DBJ Major in a Telenovela Production World

I have been pleasantly entertained while learning about production in telenovelas. From the beginning I picked Avenida Brasil thanks to its production quality. You can easily tell the Brazilians threw money at production like it grew on trees! It looks as though it is Hollywood-quality cinematography, whereas most novelas look like I could’ve made them with one of the JVC cameras we use for our packages in journalism. Honestly speaking, the lack of good quality in telenovelas is what would bore me of them and make me never want to watch them; I was biased and spoiled for being accustomed to high-production quality TV shows from America. I have noticed most of Telemundo’s new telenovelas are super high quality; therefore really making me intrigued enough to want to watch those as well.

I also have really enjoyed learning about the production standpoint of telenovelas because I also used to act. I was signed with an agency in downtown Atlanta for TV, film, commercials and print and I learned so much in my time there! It’s cool seeing the pictures and behind the scenes videos and learning the terminology as well of the production staff, (although in Spanish) all, or most, of these things are very familiar to me!  Usually, I have not been on a set for more than two days, so minute details such as fingernail polish color is not something I usually had to think of! But when it comes to using booms, finding (very) creative ways to hide a mic under the actors shirt, downtime between takes, hair and makeup, etc. these are all things I have experienced as well! One thing I would love to explore more after learning about production is seeing behind the scenes on Escobar… after finding out that it is ALL filmed out of studio, I was shocked as to how they could do something so difficult, specially in a big city! It’s difficult enough to shoot in a studio, I cannot imagine out of one for the entirety of a novela!

One main thing in my case as a digital and broadcast journalism major is that I am learning about filming and editing video (packages) too. This means that I need to keep in mind, when I am filming, things like close-ups, emotion in the eyes, movement in the shots, movement coming into and out of the shots, as well as frame-by-frame action and making the close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots all match. This is all SO much to remember when you are out there interviewing someone and they are regular everyday people (NOT actors) and you cannot ask them to redo something a hundred times until they get the shot right. You either got it or you didn’t! So in production with a bunch of actors, you can have them turn, look, or do certain things until production staff gets it right. I on the other hand am a one-man-band and not only need to control video, but also BROLL, audio, lighting, natural sound, AND conduct an interesting and newsworthy enough interview to get unscripted answers… it is quite a lot! Because of this experience I am currently living through, I am really getting a kick out seeing the way it is done in telenovelas!