Behind the Scenes: Why Table Reads are so effective

A live broadcast as complex as the Esports Awards isn’t just about big stages, flashy graphics, and seamless camera work—it’s also about ensuring the talent is as prepared as possible. Unlike most esports broadcasts, which rely heavily on live commentary and unscripted moments, the Esports Awards is a mostly scripted production with over 200 pages of dialogue across a five-hour show. This level of structure requires intense preparation to ensure everything flows smoothly on the night.

That’s where the table read comes in.

Bringing the Script to Life

The Esports Awards is written by a core team of writers, but the script is just the foundation. The table read—which kicks off the first day of pre-production with talent—is where everything starts taking shape. This is the moment we work directly with our hosts, presenters, and on-air talent to refine their roles, adjust lines to match their natural delivery, and lock in the overall tone of the show.

But it’s not just about the words. We also walk through blocking—ensuring talent knows their movements, camera angles, and interactions throughout the event.

Integrating Teleprompting into the Process

Another key aspect of our table reads is teleprompt integration. Our teleprompter operators aren’t just handed a script on show day—they are part of pre-production. This allows them to adapt to each presenter’s reading and presenting style, fine-tuning scroll speeds and formatting in real-time to create a seamless experience.

By the time we go live, the talent isn’t just reading a script—they know the rhythm, the flow, and their role within the bigger picture.

Check out the BTS video above from the Esports Awards: Satellite Event in November 2024 to see how it all comes together behind the scenes!