Information About the Series

Featuring current primetime programs and the people who make them happen, Journeys Below the Line is a series of DVDs that captures the inner workings of the craft and technical jobs that are essential to the creation of compelling, successful television. The series is produced by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, utilizing the resources of the Television Academy, the organization that bestows Primetime Emmy® Awards recognizing excellence in television. Because the Television Academy membership consists of the top creative people in the TV industry, representing 27 different professional areas/careers, the series is able to profit from the unique access the Academy has that others do not.

Each show features a specific craft, using as an example one of the highly-acclaimed primetime TV series. For example, editing and script supervision are discussed using Fox’s “24,” the property department is covered with NBC’s “ER,” and cinematography utilizes ABC’s “Lost.” Each program shows practitioners at work explaining what they do and includes interviews with others (actors, directors, producers, technical crew) explaining their interaction with and appreciation of the people who are featured.

One purpose of Journeys Below the Line is to give those interested in working as part of this exciting industry an idea of the many jobs (other than actor, producer, director, and writer) that are available. It does not show how to operate any particular equipment but rather emphasizes the types of tasks the below-the-line people undertake and the interaction each has with other members of the cast and crew. A second purpose of the series is to give members of the general public an insight into the work that goes into producing their favorite TV shows.

In addition to the basic program, each DVD contains many extra features, such as outtakes and interviews with people associated with each show. Supplementary material provided on CD-ROM includes bios of the program participants, copies of forms that the crafts people use, activities that teachers who use the DVD in the classroom can utilize, an interactive glossary, additional resources such as website links, and other general background information.

The series idea was conceived by Bruce Bilson, who was then chair of the Educational Programs and Services Committee of the Television Academy. Bruce has also been a governor of the Academy and has a distinguished career as a TV director. It is his respect for the people he has worked with that led him to propose this series idea and then serve, without compensation, as its Executive Producer and Director. Two past chairs of the Educational Programs and Services Committee and past governors of the Academy, Michael Gallant and Lynne Gross, are also involved with the project. Michael, a producer by profession, is the series Producer, and Lynne, who has been a producer and a professor of radio-TV-film, is the series Associate Producer. Another past committee member, Steve Fisch, is involved as the series legal advisor.

The series is distributed by First Light Video Publishing.