As I mentioned earlier, another main job for the off-line shows is the guest training. So what is guest training? Okay, if you watched HSN shows before, you probably noticed that a great portion of the shows are not only presented by a host but also by a guest, who is normally the product representative. Because they apparently know the product better than the host; and since HSN has a special part in each live show, the costumer call, the guest plays an important role to answer the costumers’ questions live.
I didn’t know before I had this internship, that it is actually very difficult to be a host at a shopping channel, that’s why they need tons of training. Because there is so much instant information to pass along to the audience from the producer without showing that you are simply copying the words from the producer; and also the host needs smart instant reactions to cover the issues only happens in live shows. Besides, it is never an easy job to fill 30-minute or even an hour presenting just one product without a script. I mean, what else you can say? Okay, my point is, if the host needs training, the guest needs training even more. And that’s the job of off-line team. Their main goal is to make sure that the guest gets used to the camera. What I do is to work with the off-line director and deal with the switcher and count down like a real live show so that the guest will get better and better by this kind of training. In the end, they will overcome all the problems, like talking to the camera 1 when the director’s cut to the camera 2 already or rolling their eyes in front of the camera ( because they keep checking what they look like in the monitor.)
What I want to say is that I really enjoyed this internship at HSN. People here are really willing to teach you things, and you will be treated seriously. I learned a lot here and if you are interested in live TV shows or you like to work in the control room, or you like shopping (did I mention that you’ll get great discount here?), HSN is really a good place to get some experience.
In the next two weeks, I worked with the off-line team. And my job is to be the TD while taping. Because it is not live, less people work on it compared to the live shows. There are no graphics and audio people during the off-line taping. Only one director in the control room and maybe two camera people; however, still we need to pay a lot of attention to the details. One thing I forgot to mention is that here at HSN the cameras are all computer controlled like a robot except one camera on the stage that is called Jib. Jib is specially for the high angle shots.
Okay, about the off-line tape. What we do are basically two things; one is to tape the video packages for the live shows. These videos will be played during the live shows for different purpose, and some of them have crazy names or I should say they are just terms at HSN, such as showstoppers, quick-buy or great-buy. Showstoppers are like mini promos for the products, and they give the host time, normally 30 seconds, to transfer from one studio to another. For instance, if the first show is about cosmetics and the next one is a cook show, this 30-second would be very important for the host to relocate. And interestingly, sometimes the crew takes the host to the next studio by wheel chair in order to save time and avoid the host sweating or panting. Other videos are made for products that need a lot of close-ups, best example would be jewelries. So to make sure the product is perfect to be seen by millions of audience during the air those videos are crucial. Like I said, even though it is not taped live, it is never too careful when it comes to the details. It is very usual that we spend an hour to tape 20-second video. The director will discuss every thing with the vendor who is the representative of the product. Even a tiny reflection on a silver ring can be the reason to reshoot.
In these two weeks, the best place for me to learn is the Control Room.
There are three control rooms in total at HSN. One for 24 hours live shows and the other two are the back-up ones, primary for the directors or associate directors to check the graphics or videos before air. And also for the off-line people to tape the promos or do the Guest Training, because the main control room is running all day long.
One thing is different here at HSN is that there is no Technical Directors in the control room, which means the directors have to act both the TD and the director.
Okay, during the live shows, the Associate Director plays a role to pre-set the graphics and videos for the director. (Sitting on the left)
For the Graphics person, obviously, he takes charge of the graphics, such as the price of the products, and he sits on the right.
And Producer sits on the second row behind the director, associate director and graphics person. He is the one that talks to the host most frequently feeding them the sale numbers or other information.
Don’t forget the Audio person, who sits in the smaller room next to the control room. He takes charge of the microphones of the host and the guest as well as the music mainly in the beginning and end of each product presentation.
I started my internship late June at HSN as a director intern and I was told that I’m the first director intern at HSN. So, I guess I’m lucky. 
Basically, my job for the first two weeks is to shadow one of the directors whose name is Craig, a super nice gentle director, and to learn how live shows work as a whole. And one of the things I’ve learned during the two weeks is even though it’s only one minute on air it always took the crew hours or even days to get ready. So, below is what a director needs to do before a live show airs at HSN;
First of all, always come to the office two hours earlier. I don’t know if it is the rule for the directors at HSN; however, I always saw the directors come to the office at least two hours earlier. I guess, it’s always good to have more time to prepare.
Second of all, always double check all of the graphics and videos for the show in person in the control room to make sure everything is there.
Next, always check the studio and the set and make sure everything’s right.
Last, have pre-production meeting with producers, associate director and stage manager and make sure everyone’s on the same page.
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