"""A collection of string constants. Public module variables: whitespace -- a string containing all ASCII whitespace ascii_lowercase -- a string containing all ASCII lowercase letters ascii_uppercase -- a string containing all ASCII uppercase letters ascii_letters -- a string containing all ASCII letters digits -- a string containing all ASCII decimal digits hexdigits -- a string containing all ASCII hexadecimal digits octdigits -- a string containing all ASCII octal digits punctuation -- a string containing all ASCII punctuation characters printable -- a string containing all ASCII characters considered printable """ import _string # Some strings for ctype-style character classification whitespace = ' \t\n\r\v\f' ascii_lowercase = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz' ascii_uppercase = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ' ascii_letters = ascii_lowercase + ascii_uppercase digits = '0123456789' hexdigits = digits + 'abcdef' + 'ABCDEF' octdigits = '01234567' punctuation = """!"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[\]^_`{|}~""" printable = digits + ascii_letters + punctuation + whitespace # Functions which aren't available as string methods. # Capitalize the words in a string, e.g. " aBc dEf " -> "Abc Def". def capwords(s, sep=None): """capwords(s [,sep]) -> string Split the argument into words using split, capitalize each word using capitalize, and join the capitalized words using join. If the optional second argument sep is absent or None, runs of whitespace characters are replaced by a single space and leading and trailing whitespace are removed, otherwise sep is used to split and join the words. """ return (sep or ' ').join(x.capitalize() for x in s.split(sep)) #################################################################### import re as _re from collections import ChainMap class _TemplateMetaclass(type): pattern = r""" %(delim)s(?: (?P<escaped>%(delim)s) | # Escape sequence of two delimiters (?P<named>%(id)s) | # delimiter and a Python identifier {(?P<braced>%(id)s)} | # delimiter and a braced identifier (?P<invalid>) # Other ill-formed delimiter exprs ) """ def __init__(cls, name, bases, dct): super(_TemplateMetaclass, cls).__init__(name, bases, dct) if 'pattern' in dct: pattern = cls.pattern else: pattern = _TemplateMetaclass.pattern % { 'delim' : _re.escape(cls.delimiter), 'id' : cls.idpattern, } cls.pattern = _re.compile(pattern, cls.flags | _re.VERBOSE) class Template(metaclass=_TemplateMetaclass): """A string class for supporting $-substitutions.""" delimiter = '$' idpattern = r'[_a-z][_a-z0-9]*' flags = _re.IGNORECASE def __init__(self, template): self.template = template # Search for $$, $identifier, ${identifier}, and any bare $'s def _invalid(self, mo): i = mo.start('invalid') lines = self.template[:i].splitlines(keepends=True) if not lines: colno = 1 lineno = 1 else: colno = i - len(''.join(lines[:-1])) lineno = len(lines) raise ValueError('Invalid placeholder in string: line %d, col %d' % (lineno, colno)) def substitute(*args, **kws): if not args: raise TypeError("descriptor 'substitute' of 'Template' object " "needs an argument") self, *args = args # allow the "self" keyword be passed if len(args) > 1: raise TypeError('Too many positional arguments') if not args: mapping = kws elif kws: mapping = ChainMap(kws, args[0]) else: mapping = args[0] # Helper function for .sub() def convert(mo): # Check the most common path first. named = mo.group('named') or mo.group('braced') if named is not None: val = mapping[named] # We use this idiom instead of str() because the latter will # fail if val is a Unicode containing non-ASCII characters. return '%s' % (val,) if mo.group('escaped') is not None: return self.delimiter if mo.group('invalid') is not None: self._invalid(mo) raise ValueError('Unrecognized named group in pattern', self.pattern) return self.pattern.sub(convert, self.template) def safe_substitute(*args, **kws): if not args: raise TypeError("descriptor 'safe_substitute' of 'Template' object " "needs an argument") self, *args = args # allow the "self" keyword be passed if len(args) > 1: raise TypeError('Too many positional arguments') if not args: mapping = kws elif kws: mapping = ChainMap(kws, args[0]) else: mapping = args[0] # Helper function for .sub() def convert(mo): named = mo.group('named') or mo.group('braced') if named is not None: try: # We use this idiom instead of str() because the latter # will fail if val is a Unicode containing non-ASCII return '%s' % (mapping[named],) except KeyError: return mo.group() if mo.group('escaped') is not None: return self.delimiter if mo.group('invalid') is not None: return mo.group() raise ValueError('Unrecognized named group in pattern', self.pattern) return self.pattern.sub(convert, self.template) ######################################################################## # the Formatter class # see PEP 3101 for details and purpose of this class # The hard parts are reused from the C implementation. They're exposed as "_" # prefixed methods of str. # The overall parser is implemented in _string.formatter_parser. # The field name parser is implemented in _string.formatter_field_name_split class Formatter: def format(*args, **kwargs): if not args: raise TypeError("descriptor 'format' of 'Formatter' object " "needs an argument") self, *args = args # allow the "self" keyword be passed try: format_string, *args = args # allow the "format_string" keyword be passed except ValueError: if 'format_string' in kwargs: format_string = kwargs.pop('format_string') import warnings warnings.warn("Passing 'format_string' as keyword argument is " "deprecated", DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2) else: raise TypeError("format() missing 1 required positional " "argument: 'format_string'") from None return self.vformat(format_string, args, kwargs) def vformat(self, format_string, args, kwargs): used_args = set() result, _ = self._vformat(format_string, args, kwargs, used_args, 2) self.check_unused_args(used_args, args, kwargs) return result def _vformat(self, format_string, args, kwargs, used_args, recursion_depth, auto_arg_index=0): if recursion_depth < 0: raise ValueError('Max string recursion exceeded') result = [] for literal_text, field_name, format_spec, conversion in \ self.parse(format_string): # output the literal text if literal_text: result.append(literal_text) # if there's a field, output it if field_name is not None: # this is some markup, find the object and do # the formatting # handle arg indexing when empty field_names are given. if field_name == '': if auto_arg_index is False: raise ValueError('cannot switch from manual field ' 'specification to automatic field ' 'numbering') field_name = str(auto_arg_index) auto_arg_index += 1 elif field_name.isdigit(): if auto_arg_index: raise ValueError('cannot switch from manual field ' 'specification to automatic field ' 'numbering') # disable auto arg incrementing, if it gets # used later on, then an exception will be raised auto_arg_index = False # given the field_name, find the object it references # and the argument it came from obj, arg_used = self.get_field(field_name, args, kwargs) used_args.add(arg_used) # do any conversion on the resulting object obj = self.convert_field(obj, conversion) # expand the format spec, if needed format_spec, auto_arg_index = self._vformat( format_spec, args, kwargs, used_args, recursion_depth-1, auto_arg_index=auto_arg_index) # format the object and append to the result result.append(self.format_field(obj, format_spec)) return ''.join(result), auto_arg_index def get_value(self, key, args, kwargs): if isinstance(key, int): return args[key] else: return kwargs[key] def check_unused_args(self, used_args, args, kwargs): pass def format_field(self, value, format_spec): return format(value, format_spec) def convert_field(self, value, conversion): # do any conversion on the resulting object if conversion is None: return value elif conversion == 's': return str(value) elif conversion == 'r': return repr(value) elif conversion == 'a': return ascii(value) raise ValueError("Unknown conversion specifier {0!s}".format(conversion)) # returns an iterable that contains tuples of the form: # (literal_text, field_name, format_spec, conversion) # literal_text can be zero length # field_name can be None, in which case there's no # object to format and output # if field_name is not None, it is looked up, formatted # with format_spec and conversion and then used def parse(self, format_string): return _string.formatter_parser(format_string) # given a field_name, find the object it references. # field_name: the field being looked up, e.g. "0.name" # or "lookup[3]" # used_args: a set of which args have been used # args, kwargs: as passed in to vformat def get_field(self, field_name, args, kwargs): first, rest = _string.formatter_field_name_split(field_name) obj = self.get_value(first, args, kwargs) # loop through the rest of the field_name, doing # getattr or getitem as needed for is_attr, i in rest: if is_attr: obj = getattr(obj, i) else: obj = obj[i] return obj, first

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 : 216.73.216.134

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