"""Thread-local objects. (Note that this module provides a Python version of the threading.local class. Depending on the version of Python you're using, there may be a faster one available. You should always import the `local` class from `threading`.) Thread-local objects support the management of thread-local data. If you have data that you want to be local to a thread, simply create a thread-local object and use its attributes: >>> mydata = local() >>> mydata.number = 42 >>> mydata.number 42 You can also access the local-object's dictionary: >>> mydata.__dict__ {'number': 42} >>> mydata.__dict__.setdefault('widgets', []) [] >>> mydata.widgets [] What's important about thread-local objects is that their data are local to a thread. If we access the data in a different thread: >>> log = [] >>> def f(): ... items = sorted(mydata.__dict__.items()) ... log.append(items) ... mydata.number = 11 ... log.append(mydata.number) >>> import threading >>> thread = threading.Thread(target=f) >>> thread.start() >>> thread.join() >>> log [[], 11] we get different data. Furthermore, changes made in the other thread don't affect data seen in this thread: >>> mydata.number 42 Of course, values you get from a local object, including a __dict__ attribute, are for whatever thread was current at the time the attribute was read. For that reason, you generally don't want to save these values across threads, as they apply only to the thread they came from. You can create custom local objects by subclassing the local class: >>> class MyLocal(local): ... number = 2 ... initialized = False ... def __init__(self, **kw): ... if self.initialized: ... raise SystemError('__init__ called too many times') ... self.initialized = True ... self.__dict__.update(kw) ... def squared(self): ... return self.number ** 2 This can be useful to support default values, methods and initialization. Note that if you define an __init__ method, it will be called each time the local object is used in a separate thread. This is necessary to initialize each thread's dictionary. Now if we create a local object: >>> mydata = MyLocal(color='red') Now we have a default number: >>> mydata.number 2 an initial color: >>> mydata.color 'red' >>> del mydata.color And a method that operates on the data: >>> mydata.squared() 4 As before, we can access the data in a separate thread: >>> log = [] >>> thread = threading.Thread(target=f) >>> thread.start() >>> thread.join() >>> log [[('color', 'red'), ('initialized', True)], 11] without affecting this thread's data: >>> mydata.number 2 >>> mydata.color Traceback (most recent call last): ... AttributeError: 'MyLocal' object has no attribute 'color' Note that subclasses can define slots, but they are not thread local. They are shared across threads: >>> class MyLocal(local): ... __slots__ = 'number' >>> mydata = MyLocal() >>> mydata.number = 42 >>> mydata.color = 'red' So, the separate thread: >>> thread = threading.Thread(target=f) >>> thread.start() >>> thread.join() affects what we see: >>> mydata.number 11 >>> del mydata """ from weakref import ref from contextlib import contextmanager __all__ = ["local"] # We need to use objects from the threading module, but the threading # module may also want to use our `local` class, if support for locals # isn't compiled in to the `thread` module. This creates potential problems # with circular imports. For that reason, we don't import `threading` # until the bottom of this file (a hack sufficient to worm around the # potential problems). Note that all platforms on CPython do have support # for locals in the `thread` module, and there is no circular import problem # then, so problems introduced by fiddling the order of imports here won't # manifest. class _localimpl: """A class managing thread-local dicts""" __slots__ = 'key', 'dicts', 'localargs', 'locallock', '__weakref__' def __init__(self): # The key used in the Thread objects' attribute dicts. # We keep it a string for speed but make it unlikely to clash with # a "real" attribute. self.key = '_threading_local._localimpl.' + str(id(self)) # { id(Thread) -> (ref(Thread), thread-local dict) } self.dicts = {} def get_dict(self): """Return the dict for the current thread. Raises KeyError if none defined.""" thread = current_thread() return self.dicts[id(thread)][1] def create_dict(self): """Create a new dict for the current thread, and return it.""" localdict = {} key = self.key thread = current_thread() idt = id(thread) def local_deleted(_, key=key): # When the localimpl is deleted, remove the thread attribute. thread = wrthread() if thread is not None: del thread.__dict__[key] def thread_deleted(_, idt=idt): # When the thread is deleted, remove the local dict. # Note that this is suboptimal if the thread object gets # caught in a reference loop. We would like to be called # as soon as the OS-level thread ends instead. local = wrlocal() if local is not None: dct = local.dicts.pop(idt) wrlocal = ref(self, local_deleted) wrthread = ref(thread, thread_deleted) thread.__dict__[key] = wrlocal self.dicts[idt] = wrthread, localdict return localdict @contextmanager def _patch(self): impl = object.__getattribute__(self, '_local__impl') try: dct = impl.get_dict() except KeyError: dct = impl.create_dict() args, kw = impl.localargs self.__init__(*args, **kw) with impl.locallock: object.__setattr__(self, '__dict__', dct) yield class local: __slots__ = '_local__impl', '__dict__' def __new__(cls, *args, **kw): if (args or kw) and (cls.__init__ is object.__init__): raise TypeError("Initialization arguments are not supported") self = object.__new__(cls) impl = _localimpl() impl.localargs = (args, kw) impl.locallock = RLock() object.__setattr__(self, '_local__impl', impl) # We need to create the thread dict in anticipation of # __init__ being called, to make sure we don't call it # again ourselves. impl.create_dict() return self def __getattribute__(self, name): with _patch(self): return object.__getattribute__(self, name) def __setattr__(self, name, value): if name == '__dict__': raise AttributeError( "%r object attribute '__dict__' is read-only" % self.__class__.__name__) with _patch(self): return object.__setattr__(self, name, value) def __delattr__(self, name): if name == '__dict__': raise AttributeError( "%r object attribute '__dict__' is read-only" % self.__class__.__name__) with _patch(self): return object.__delattr__(self, name) from threading import current_thread, RLock

RE-INVENTING THE TELEVISION NEWS BUSINESS*

A revolution in video storytelling

Creating entirely new & cost-effective production methods

From the world leaders in video production training and the creators of Character Driven Storytelling™

*and every other business that uses video

WHAT WE DO

Over the past 35 years, we have designed, built or restructured some of the most powerful news and journalism companies in the world.

We replace the traditional TV news ‘crew’ with one highly trained journalist, working alone with nothing but an iPhone.

No more TV news ‘crews’, no editors and no field producers.

This is television news done the way newspaper journalism is done – one reporter with their electronic pad and pencil.

In doing this, we can cut the cost of production by as much as 75% while increasing ratings and audience engagement.

In the place of conventional TV news ‘packages’ – ie, reporter stand up, interview, b-roll, man on the street, we marry great journalism with Netflix and Hollywood storytelling.

It’s a combination that works.

We have taken most of our clients to #1 in their respective markets.

And it’s not just for news. Any company, any profit, any NGO and anyone else who is online needs to tell their story in compelling yet cost-effective video. We can teach you to do that. Either in person or virtually.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE CAN TEACH YOUR STAFF TO PRODUCE

ITAY HOD

Itay Hod, MMJ with KPIX/CBS in San Francisco, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2018.

Because he works alone, with only an iPhone, he was able to embed himself with a homeless family.

Here’s the story he produced in a one-day turn.

KIET DO

Kiet Do, an MMJ with KPIX/CBS in San Francisco, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2021.

Here is a story he produced, all on his own, with only an iPhone and in a one-day turn.

TAYLOR SCHAUB

Taylor Schaub, an MMJ with Spectrum News 1 in LA, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2023.

Here is a story he turned in only one day, using only an iPhone. It was the first video story he ever did and it was nominated for an Emmy.

THE BOOTCAMP

How do we convert stations and whole networks to working in this way?

Since 1988, we have run intensive 5-Day Video Storytelling Bootcamps

We have done these all over the world.

These are hands-on bootcamps, and participants learn an entirely new way of creating TV news stories.

-We shoot at a 3:1 ratio or lower, so turnaround times are fast.

-We go directly from camera to timelilne and edit – no written scripts. We work in the medium of pictures and sound.

-We are entirely character-driven.

-We are driven by pictures and real events.

-We are focused almost entirely on ’the viewer experience’.

Since 1988, more than 70,000 journalists around the world have taken our bootcamps, either in person on virtualy.

Case Studies

CBS News

We have started to work with CBS News, bringing our ideas of character-driven storytelling to one of the most successful and biggest networks in the United States. Since beginning to work with them ratings have climbed and more importantly, audience engagement is through the ceiling.

Learn More

New York Times Television

We started New York Times Television in 1990 and it was the first paper to be brought into the world of TV. It quickly became one of the most successful non-fiction production companies in the United States. The series and documentaries we produced won many awards including multiple Emmys.

Learn More

The BBC

We have been working with the BBC since the year 2000 helping to convert their national news network to our visual storytelling technique. Most recently we have trained teams from their sports, documentaries, and comedy divisions to make character-driven stories using only smartphones.

Learn More

Spectrum News

For the past five years we have worked with Spectrum News to introduce and train their journalists on visual, character driven storytelling using smartphones helping to create a different kind of local news for their network of 24-Hour News Stations across the United States.

Learn More

The United Nations

In 2006, we were approached by the United Nations. Rather than rely on news outlets, it would be much easier to train the field operatives to produce their own stories. We spent two years working with the UN, training more than 100 of their staff in bootcamps in Geneva and Nairobi.

Learn More

The Newark Star-Ledger

We trained 50 print reporters at the paper to shoot and tell their own stories, in conjunction with their print work. We built a TV newsroom in their existing print newsroom – you could not ask for a better set and they began to live stream their stories in conjunction with their print work.

Learn More

Mcgraw Hill

We spent two years with McGraw Hill, training more than 150 of their staffers, making them completely video literate. McGraw/Hill media properties we transit included Business Week, Aviation Week, (what was the name of the architecture magazine), and JD Power and Associates.

Learn More

Voice of America

In 1990, we were approached by The Voice of America, the official broadcasting agency for the United States Government. When we met with VOA, they were only a short wave radio broadcaster, but working with them, we took them into television, launching VOA-TV.

Learn More

Oyster Yachts

British based Oyster Yachts makes some of the finest yachts in the world. Like every other company, they had to find a way to feed the never-ending video demands of social media – sites like Instagram and TikTok. We trained the Oyster staff to tell their own stories, using only iPhones.

Learn More

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

We were approached by SEPA, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency because they had to continually find a way to ‘feed the media beast’. The result was that SEPA was able to tell their own stories, whenever they wanted, and at almost no additional cost.

Learn More

Michael on Media

Michael Rosenblum has been writing about the media since 1988. His work and ideas have appeared in The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Ilkeston Life and many other publications.

He has been blogging regularly for the past 35 years on this subject. Having taught media studies at Columbia University, NYU and now the University of Oxford, he is considered an expert on this subject.

Continue reading this post or look back at previous posts.

Do You Have Questions About Learning Video Skills?

If you would like to know more about our courses contact us and one of our training advisors will be happy to call you.

Your IP : 216.73.216.103

RE-INVENTING THE TELEVISION NEWS BUSINESS*

A revolution in video storytelling

Creating entirely new & cost-effective production methods

From the world leaders in video production training and the creators of Character Driven Storytelling™

*and every other business that uses video

WHAT WE DO

Over the past 35 years, we have designed, built or restructured some of the most powerful news and journalism companies in the world.

We replace the traditional TV news ‘crew’ with one highly trained journalist, working alone with nothing but an iPhone.

No more TV news ‘crews’, no editors and no field producers.

This is television news done the way newspaper journalism is done – one reporter with their electronic pad and pencil.

In doing this, we can cut the cost of production by as much as 75% while increasing ratings and audience engagement.

In the place of conventional TV news ‘packages’ – ie, reporter stand up, interview, b-roll, man on the street, we marry great journalism with Netflix and Hollywood storytelling.

It’s a combination that works.

We have taken most of our clients to #1 in their respective markets.

And it’s not just for news. Any company, any profit, any NGO and anyone else who is online needs to tell their story in compelling yet cost-effective video. We can teach you to do that. Either in person or virtually.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE CAN TEACH YOUR STAFF TO PRODUCE

ITAY HOD

Itay Hod, MMJ with KPIX/CBS in San Francisco, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2018.

Because he works alone, with only an iPhone, he was able to embed himself with a homeless family.

Here’s the story he produced in a one-day turn.

KIET DO

Kiet Do, an MMJ with KPIX/CBS in San Francisco, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2021.

Here is a story he produced, all on his own, with only an iPhone and in a one-day turn.

TAYLOR SCHAUB

Taylor Schaub, an MMJ with Spectrum News 1 in LA, took the 5-Day Intensive Video Storytelling Bootcamp in 2023.

Here is a story he turned in only one day, using only an iPhone. It was the first video story he ever did and it was nominated for an Emmy.

THE BOOTCAMP

How do we convert stations and whole networks to working in this way?

Since 1988, we have run intensive 5-Day Video Storytelling Bootcamps

We have done these all over the world.

These are hands-on bootcamps, and participants learn an entirely new way of creating TV news stories.

-We shoot at a 3:1 ratio or lower, so turnaround times are fast.

-We go directly from camera to timelilne and edit – no written scripts. We work in the medium of pictures and sound.

-We are entirely character-driven.

-We are driven by pictures and real events.

-We are focused almost entirely on ’the viewer experience’.

Since 1988, more than 70,000 journalists around the world have taken our bootcamps, either in person on virtualy.

Case Studies

CBS News

New York Times Television

The BBC

Spectrum News

The United Nations

The Newark Star-Ledger

Mcgraw Hill

Voice of America

Oyster Yachts

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Michael on Media