Question about studio video monitors during a video shoot...

[lingyi]

When and why do they place studio monitors facing the stage performers during a shoot.

I know for example, on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, there are always monitors facing the the cast in front of the production crew. For example when Colin Mochrie is shown what was playing on the green screen behind him. Makes sense since it's in a studio.

On the other hand, on my favorite Korean variety show Running Man, which is usually done at various locations, in and outdoors, on the odd occasion when they show the production crew, sometimes there isn't a monitor there, at least clearly visible and other times it's there. Why would / wouldn't the monitor be there or not? Note, since this is a Korean production, the monitor is usually on the floor as that's where the PD and other directors and screen writers sit, below the camera line.

[Cornucopia]

If one of the actors also is the director, or has some form of production "creative control" he/she may want to have a confidence/playback monitor to check the work without breaking the blocking or eyeline. Particularly helpful with framing.

Also, this may or may not apply (not familiar with the K shows), but sometimes they might not be simple, direct monitors but may instead be post-cgi/post-fx monitors, similar to greenscreen overlay composite ones.
Or, maybe they aren't standard monitors at all but are teleprompters?

Scott

[lingyi]

The "creative control" thing makes sense for Whose Line... since the cast is listed as part of the production staff.

In the case of Running Man, which is a reality/variety show, they're probably not teleprompters since sometimes cue cards are seen and most of it is clearly improvised. Though nothing's ever certain with clever editing. Also, each cast member and guest has their own VJ since per the show title, they're often moving around (sometimes on different floors of a building or in large open areas outside) on their own.

Thinking about it, on the rare occasions when the cast is shown looking at a monitor, it may well have been placed there for that purpose, pulled from the back. The transition hidden by clever editing.

Other than the in-studio/stage uses on Whose Line..., what other reasons may there be for monitors facing the cast?

Here's a great shot of the camera setup from another Korean variety show, Knowing Bros

[Attachment 49664 - Click to enlarge]
There's no monitors in sight, but like Running Man there have been monitors for the cast to review when needed. The sliver line/object on the far right may be a large monitor.

A couple of notes about the setup. This isn't normal, the cameras are usually more evenly spread out, it's just because there are nine members of the group (Twice) that so many cameras are crammed together. Also, the black squares on the wall are for cameras taking the main cast.

Edit: The PD may be the guy in the white hat sitting in the middle, but more likely somewhere to either side of him as the PD usually wears dark clothes.