have been involved. Now the script is laid on the table for everyone to see. Later that day the cast read thru is held. This is the cast's introduction to the new script. The script is read aloud by the cast (with laughs interjected by the writers) and timed by our script superviser. It used to suprise me that the writers would laugh so hard at thier own jokes. Soon I realized that they were doing it for timing, both comedic timing (so the cast can get a feel for the jokes) and actual running time for the show. After the read thru the script is discussed by the writers, cast, and producers.







Thursday - The swing sets are dressed early in the morning to prepare for the on set rehearsals later that day. The lighting may also be roughed in this morning if the sets are far enough along. Keep in mind that the only permanent sets on Frasier are the living room and radio station. All the other sets you see are crammed into the empty 1/3 of Stage 25 and changed every week. The cast's day begins with a "table reading" on stage. This brings everybody up to speed with any script changes that were made overnite, and there are always script changes. After the reading the director begins blocking. This is when the director decides who goes where and says what when. After blocking, its "Run Through" time. The script is acted out with the new action in front of the writers and producers. What always amazes me is the amount of interaction between the cast, director, writers, and producers. Every day the script is read and every day somebody has an idea how to make it better. These ideas are immediately incorporated into tomorrow's script.







Friday - Big lighting day. Now that the sets are done and the Gaffer has seen a rehearsal, the Set Lighting and Grip Departments can light the new sets. This is usually done in the morning so that the Cameraman, Kenny Lamkin, and Gaffer, Jack Harmon, can see a rehearsal with the new lighting. The director and cast do another "table read" (new script changes remember), another blocking rehearsal and another run through for the producers, after which we may stay to tweak the lighting if necessary.







Monday - Camera Blocking. Today is the first day the camera and sound crews are on the set. Most sitcoms are shot on either Tuesday or Friday. This way the camera and sound departments can work on two shows simultaneously. Frasier is filmed with four cameras using 35mm film. This is the most expensive way to make a sitcom, and ensures the highest quality final product. Camera blocking is defined as the process of deciding where the cameras will be, when, and what shots each will be responsible for. Needless to say this involves a lot of homework by the director. Each camera takes three people to operate.

The camera operator is the guy who looks through the viewfinder. He is responsible for framing, or composing, each shot. During camera blocking he takes notes indicating at who or what the camera should be pointed. The first assistant is responsible for the focus and zoom controls as well as loading and reloading the camera with film during the show. The first assistant takes measurements during camera blocking to ensure accurate focus, and writes these down on his pad. The third man on each camera is the dolly grip. His job is to move the camera to its assigned position at the correct time, as well as adjust the height of the camera on the camera dolly. Sometimes these moves happen "on camera" so smoothness and precision are a must. The dolly grip marks the floor with masking tape to indicate the position of his dolly at various points in the script. Sometimes, when most of the show takes place in one set, the tape on the floor gets pretty thick! The dolly moves are coordinated by the camera coordinator. He follows the script and gives cues to the dolly grips when their moves should take place.

The sound department has much the same chores. The boom operators must make sure all the dialogue is covered by a mic, so its a matter of deciding who gets what and when. After camera blocking the cast does yet another run thru for the producers and writers.







Tuesday - Show Day. Today everything comes together. The first thing I used to notice on show day are all the strange faces. The extras are here! Extras, more properly called "Background Artists" are hired for one day to fill in the chairs in the Cafe Nervosa or walk through the background in the Radio Station etc. They are subjected to a quick orientation by the first or second assistant directors after which their wardrobe (which they bring themselves usually) is O.K.'d by the wardrobe department. Show day usually starts late, around noon, governed by the fact that we can't get an audience until this evening and the producers hope to avoid excessive overtime. The entire show is rehearsed twice, with cameras, lighting cues, special effects and everything. This takes about four hours. Then its dinnertime! Beginning at about two o'clock the caterers have been setting up out on the lawn adjacent to Stage 25 in whats called Lucy Park. (What is now Paramount Studios used to be Desilu and RKO studios) Starting at four o'clock the cast and crew are treated to a full catered meal while we would wait for the audience to assemble. Shortly before seven o'clock, the audience is in, and the warm up guy starts. This guy has the toughest job in show business. He has to keep the audience interested, and entertained throughout the sometimes laborious filming process. The audience is recorded during the filming, and a bored audience is bad news. Each scene is filmed at least twice, and with costume changes, and allowing for flubs the filming can go 'till eleven o'clock. After wrap is called the set lighting, grip, set dressing, and prop departments strike the swing sets. At midnight, the construction crew comes in to strike the walls and tomorrow the whole process starts over again.





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Showbiz FAQs

What did you do on Frasier anyway? - I was the lighting board operator. All the lights on stage are controlled by a computerized lighting console. This allows different "looks" to be pre programmed and brought up on stage at the correct time. For example Living Room day uses different fixtures and levels then Living Room night. I controlled what lamps went on and when. I left Frasier after four seasons in 1997 to pursue other interests, including "Yanni at the Taj Mahal", "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show", and "The Magic Hour". Whats the difference between film and videotape? - If you look carefully at a piece of film you'll see a row of holes that run down each side, videotape doesn't have those. What is a Gaffer? - A Gaffer is the head of the Set Lighting department on a given show. Gaffer is an archaic term, the more modern term is C.L.T., or Chief Lighting Technician, but the old ways die hard in Hollywood. The C.L.T. works closely with the D.P. (Director of Photography) to light the various scenes. Our Gaffer on Frasier is Jack Harmon. What is a Best Boy? - A best boy is the assistant to the head of the department. Nowadays, the politically correct designation is A.C.L.T., or Assistant Chief Lighting Technician. What is a Key Grip? - The Key Grip is the head of the Grip department on a given show. The term "Key" is often used to indicate department heads. Whats is a Grip? - O.K. I saw that one coming. Without grips nothing would happen on the set, or any set for that matter. In addition to being responsible for on set saftey, grips are usually in charge of anything that has to do with mounting or stability of the camera, including dollys, dolly track, cranes, and platforms. Grips are also instrumental in lighting. After a light is set, its the grips who shape, diffuse, or add shadows. Grips are also in charge of the reflectors and silks used in day exterior filming. Are there any books that will help me be a better Lighting Technician? - Why yes there are...

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Last updated on Friday March 5, 1999