Most CG's will be inserted during post-production (e.g. SOJO and Same-Day packages). But some CG might be inserted live during the newscast. Examples might include SKYPE reports, full-screen graphics, some locators, website addresses, etc. For CG coming out of the studio, follow these instructions:
Filling out the CG Request Sheet
The CG request needs to appear in two places:
- On the script for a VO or VO/SOT, or the anchor intro page (with times listed when we want the CG to appear
- On a CG sheet. The CG operator will not see the anchor intro page, so we MUST turn in a CG Sheet for every CG we want on the air (Combine all CG's for one story on the same sheet.
Typing CG's
- CG's should be typed in upper/lower case as you want them to appear on the screen. For two-line CG's, type each line separately on the CG sheet, as you want it to appear on the screen.
- For names, request a second line on the CG that identifies the person by title or description. NOTE: if we don't know their name, we don't CG them by title only. For example, we don't CG someone simply "CU Student" without their name. Try to get at least a first name and some kind of identifier on every person you talk to, even for person-on-the-street interviews (as in the example above).
- CG's need to be short, two-three words. If someone's title is "Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor, in charge of housing," we would shorten it to "Housing Director." The CG should reflect who they are to the story, not their full official title.
- When filling out the CG time on the anchor intro page, give the entire "window" that the person appears on camera, e.g., if Jane Student's sound bite is 20 seconds long with no video covering any of it, the time would read, for example, :10-:30 Jane Student CU Sophomore
Locator CG's
- If you are showing a specific location that is important to identify, request a "locator" CG. The CG (character generator) operator in the studio will build the CG and the director will have it inserted at the beginning of the video.
You don't need to CG "CU Campus," but if you're showing a specific location, CG it – for example, "Recreation Center," with a second line that says, "CU Campus".
If you're CG'ing a location off-campus, the first line would read, "Broadway & Pearl" and the second line "Boulder."
- If the date of the video is important to identify, request a date CG along with a locator. For example, 'Coors Events Center, Wednesday Night'
- If someone is on-screen less than :05, do not attempt to CG them "live" from the studio. If they are on-screen less than :10, indicate both in- & out-time to the director and note that it's quick.
- For names, request a second line on the CG that identifies them by title or description.
Please note: If we do not know their name, we do not CG them by title.
For example, we don't CG someone simply "CU Student". (Try to get at
least a first name on every person you talk to.)
- Avoid unknown abbreviations in CG’s. E.g., instead of “MSA Member,” the second line should read “Muslim Students Association”.
Timing CG's
- On the script, time CG's from the start of the video to the outcue. For example, the first frame of video starts at zero seconds. As soon as the person begins to talk, that is where the cg comes in. When they are no longer on camera (either the bite is over or you cover them with video) then that is the end. E.g.: :07 - :15.
- Only CG each person once, preferably the first time they appear in the story. ***When editing, please leave the person on-camera for at least five seconds (:07-:10 is even better) on their first sound bite so we can insert the CG. (Unless their first bite is very short.)
PHOTOGRAPHY NOTE: When shooting interviews, compose the
shot with enough room below the person's chin to accommodate a
CG. Try not to indicate a CG for an extreme close-up shot. Vary
the composition of your interview and choose to CG only for the
closeup or medium close-up shots.
Full Screen CG's
Put the bulk of the information on the CG sheet rather than in the script. However, keep the FSCG short - no more than 3 or 4 words per line and no more than 3 to 4 lines total. Make sure the script using the same working that you use on the FSCG. Also, don't forget to give the CG a title, or header (this does not mean the slug). Again, keep the wording brief and make sure your words are directly related to what's on screen and in that order. It's hard to read one thing and hear another.
For example:
NOTE: For a package, full-screen graphics will need to be pre-produced
rather than added live.