TV presenting: professional training (stage 1)

The aim of this mainly practical course is to sharpen and build on your existing TV presenting skills gained at beginners' level. The focus is on developing to a high degree students’ self-confidence, fluency and charismatic engagement, front-of-camera. In a supportive hands-on studio environment we shall build on and refine existing skills and talents to progress to more challenging presenting techniques, developing each student’s personal presenting “style”, with the final aim of producing an attractive, charismatic and professional on-screen persona. The emphasis here is on professionalism. The focus will be on practical exercises and 'as live' performance, with regular exposure to studio and on-location conditions and an enhanced practical grasp of the basic technologies underlying TV production. You will be expected to prepare exercises to perform each week in advance, including writing ‘pieces to camera’ and voice-over reports, with frequent opportunities for positive critique and group feedback. Practical exercises in later terms will include working in small teams to write, film, present, produce and edit whole mini programmes. Progress will be monitored and recorded on tape or digitally, to provide a documentary record for assessment.