November 2005 ff amera TheC National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences www.emmysf.tv San Francisco/Northern California Chapter HOW TO WIN AN EMMY® AWARD By Bob Goldberger It’s already November, which means the Call for Entries deadline for the outstanding work you pro- duced in 2005 is just around the corner (Entry deadline: January 20, 2006). Let’s face it, we all like to be recognized, and yes, even honored for work we consider our best, particularly when we believe it’s better than anything we’ve seen on the competition. The problem is, the Emmy® judges (whichever Secrets of Winning chapter they happen to reside in any Secrets of Winning Tips from Wayne Freedman, KGO- particular year) don’t always agree. Tips from Craig Franklin, KPIX-TV TV reporter. Wayne has won 47 It’s frustrating, and sometimes producer and photographer (formerly Emmy® awards in news writing, demoralizing to lose. So what do KRON-TV). Craig has won 17 reporting, and on-camera perfor- you do? Quit trying? If that’s your Emmy® awards for photography, mance categories. answer, you’re in the wrong business editing, and for producing stories and should probably see if Wells and documentaries. Q- When did you win your first Fargo has a bank teller opening right Q- When did you win your first Emmy® statue? away. No, you keep plugging away, Emmy® statue? A- I won my first Emmy® award in refining your entries, and increasing A- I won as cameraman for a story 1985, after five nominations without your odds by getting valuable insight titled “Peacock Gap Flood.” It was success. It was a story about veter- from previous years’ winners. If you th 1982. I think the category was ans remembering the 40 anniver- don’t know any personally, a couple breaking news/camera. We covered sary of D-Day. I ended up winning of multiple winners agreed to share a big storm that pales next to three others that year. their “secrets” to Emmy® success hurricane Katrina but was unusual Q- Were you reluctant to enter? with you. for Marin County, with muddy rivers Were you afraid it wasn’t But first, there’s another way you flowing down streets and through Emmy®-worthy? can increase your odds—by entering upscale houses. Not the best video I A- I was not reluctant to enter. I am some of the less popular, less entry- ever took—wet, foggy, and shaky— reluctant, now, but still compelled. saturated categories that are prime but we were right there in the action Q- What did you learn from early opportunities just begging to be and reporter Hampton Pearson wrote entries that helped you with explored (or exploited). future entries? continued on page 2 a wonderful mix of facts and drama A- One should not “try” to win an to go with the pictures. Emmy® award. You do excellent Q- Were you reluctant to enter? work, and maybe it happens. Some AD SALES Were you afraid it wasn’t of the best stories I’ve ever done Emmy®-worthy? have not won. I have been sur- A- Oh yeah, I had all those prised, at times, by those that have. FORUM 11/2 thoughts. Q- Do you have any insights to Perhaps the most important issue Q- Did you win the first time you share from your wins that could facing the broadcast industry will be entered? help somebody who hasn’t explored early this month at an A- I had entered one other story the bagged a statuette yet? evening forum. year before, and to this day I still A- The key, I think, is to do a story A panel of experts will discuss think it was one of the best things I that advances the medium. Too the status and future of television ad ever shot: 3 days of flight operations many people expect to win Emmy® sales at a forum at 7 p.m. on on the deck of the aircraft carrier awards for pieces in which they Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the studios USS Enterprise. Lots of action and merely did their jobs. An Emmy® of KPIX-TV, 855 Battery St., San great stories of young hot-shot Navy Francisco. continued on page 2 continued on page 3 continued on page 2 Off Camera, November 2005, page 1 FREEDMAN EMMY® FRANKLIN continued from page 1 continued from page 1 continued from page 1 Least Entered, 2004 award-winning Daytime Newscast, Medium Market: pilots long story should be 0 entries before “Top different, reflect- Daytime Newscast, Small Market: Gun” became a ing extra effort, 0 entries movie. I extra care, News Broadcast, Medium Market: thought it was a prescient vision, 7 entries sure Emmy® flawless execu- News Broadcast, Small Market: winner. tion. 4 entries It didn’t get Q- Any particu- There are clear opportunities for nominated. lar type of story news departments outside of San That really hurt that seems to Francisco and Sacramento to pull in Best my confidence. do better or Newscast awards this year. With zero Q- What did worse with entries in the Daytime Newscast catego- you learn judges? ries last year by small and medium from early A- Stories about other people dying market stations, simply entering might entries that helped you with or being sick rarely do well with have earned one of those stations an future entries? judges. Remember, the judges are Emmy® award, although it’s still far from A- I learned never to do a story with cynical. Try to make your submission guaranteed. Even if there’s only one the hope or purpose of winning an as different as possible, while re- entry, judges must still grade the entry Emmy® award. It’s bad psychology maining true to requirements of the high enough to make it worthy of and bad karma. Telling a good story category. receiving a statuette; but clearly, your is the only goal. Tell enough good Q- How much do you write in the odds are much better competing against stories and you’ll win an Emmy® summary/précis? few entries, than many. Here are some statue, god willing. Winning an A- The précis depends on the entry. other great entry opportunities that are Emmy® award is great but it’s not There are no absolute rules. not market specific: the goal. Q- Can you win a reporting or Technical Achievement: Q- Do you have any insights from writing Emmy® award if the 1 entry, No winner. your wins that could help some- story is shot or poorly edited? On Camera-News-Sports Talent: body who hasn’t bagged a statu- A- Good video always helps, and bad 2 entries, No winner. ette yet? video always hurts, particularly when On Camera-Sports Live Event: A- If you’re trying to do your best the judges include photographers. 4 entries, 2 nominations, 1 winner. work you need to work with like- Live Event Program: minded people. I’ve won Emmy® 3 entries, 3 nominations, 1 winner. awards with a broad range of report- EMMY® Camera Program Editing News: ers, producers, editors, camera 4 entries, 3 nominations, 1 winner. people—all with obsessive-compul- On Camera-News-Weathercaster: sive disorder. Sometimes it was UPDATE 5 entries, 1 nomination, 1 winner. brutal. As for Emmy® entry tactics, I think it may depend on what kind The Awards Committee is still Children/Youth Program: 5 entries, 3 nominations, 1 winner. of pizza the judges eat. But the fact finalizing the “Call For Entries” for is you’re putting your best work the 2005-2006 area awards. Current Affairs-Segment: 6 entries, 3 nominations, 1 winner. against everybody else’s, which is Next month we will have the list especially tough in the crowded of new or changed categories and Sports Live Broadcast: 6 entries, 2 nominations, 1 winner. breaking news, feature, and the “Call For Entries” will be posted craft categories. Stories under four online. Audio/Sound: 6 entries, 4 nominations, 2 winners minutes seem to do better in most The good news is that the categories. I think longer analytical Emmy® entry fees are being re- Children/Youth Segment: 8 entries, 4 nominations, 1 winner. stories don’t get the time or respect duced. Last year every name they may deserve unless something entered paid $70 if you were a Editing News-Same Day: 8 entries, 4 nominations, 1 winner. in the enterprise and execution really member and $200 if not. This year jumps out at the judges as they all fees are lowered, and a greater Editing News-Unlimited: 8 entries, 5 nominations, 1 winner. wade through a long pile of entries. savings depending on your market Q- How much do you write in the size. The bottom line, though, is great summary/précis? If you are not a member you can work wins out, regardless of how stiff the A- I rarely write a précis, and if I do join now and be paid through 2006. competition. Your best bet is to start it’s to make one single, otherwise DMA Member Non-Member looking NOW. Go back through your unexplained point like: “We spent San Francisco $65 $195 scripts or archives, and gather your best three weeks with Osama before he Sacramento $60 $190 work NOW. Start making your dubs granted an interview.” Usually I Fresno/Hawaii $50 $150 NOW so they look thought out and want the story to reveal itself to the Reno/Salinas/ professional to judges, rather than judges like any other viewer.