Unit 27: Factual Programme Production - Task 2b Research

In your group you will need to carry out the following research to help you with your own 3 minute films:

· Ideas development; programme concept, target audience and development techniques eg creation of narrative, scenario, synopsis, research process, interview questions -Group 

· Carry out research into primary sources (contacts and participants, interviews, locations) - Dimitar 

·  Research existing programmes and films that may include topics or techniques you enjoy: look at both news and a range of documentary formats and styles to inspire you (secondary research)- Berfin 

· Carry out other research into secondary sources (reviews, internet, archives; checking information)-Dimitar 

· Legal and Ethical considerations (permission to film in public places, clearances and permissions, privacy, libel. You could refer to the Broadcasting Act 1994, the BBC producers guidelines) -  Berfin 

Unit 27: Factual Programme Production - Task 2a Pitch

This is our presentation of the proposal for the factual programming. I have paired up with Dimitar to create a food documentary. The documentary that we are planning to make is based on food. Our choice of cuisine is Turkish cuisine. We would try to explore the different tastes and spices that consist in the food. We’d like to get deeper into the history of the food for the audience to understand in more depth about the origins of each dish as well as explore the variety that there is, as most people know about kebab and baklava but not much else than that.

Unit 27: Factual Programme Production - Task 2a Presentation

Unit 27: Factual Programme Production Documentary Task 1b

For this part of the assignment, I will be analysing different type of documentary mode in a range of documentary. For an example, ‘Top Gear’ which was a TV series about cars and the other factual programming that I will be also looking at is ‘Making a murderer’ which is a documentary about a man who had served 18 years in prison for the wrong conviction. Finally, I will be analysing a famous documentary named ‘Plant Earth: The Complete Collection’, which is a nature documentary.

Expository –  This mode also known as ‘The Voice of God’ is a technique used in documentary to narrate the factual programming. It also allows to address directly to the audience while explaining the act in the programming. For an example, in ‘Making a Murderer’ the audience isn’t seen to this, but in ‘Plant Earth: The Complete Collection’ it mainly uses voice-over to explain the story. As an example, this documentary beginnings with a voice-over by David Attenborough “A hundred years ago, there were one- and – a half billion people Earth.” I believe that expository documentaries are seen to be arguing point or focusing the narrative around worldwide issues like nature, or even politics. This could see as spreading awareness. The Voice of God allows the audience to understand what they are seeing visually and it allows to add effect on them. For an example, in ‘Plant Earth’ when an animal is about to be killed the voiceover inform the audience what’s going to happen. This adds emotion for the audience from the narrator. This main code and convention for expository documentaries is rhetorical question, facts, opinion, and persuasive techniques, which makes this documentary an expository documentary.

Observational- Observational documentaries is often when the filmmaker is following the presenter around to witness the events that is happening. This normally including having hand-held cameras and doesn’t the behind the scene crews, which also mean there isn’t interviews and voiceover. However, ‘Top Gear’ is an observational documentary as the crew follows the three presenters around the world reviewing different types of cars. They mostly use GoPro when they’re in the cars, but they do some interviews in the studio and sometimes includes voiceover in the purest form.  This factual programming has long takes of the reviews of the cars, which is a code and convention for observational mode. The editing technique used is having a range of different cuts to keep the audience entertained throughout the programme.

Interactive & Reflexive- An interactive documentary is a production that uses a range of different forms of video, audio, photography to explaining narrative or even an event. This interactive programme allows to provide a unique way to create non-linear production for the audience. For an example, in the ‘Making a Murderer’ they use most of these techniques to present a clear factual programming. As an example, one of the ways they represented a flashback was by using old audio or photography for the audience to understand what happened. When Steven Avery was on a trail they used photography and video to present the situation at that time. For this reason, ‘Making a Murderer’ is an interactive documentary. Reflexive documentary (awareness of the process) is when the audience engages with the content of the factual programming as it happens. This often includes the recognise of realism and the representation. This mode allow acknowledges the constructed nature of the documentary so the viewer see how it is made throughout the production. Louis Theroux is filmmaker who often creates reflexive documentary and he has a controversial method as he stands in centre of the camera and have casual interviewer. This mode usually uses re-enactment in the factual programming to explain the narrative, but also includes dramatic music to create tension for the audience.

Performative – A performative documentary mode contains the emotional and subjective feature of documentary. One the codes and conventions are that the makers would comment on the process of the making of the programme such as the camera shot and movements used. I believe this type of documentary address the audience in a clear direct and emotional course, which allows to have a connection between the audience and the documentary.

 Dramatisation, Narrativisation & Realism– Dramatisation is normally seen in documentary that are bias and prejudge, which can see as an exaggeration that increases the built up within the factual programming. Sometimes it is known to be negative as it presents to be strong toward a particular opinion and being over exaggerated about it. Narrativisation is always seen or heard in factual programming. It is an effective way to address to the primary audience and telling the narrative in the documentary. Realism?

Unit 27: Factual Programme Production Techniques for News Task 1 A

For this assignment I will be analysing four different types of factual programming and discussing the different techniques applied on them, but also clarifying how it targets their audience. The news broadcast that I’m analysing is an extract from “BBC News at Ten”, which covers different types of stories. One of the factual programming that I’ll will be evaluating is “Top Gear”, which was a TV series about cars and the other factual programming that I will be also looking at is “Making a murderer” which is a documentary about a man who had served 18 years in prison for the wrong conviction. Finally, I will be analysing a famous documentary named “Plant Earth: The Complete Collection”.

Studio News Reader – Firstly, a studio news reader, also known as the presenter, often has the role of conducting detailed research and emerging news stories of importance. The key elements of a studio news reader is having great communication and interpersonal skills as it will allows them to be clear to the audience. As in the BBC news extract, we can tell that the presenter has a large understanding of the legal and ethical issues as she presents the stories in a clear unbiased structure. One way that you can earn trust from the audience as a studio news reader is by the visual codes, which is the way you present yourself to the audience. For an example, if the presenter come onto the news with tracksuits and unprofessional clothing it is more likely that the audience won’t believe in stories. In the BBC News at Ten the studio news reader is dressed in a professional matter which allows her audience to have trust in her and her news. One of the code and conventions in news broadcast is having the presenter placed in the centre of the frame, which allows the audience to fully focus their attention on them and not on the background.

Field Reporters & Links to studio – A field reporter is known as a side-line reporter, which basically someone reporting additional coverage outside of the studio as an example an interview that is based on the main stories that is discussed in the studio. This could be collected by expert’s opinion, witnesses or even member of the public (Vox pops).  For an example, in the BBC news the first story was about religion and how it involved in secondary school student’s life and the field reporter went on location to recorded teachers and students views on it. This is one way to keep the audience in engaged, but also to see different opinions. These clips are often pre-recorded, but sometime depending on the events it could be live stream to the audience.  For an example, in this new broadcast there is a live stream element to it. Links to studio is where a TV news programme would links with another studio which is often connection by a live stream to debate or discuss the events together. For an example, BBC time and again connect with American news channels discussing worldwide issues. The extract that I’m analysing does link to studio as they connect to another presenter in Rio de Janeiro. This is an important code and convention that most news channels use as it addresses significant issues around the world, which also allows the audience see different expert opinions.

Mode of address to viewer- Modes of address to viewer is properly the most important element to the programme, which is how the news is delivered to the audience. The body language, facial expression and language of the presenter played a part in this. For an example, the body language of the studio news reader on BBC news at Ten is formal and professional which is expected from BBC where MTV news or even E! News has a more causal and informal approach. Normally the presenter will introduce themselves, which will allows to connect directly to the audience that allows to make them feel engaged. The code and convention of the facial expression will be normal and maintaining eye contact with the audience, which she does.

Interviews, Experts & Witnesses – Interviewing is when someone is being asked a range of questions that is relevant to a certain topic, which allows to understand the events more clear or simply seeing a different side to the story. The questions can be open or closed depending on the issues, as an example one of the question asked in the extract were “What is your view on the having a religious  school?”. This is an open question allowing the people to express their opinion without any influence from the presenter. As far I know anyone can be interviewed as long as it is something that a lot of people would have interest in it. The reason why this is done is, because it proposals a more informative, casual approach to the news and allows it to be more personal to the audience. Witnesses is important for the news, but can be see bias as they only share their opinion about the story so an Expert will allows to balance the story so it doesn’t seen as bias. They are often seen in certain case like murder or abuse has been taken in place. In the extract that I’m analysing experts and witnesses isn’t seen, but it is often used.

Report Structure & Actuality Footage – Reporting Structure is a great way to not waste the audience time especially they are waiting to hear about certain topic. It is all about the structure of the news and the importance. As in the extract, BBC news always presents the importance news first and leaving least popular to the end to be reported. I think is a good way of keeping the audience engaged as they will see the main intense news at the start, which will allow them to carry on watching. Actuality footage is the footage that you will see as an audience on every single news. It is a footage that relates to the topic that the studio news reader is discussing about. For an example, when the presenter in BBC news is talking about the rapes in Africa there are clips of victims. I believe this allows the audience to a vision of the story and to give them a better understanding of the story and the impact of it.