Current File : //opt/rh/rh-python35/root/lib64/python3.5/trace.py
#! /opt/rh/rh-python35/root/usr/bin/python3.5
# portions copyright 2001, Autonomous Zones Industries, Inc., all rights...
# err... reserved and offered to the public under the terms of the
# Python 2.2 license.
# Author: Zooko O'Whielacronx
# http://zooko.com/
# mailto:zooko@zooko.com
#
# Copyright 2000, Mojam Media, Inc., all rights reserved.
# Author: Skip Montanaro
#
# Copyright 1999, Bioreason, Inc., all rights reserved.
# Author: Andrew Dalke
#
# Copyright 1995-1997, Automatrix, Inc., all rights reserved.
# Author: Skip Montanaro
#
# Copyright 1991-1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, all rights reserved.
#
#
# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this Python software and
# its associated documentation for any purpose without fee is hereby
# granted, provided that the above copyright notice appears in all copies,
# and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
# supporting documentation, and that the name of neither Automatrix,
# Bioreason or Mojam Media be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
# distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission.
#
"""program/module to trace Python program or function execution
Sample use, command line:
trace.py -c -f counts --ignore-dir '$prefix' spam.py eggs
trace.py -t --ignore-dir '$prefix' spam.py eggs
trace.py --trackcalls spam.py eggs
Sample use, programmatically
import sys
# create a Trace object, telling it what to ignore, and whether to
# do tracing or line-counting or both.
tracer = trace.Trace(ignoredirs=[sys.base_prefix, sys.base_exec_prefix,],
trace=0, count=1)
# run the new command using the given tracer
tracer.run('main()')
# make a report, placing output in /tmp
r = tracer.results()
r.write_results(show_missing=True, coverdir="/tmp")
"""
__all__ = ['Trace', 'CoverageResults']
import linecache
import os
import re
import sys
import token
import tokenize
import inspect
import gc
import dis
import pickle
from warnings import warn as _warn
from time import monotonic as _time
try:
import threading
except ImportError:
_settrace = sys.settrace
def _unsettrace():
sys.settrace(None)
else:
def _settrace(func):
threading.settrace(func)
sys.settrace(func)
def _unsettrace():
sys.settrace(None)
threading.settrace(None)
def _usage(outfile):
outfile.write("""Usage: %s [OPTIONS] <file> [ARGS]
Meta-options:
--help Display this help then exit.
--version Output version information then exit.
Otherwise, exactly one of the following three options must be given:
-t, --trace Print each line to sys.stdout before it is executed.
-c, --count Count the number of times each line is executed
and write the counts to <module>.cover for each
module executed, in the module's directory.
See also `--coverdir', `--file', `--no-report' below.
-l, --listfuncs Keep track of which functions are executed at least
once and write the results to sys.stdout after the
program exits.
-T, --trackcalls Keep track of caller/called pairs and write the
results to sys.stdout after the program exits.
-r, --report Generate a report from a counts file; do not execute
any code. `--file' must specify the results file to
read, which must have been created in a previous run
with `--count --file=FILE'.
Modifiers:
-f, --file=<file> File to accumulate counts over several runs.
-R, --no-report Do not generate the coverage report files.
Useful if you want to accumulate over several runs.
-C, --coverdir=<dir> Directory where the report files. The coverage
report for <package>.<module> is written to file
<dir>/<package>/<module>.cover.
-m, --missing Annotate executable lines that were not executed
with '>>>>>> '.
-s, --summary Write a brief summary on stdout for each file.
(Can only be used with --count or --report.)
-g, --timing Prefix each line with the time since the program started.
Only used while tracing.
Filters, may be repeated multiple times:
--ignore-module=<mod> Ignore the given module(s) and its submodules
(if it is a package). Accepts comma separated
list of module names
--ignore-dir=<dir> Ignore files in the given directory (multiple
directories can be joined by os.pathsep).
""" % sys.argv[0])
PRAGMA_NOCOVER = "#pragma NO COVER"
# Simple rx to find lines with no code.
rx_blank = re.compile(r'^\s*(#.*)?$')
class _Ignore:
def __init__(self, modules=None, dirs=None):
self._mods = set() if not modules else set(modules)
self._dirs = [] if not dirs else [os.path.normpath(d)
for d in dirs]
self._ignore = { '<string>': 1 }
def names(self, filename, modulename):
if modulename in self._ignore:
return self._ignore[modulename]
# haven't seen this one before, so see if the module name is
# on the ignore list.
if modulename in self._mods: # Identical names, so ignore
self._ignore[modulename] = 1
return 1
# check if the module is a proper submodule of something on
# the ignore list
for mod in self._mods:
# Need to take some care since ignoring
# "cmp" mustn't mean ignoring "cmpcache" but ignoring
# "Spam" must also mean ignoring "Spam.Eggs".
if modulename.startswith(mod + '.'):
self._ignore[modulename] = 1
return 1
# Now check that filename isn't in one of the directories
if filename is None:
# must be a built-in, so we must ignore
self._ignore[modulename] = 1
return 1
# Ignore a file when it contains one of the ignorable paths
for d in self._dirs:
# The '+ os.sep' is to ensure that d is a parent directory,
# as compared to cases like:
# d = "/usr/local"
# filename = "/usr/local.py"
# or
# d = "/usr/local.py"
# filename = "/usr/local.py"
if filename.startswith(d + os.sep):
self._ignore[modulename] = 1
return 1
# Tried the different ways, so we don't ignore this module
self._ignore[modulename] = 0
return 0
def _modname(path):
"""Return a plausible module name for the patch."""
base = os.path.basename(path)
filename, ext = os.path.splitext(base)
return filename
def _fullmodname(path):
"""Return a plausible module name for the path."""
# If the file 'path' is part of a package, then the filename isn't
# enough to uniquely identify it. Try to do the right thing by
# looking in sys.path for the longest matching prefix. We'll
# assume that the rest is the package name.
comparepath = os.path.normcase(path)
longest = ""
for dir in sys.path:
dir = os.path.normcase(dir)
if comparepath.startswith(dir) and comparepath[len(dir)] == os.sep:
if len(dir) > len(longest):
longest = dir
if longest:
base = path[len(longest) + 1:]
else:
base = path
# the drive letter is never part of the module name
drive, base = os.path.splitdrive(base)
base = base.replace(os.sep, ".")
if os.altsep:
base = base.replace(os.altsep, ".")
filename, ext = os.path.splitext(base)
return filename.lstrip(".")
class CoverageResults:
def __init__(self, counts=None, calledfuncs=None, infile=None,
callers=None, outfile=None):
self.counts = counts
if self.counts is None:
self.counts = {}
self.counter = self.counts.copy() # map (filename, lineno) to count
self.calledfuncs = calledfuncs
if self.calledfuncs is None:
self.calledfuncs = {}
self.calledfuncs = self.calledfuncs.copy()
self.callers = callers
if self.callers is None:
self.callers = {}
self.callers = self.callers.copy()
self.infile = infile
self.outfile = outfile
if self.infile:
# Try to merge existing counts file.
try:
with open(self.infile, 'rb') as f:
counts, calledfuncs, callers = pickle.load(f)
self.update(self.__class__(counts, calledfuncs, callers))
except (OSError, EOFError, ValueError) as err:
print(("Skipping counts file %r: %s"
% (self.infile, err)), file=sys.stderr)
def is_ignored_filename(self, filename):
"""Return True if the filename does not refer to a file
we want to have reported.
"""
return filename.startswith('<') and filename.endswith('>')
def update(self, other):
"""Merge in the data from another CoverageResults"""
counts = self.counts
calledfuncs = self.calledfuncs
callers = self.callers
other_counts = other.counts
other_calledfuncs = other.calledfuncs
other_callers = other.callers
for key in other_counts:
counts[key] = counts.get(key, 0) + other_counts[key]
for key in other_calledfuncs:
calledfuncs[key] = 1
for key in other_callers:
callers[key] = 1
def write_results(self, show_missing=True, summary=False, coverdir=None):
"""
@param coverdir
"""
if self.calledfuncs:
print()
print("functions called:")
calls = self.calledfuncs
for filename, modulename, funcname in sorted(calls):
print(("filename: %s, modulename: %s, funcname: %s"
% (filename, modulename, funcname)))
if self.callers:
print()
print("calling relationships:")
lastfile = lastcfile = ""
for ((pfile, pmod, pfunc), (cfile, cmod, cfunc)) \
in sorted(self.callers):
if pfile != lastfile:
print()
print("***", pfile, "***")
lastfile = pfile
lastcfile = ""
if cfile != pfile and lastcfile != cfile:
print(" -->", cfile)
lastcfile = cfile
print(" %s.%s -> %s.%s" % (pmod, pfunc, cmod, cfunc))
# turn the counts data ("(filename, lineno) = count") into something
# accessible on a per-file basis
per_file = {}
for filename, lineno in self.counts:
lines_hit = per_file[filename] = per_file.get(filename, {})
lines_hit[lineno] = self.counts[(filename, lineno)]
# accumulate summary info, if needed
sums = {}
for filename, count in per_file.items():
if self.is_ignored_filename(filename):
continue
if filename.endswith(".pyc"):
filename = filename[:-1]
if coverdir is None:
dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(filename))
modulename = _modname(filename)
else:
dir = coverdir
if not os.path.exists(dir):
os.makedirs(dir)
modulename = _fullmodname(filename)
# If desired, get a list of the line numbers which represent
# executable content (returned as a dict for better lookup speed)
if show_missing:
lnotab = _find_executable_linenos(filename)
else:
lnotab = {}
if lnotab:
source = linecache.getlines(filename)
coverpath = os.path.join(dir, modulename + ".cover")
with open(filename, 'rb') as fp:
encoding, _ = tokenize.detect_encoding(fp.readline)
n_hits, n_lines = self.write_results_file(coverpath, source,
lnotab, count, encoding)
if summary and n_lines:
percent = int(100 * n_hits / n_lines)
sums[modulename] = n_lines, percent, modulename, filename
if summary and sums:
print("lines cov% module (path)")
for m in sorted(sums):
n_lines, percent, modulename, filename = sums[m]
print("%5d %3d%% %s (%s)" % sums[m])
if self.outfile:
# try and store counts and module info into self.outfile
try:
pickle.dump((self.counts, self.calledfuncs, self.callers),
open(self.outfile, 'wb'), 1)
except OSError as err:
print("Can't save counts files because %s" % err, file=sys.stderr)
def write_results_file(self, path, lines, lnotab, lines_hit, encoding=None):
"""Return a coverage results file in path."""
try:
outfile = open(path, "w", encoding=encoding)
except OSError as err:
print(("trace: Could not open %r for writing: %s"
"- skipping" % (path, err)), file=sys.stderr)
return 0, 0
n_lines = 0
n_hits = 0
with outfile:
for lineno, line in enumerate(lines, 1):
# do the blank/comment match to try to mark more lines
# (help the reader find stuff that hasn't been covered)
if lineno in lines_hit:
outfile.write("%5d: " % lines_hit[lineno])
n_hits += 1
n_lines += 1
elif rx_blank.match(line):
outfile.write(" ")
else:
# lines preceded by no marks weren't hit
# Highlight them if so indicated, unless the line contains
# #pragma: NO COVER
if lineno in lnotab and not PRAGMA_NOCOVER in line:
outfile.write(">>>>>> ")
n_lines += 1
else:
outfile.write(" ")
outfile.write(line.expandtabs(8))
return n_hits, n_lines
def _find_lines_from_code(code, strs):
"""Return dict where keys are lines in the line number table."""
linenos = {}
for _, lineno in dis.findlinestarts(code):
if lineno not in strs:
linenos[lineno] = 1
return linenos
def _find_lines(code, strs):
"""Return lineno dict for all code objects reachable from code."""
# get all of the lineno information from the code of this scope level
linenos = _find_lines_from_code(code, strs)
# and check the constants for references to other code objects
for c in code.co_consts:
if inspect.iscode(c):
# find another code object, so recurse into it
linenos.update(_find_lines(c, strs))
return linenos
def _find_strings(filename, encoding=None):
"""Return a dict of possible docstring positions.
The dict maps line numbers to strings. There is an entry for
line that contains only a string or a part of a triple-quoted
string.
"""
d = {}
# If the first token is a string, then it's the module docstring.
# Add this special case so that the test in the loop passes.
prev_ttype = token.INDENT
with open(filename, encoding=encoding) as f:
tok = tokenize.generate_tokens(f.readline)
for ttype, tstr, start, end, line in tok:
if ttype == token.STRING:
if prev_ttype == token.INDENT:
sline, scol = start
eline, ecol = end
for i in range(sline, eline + 1):
d[i] = 1
prev_ttype = ttype
return d
def _find_executable_linenos(filename):
"""Return dict where keys are line numbers in the line number table."""
try:
with tokenize.open(filename) as f:
prog = f.read()
encoding = f.encoding
except OSError as err:
print(("Not printing coverage data for %r: %s"
% (filename, err)), file=sys.stderr)
return {}
code = compile(prog, filename, "exec")
strs = _find_strings(filename, encoding)
return _find_lines(code, strs)
class Trace:
def __init__(self, count=1, trace=1, countfuncs=0, countcallers=0,
ignoremods=(), ignoredirs=(), infile=None, outfile=None,
timing=False):
"""
@param count true iff it should count number of times each
line is executed
@param trace true iff it should print out each line that is
being counted
@param countfuncs true iff it should just output a list of
(filename, modulename, funcname,) for functions
that were called at least once; This overrides
`count' and `trace'
@param ignoremods a list of the names of modules to ignore
@param ignoredirs a list of the names of directories to ignore
all of the (recursive) contents of
@param infile file from which to read stored counts to be
added into the results
@param outfile file in which to write the results
@param timing true iff timing information be displayed
"""
self.infile = infile
self.outfile = outfile
self.ignore = _Ignore(ignoremods, ignoredirs)
self.counts = {} # keys are (filename, linenumber)
self.pathtobasename = {} # for memoizing os.path.basename
self.donothing = 0
self.trace = trace
self._calledfuncs = {}
self._callers = {}
self._caller_cache = {}
self.start_time = None
if timing:
self.start_time = _time()
if countcallers:
self.globaltrace = self.globaltrace_trackcallers
elif countfuncs:
self.globaltrace = self.globaltrace_countfuncs
elif trace and count:
self.globaltrace = self.globaltrace_lt
self.localtrace = self.localtrace_trace_and_count
elif trace:
self.globaltrace = self.globaltrace_lt
self.localtrace = self.localtrace_trace
elif count:
self.globaltrace = self.globaltrace_lt
self.localtrace = self.localtrace_count
else:
# Ahem -- do nothing? Okay.
self.donothing = 1
def run(self, cmd):
import __main__
dict = __main__.__dict__
self.runctx(cmd, dict, dict)
def runctx(self, cmd, globals=None, locals=None):
if globals is None: globals = {}
if locals is None: locals = {}
if not self.donothing:
_settrace(self.globaltrace)
try:
exec(cmd, globals, locals)
finally:
if not self.donothing:
_unsettrace()
def runfunc(self, func, *args, **kw):
result = None
if not self.donothing:
sys.settrace(self.globaltrace)
try:
result = func(*args, **kw)
finally:
if not self.donothing:
sys.settrace(None)
return result
def file_module_function_of(self, frame):
code = frame.f_code
filename = code.co_filename
if filename:
modulename = _modname(filename)
else:
modulename = None
funcname = code.co_name
clsname = None
if code in self._caller_cache:
if self._caller_cache[code] is not None:
clsname = self._caller_cache[code]
else:
self._caller_cache[code] = None
## use of gc.get_referrers() was suggested by Michael Hudson
# all functions which refer to this code object
funcs = [f for f in gc.get_referrers(code)
if inspect.isfunction(f)]
# require len(func) == 1 to avoid ambiguity caused by calls to
# new.function(): "In the face of ambiguity, refuse the
# temptation to guess."
if len(funcs) == 1:
dicts = [d for d in gc.get_referrers(funcs[0])
if isinstance(d, dict)]
if len(dicts) == 1:
classes = [c for c in gc.get_referrers(dicts[0])
if hasattr(c, "__bases__")]
if len(classes) == 1:
# ditto for new.classobj()
clsname = classes[0].__name__
# cache the result - assumption is that new.* is
# not called later to disturb this relationship
# _caller_cache could be flushed if functions in
# the new module get called.
self._caller_cache[code] = clsname
if clsname is not None:
funcname = "%s.%s" % (clsname, funcname)
return filename, modulename, funcname
def globaltrace_trackcallers(self, frame, why, arg):
"""Handler for call events.
Adds information about who called who to the self._callers dict.
"""
if why == 'call':
# XXX Should do a better job of identifying methods
this_func = self.file_module_function_of(frame)
parent_func = self.file_module_function_of(frame.f_back)
self._callers[(parent_func, this_func)] = 1
def globaltrace_countfuncs(self, frame, why, arg):
"""Handler for call events.
Adds (filename, modulename, funcname) to the self._calledfuncs dict.
"""
if why == 'call':
this_func = self.file_module_function_of(frame)
self._calledfuncs[this_func] = 1
def globaltrace_lt(self, frame, why, arg):
"""Handler for call events.
If the code block being entered is to be ignored, returns `None',
else returns self.localtrace.
"""
if why == 'call':
code = frame.f_code
filename = frame.f_globals.get('__file__', None)
if filename:
# XXX _modname() doesn't work right for packages, so
# the ignore support won't work right for packages
modulename = _modname(filename)
if modulename is not None:
ignore_it = self.ignore.names(filename, modulename)
if not ignore_it:
if self.trace:
print((" --- modulename: %s, funcname: %s"
% (modulename, code.co_name)))
return self.localtrace
else:
return None
def localtrace_trace_and_count(self, frame, why, arg):
if why == "line":
# record the file name and line number of every trace
filename = frame.f_code.co_filename
lineno = frame.f_lineno
key = filename, lineno
self.counts[key] = self.counts.get(key, 0) + 1
if self.start_time:
print('%.2f' % (_time() - self.start_time), end=' ')
bname = os.path.basename(filename)
print("%s(%d): %s" % (bname, lineno,
linecache.getline(filename, lineno)), end='')
return self.localtrace
def localtrace_trace(self, frame, why, arg):
if why == "line":
# record the file name and line number of every trace
filename = frame.f_code.co_filename
lineno = frame.f_lineno
if self.start_time:
print('%.2f' % (_time() - self.start_time), end=' ')
bname = os.path.basename(filename)
print("%s(%d): %s" % (bname, lineno,
linecache.getline(filename, lineno)), end='')
return self.localtrace
def localtrace_count(self, frame, why, arg):
if why == "line":
filename = frame.f_code.co_filename
lineno = frame.f_lineno
key = filename, lineno
self.counts[key] = self.counts.get(key, 0) + 1
return self.localtrace
def results(self):
return CoverageResults(self.counts, infile=self.infile,
outfile=self.outfile,
calledfuncs=self._calledfuncs,
callers=self._callers)
def _err_exit(msg):
sys.stderr.write("%s: %s\n" % (sys.argv[0], msg))
sys.exit(1)
def main(argv=None):
import getopt
if argv is None:
argv = sys.argv
try:
opts, prog_argv = getopt.getopt(argv[1:], "tcrRf:d:msC:lTg",
["help", "version", "trace", "count",
"report", "no-report", "summary",
"file=", "missing",
"ignore-module=", "ignore-dir=",
"coverdir=", "listfuncs",
"trackcalls", "timing"])
except getopt.error as msg:
sys.stderr.write("%s: %s\n" % (sys.argv[0], msg))
sys.stderr.write("Try `%s --help' for more information\n"
% sys.argv[0])
sys.exit(1)
trace = 0
count = 0
report = 0
no_report = 0
counts_file = None
missing = 0
ignore_modules = []
ignore_dirs = []
coverdir = None
summary = 0
listfuncs = False
countcallers = False
timing = False
for opt, val in opts:
if opt == "--help":
_usage(sys.stdout)
sys.exit(0)
if opt == "--version":
sys.stdout.write("trace 2.0\n")
sys.exit(0)
if opt == "-T" or opt == "--trackcalls":
countcallers = True
continue
if opt == "-l" or opt == "--listfuncs":
listfuncs = True
continue
if opt == "-g" or opt == "--timing":
timing = True
continue
if opt == "-t" or opt == "--trace":
trace = 1
continue
if opt == "-c" or opt == "--count":
count = 1
continue
if opt == "-r" or opt == "--report":
report = 1
continue
if opt == "-R" or opt == "--no-report":
no_report = 1
continue
if opt == "-f" or opt == "--file":
counts_file = val
continue
if opt == "-m" or opt == "--missing":
missing = 1
continue
if opt == "-C" or opt == "--coverdir":
coverdir = val
continue
if opt == "-s" or opt == "--summary":
summary = 1
continue
if opt == "--ignore-module":
for mod in val.split(","):
ignore_modules.append(mod.strip())
continue
if opt == "--ignore-dir":
for s in val.split(os.pathsep):
s = os.path.expandvars(s)
# should I also call expanduser? (after all, could use $HOME)
s = s.replace("$prefix",
os.path.join(sys.base_prefix, "lib",
"python" + sys.version[:3]))
s = s.replace("$exec_prefix",
os.path.join(sys.base_exec_prefix, "lib",
"python" + sys.version[:3]))
s = os.path.normpath(s)
ignore_dirs.append(s)
continue
assert 0, "Should never get here"
if listfuncs and (count or trace):
_err_exit("cannot specify both --listfuncs and (--trace or --count)")
if not (count or trace or report or listfuncs or countcallers):
_err_exit("must specify one of --trace, --count, --report, "
"--listfuncs, or --trackcalls")
if report and no_report:
_err_exit("cannot specify both --report and --no-report")
if report and not counts_file:
_err_exit("--report requires a --file")
if no_report and len(prog_argv) == 0:
_err_exit("missing name of file to run")
# everything is ready
if report:
results = CoverageResults(infile=counts_file, outfile=counts_file)
results.write_results(missing, summary=summary, coverdir=coverdir)
else:
sys.argv = prog_argv
progname = prog_argv[0]
sys.path[0] = os.path.split(progname)[0]
t = Trace(count, trace, countfuncs=listfuncs,
countcallers=countcallers, ignoremods=ignore_modules,
ignoredirs=ignore_dirs, infile=counts_file,
outfile=counts_file, timing=timing)
try:
with open(progname) as fp:
code = compile(fp.read(), progname, 'exec')
# try to emulate __main__ namespace as much as possible
globs = {
'__file__': progname,
'__name__': '__main__',
'__package__': None,
'__cached__': None,
}
t.runctx(code, globs, globs)
except OSError as err:
_err_exit("Cannot run file %r because: %s" % (sys.argv[0], err))
except SystemExit:
pass
results = t.results()
if not no_report:
results.write_results(missing, summary=summary, coverdir=coverdir)
# Deprecated API
def usage(outfile):
_warn("The trace.usage() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
_usage(outfile)
class Ignore(_Ignore):
def __init__(self, modules=None, dirs=None):
_warn("The class trace.Ignore is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
_Ignore.__init__(self, modules, dirs)
def modname(path):
_warn("The trace.modname() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _modname(path)
def fullmodname(path):
_warn("The trace.fullmodname() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _fullmodname(path)
def find_lines_from_code(code, strs):
_warn("The trace.find_lines_from_code() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _find_lines_from_code(code, strs)
def find_lines(code, strs):
_warn("The trace.find_lines() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _find_lines(code, strs)
def find_strings(filename, encoding=None):
_warn("The trace.find_strings() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _find_strings(filename, encoding=None)
def find_executable_linenos(filename):
_warn("The trace.find_executable_linenos() function is deprecated",
DeprecationWarning, 2)
return _find_executable_linenos(filename)
if __name__=='__main__':
main()
Rosenblum TV: Video training, virtual workshops, classes, tutorials
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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