Sunday, 16 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Secondry Reaserch for my final Idea
I will be answering five question's which will allow me to gain more in depth knowledge on the subject. The five questions which i will be covering in my documentry are ....
1. Are celebrities entitled to their own private life (can the media/journalists expose what they want about them)?
2. How does it effect the press ?
3. How does it effect the public?
4. What was the phone hacking scandal and how did it effect the celebrities?
5. What are the Laws already in place and should there be more?
1. Are celebrities entitles to their own private life?
Celebrity gossip has become the new craving in peoples lives and no longer does the UK public want to see news about a new film or a celebrity winning an award , now the most interesting part of the entertainment column in newspapers is who broke up with who ? and which latest celebrity's secret has been leaked. The news industry has now been forced into breaking privacy barriers and digging up every single detail about a celebrities life until the celebrity feels as if the newspapers are their private journals which is being viewed by millions around the country. In todays day and age we have advanced media tools such as social networks so everything can be spread to the mass audience in a matter of minuets. The question arises "do we have the right to invade a celebrities personal life?"
This is an opinion of a Minister who thinks they do have the right ..
"Although many aspects of the private lives of celebrities and public figures will inevitably enter the public domain, in my judgement it does not follow that even with self publicists every aspect and detail of their private lives are legitimate quarry for the journalist. They are entitled to some space of privacy," Mr Justice Morland
But Many people believe that when someone decides to be famous , this opens the gates into their own lives to be exposed , yet they cry invasion of privacy when everyone knows their business. We also do need to look at the fact that these celebrities do put a lot out for display and then cry wolf. A simple example would be a celebrity leaving a night club and then vomiting all over her dress , this would not be on the Sun's front papers the next day if the celebrity actually sobered her self up inside the club before coming out and acting drunk.
2. How does it effect the celebrity?
Celebrities are effected mentally and physically as these exposure of their lives and information they do not want out in the public can ruin their lives and leave them in a very lonely place as now millions of people know something which is suppose to be private. Some celebrities suffer from breakdowns and others like it due to the attention falling on them. There have been many cases of celebrities breaking down due to all the public attention ...
3.How does it effect the public?
The public are effected in numerous ways and have diffrent and varid opinions amongst them selves on the topic of privacy. Some people think that the celebrities/high profiled people are humans and have the same rights as we do , so their private lives should be respected. Others believe that since the celebrities have decided that they want to be someone other than a normal person and live their life exposed a sit is then their lives are not private in the first place so whatever is exposed is something which shouldn't be private in the first place.
Celebrities also causing a scene in public places can effect the public who are going about their daily lives. This is an example which i have picked out which shows clear proof of the disturbance of the public while paparazzi follow a celebrity about. In the video you can see Justin Bieber driving around while the paparazzi try to follow him and follow his every footstep , at around 1.33 you see how the celebrity gets annoyed at the paparazzi following him so he decides to stop the car and cause a traffic. Members of the public who are going around their daily lives get caught up in this mess and then get out of their cars to complain about the commotion which has been created just because the paparazzi are following a celebrity about. Many people like Justin Bieber would think this was wrong to follow him about and invade his privacy but others would believe that because he is a well known celebrity then the press have the right to follow him about in public spaces.
4.What was the news hacking scandal and how did it effect the celebrities?
This was a massive story which blew up in the UK and was the spark to the whole questioning if the UK Press have too much freedom and that there needs to be more restrictions and rules when it comes to the media in the UK.
"Employees of the newspaper were accused of engaging in phone hacking, police bribery, and exercising improper influence in the pursuit of publishing stories. Investigations conducted from 2005–2007 concluded that the paper's phone hacking activities were limited to celebrities, politicians and members of the British Royal Family. In July 2011, it was revealed that the phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, relatives of deceased British soldiers, and victims of the 7/7 London bombings were also accessed, resulting in a public outcry against News Corporation and owner Rupert Murdoch. Advertiser boycotts contributed to the closure of the News of the World on 10 July, ending 168 years of publication" - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_International_phone_hacking_scandal)
The scandal has been exposed to the UK with full force as many people have been caught up in this undercover scandal which has been going on under every ones nose. The News of the World a UK leading Newspaper has been secretly hacking into the voicemail messages of important people to find stories and get scoop behind closed doors.Hacking has been a serious crime since the day anyone could remember.The fact that the media has been digging celebrities , government , soap stars and crime targets behind their backs have made a media splash as nearly most celebrities and high positioned people in the UK have become paranoid Links between News International employees, police chiefs and politicians have rocked this country's foundations and many people have been worried about who to trust ? as government and high foundational people have been linked to phone hacking.4,000 people whose names appear in documents seized in 2006 have been contacted and told they have been hacked. This recent hacking has left many people involved very traumatised and also very paranoid that people can be listening into phone calls and private conversations , this also played a part in which a murder case was left pending due to the hackers opening up the murdered victims voicemail. (I have covered the topic of the news hacking scandal and those who where involved before : http://mahdimediablog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/what-is-all-fuss-about-phone-hacking.html )
5. What are the Laws already in place and should there be more?
1. Are celebrities entitled to their own private life (can the media/journalists expose what they want about them)?
2. How does it effect the press ?
3. How does it effect the public?
4. What was the phone hacking scandal and how did it effect the celebrities?
5. What are the Laws already in place and should there be more?
1. Are celebrities entitles to their own private life?
Celebrity gossip has become the new craving in peoples lives and no longer does the UK public want to see news about a new film or a celebrity winning an award , now the most interesting part of the entertainment column in newspapers is who broke up with who ? and which latest celebrity's secret has been leaked. The news industry has now been forced into breaking privacy barriers and digging up every single detail about a celebrities life until the celebrity feels as if the newspapers are their private journals which is being viewed by millions around the country. In todays day and age we have advanced media tools such as social networks so everything can be spread to the mass audience in a matter of minuets. The question arises "do we have the right to invade a celebrities personal life?"
This is an opinion of a Minister who thinks they do have the right ..
"Although many aspects of the private lives of celebrities and public figures will inevitably enter the public domain, in my judgement it does not follow that even with self publicists every aspect and detail of their private lives are legitimate quarry for the journalist. They are entitled to some space of privacy," Mr Justice Morland
But Many people believe that when someone decides to be famous , this opens the gates into their own lives to be exposed , yet they cry invasion of privacy when everyone knows their business. We also do need to look at the fact that these celebrities do put a lot out for display and then cry wolf. A simple example would be a celebrity leaving a night club and then vomiting all over her dress , this would not be on the Sun's front papers the next day if the celebrity actually sobered her self up inside the club before coming out and acting drunk.
2. How does it effect the celebrity?
Celebrities are effected mentally and physically as these exposure of their lives and information they do not want out in the public can ruin their lives and leave them in a very lonely place as now millions of people know something which is suppose to be private. Some celebrities suffer from breakdowns and others like it due to the attention falling on them. There have been many cases of celebrities breaking down due to all the public attention ...
3.How does it effect the public?
The public are effected in numerous ways and have diffrent and varid opinions amongst them selves on the topic of privacy. Some people think that the celebrities/high profiled people are humans and have the same rights as we do , so their private lives should be respected. Others believe that since the celebrities have decided that they want to be someone other than a normal person and live their life exposed a sit is then their lives are not private in the first place so whatever is exposed is something which shouldn't be private in the first place.
Celebrities also causing a scene in public places can effect the public who are going about their daily lives. This is an example which i have picked out which shows clear proof of the disturbance of the public while paparazzi follow a celebrity about. In the video you can see Justin Bieber driving around while the paparazzi try to follow him and follow his every footstep , at around 1.33 you see how the celebrity gets annoyed at the paparazzi following him so he decides to stop the car and cause a traffic. Members of the public who are going around their daily lives get caught up in this mess and then get out of their cars to complain about the commotion which has been created just because the paparazzi are following a celebrity about. Many people like Justin Bieber would think this was wrong to follow him about and invade his privacy but others would believe that because he is a well known celebrity then the press have the right to follow him about in public spaces.
4.What was the news hacking scandal and how did it effect the celebrities?
This was a massive story which blew up in the UK and was the spark to the whole questioning if the UK Press have too much freedom and that there needs to be more restrictions and rules when it comes to the media in the UK.
"Employees of the newspaper were accused of engaging in phone hacking, police bribery, and exercising improper influence in the pursuit of publishing stories. Investigations conducted from 2005–2007 concluded that the paper's phone hacking activities were limited to celebrities, politicians and members of the British Royal Family. In July 2011, it was revealed that the phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, relatives of deceased British soldiers, and victims of the 7/7 London bombings were also accessed, resulting in a public outcry against News Corporation and owner Rupert Murdoch. Advertiser boycotts contributed to the closure of the News of the World on 10 July, ending 168 years of publication" - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_International_phone_hacking_scandal)
The scandal has been exposed to the UK with full force as many people have been caught up in this undercover scandal which has been going on under every ones nose. The News of the World a UK leading Newspaper has been secretly hacking into the voicemail messages of important people to find stories and get scoop behind closed doors.Hacking has been a serious crime since the day anyone could remember.The fact that the media has been digging celebrities , government , soap stars and crime targets behind their backs have made a media splash as nearly most celebrities and high positioned people in the UK have become paranoid Links between News International employees, police chiefs and politicians have rocked this country's foundations and many people have been worried about who to trust ? as government and high foundational people have been linked to phone hacking.4,000 people whose names appear in documents seized in 2006 have been contacted and told they have been hacked. This recent hacking has left many people involved very traumatised and also very paranoid that people can be listening into phone calls and private conversations , this also played a part in which a murder case was left pending due to the hackers opening up the murdered victims voicemail. (I have covered the topic of the news hacking scandal and those who where involved before : http://mahdimediablog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/what-is-all-fuss-about-phone-hacking.html )
5. What are the Laws already in place and should there be more?
The right to privacy arises because Britain has incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into our national laws. Article 8 says that "everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life". But a little way further is Article 10, which guarantees the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The confusing statement here does certainly not stop newspapers and magazines from publishing things about celebrities , and does contradict its self. I will not present a case study in where a celebrity who filed a law suit against the Daily Mirror because of privacy breach:
Naomi Campbell is a supermodel and is known world wide , in 2002 she won a case against the Daily Mirror for publishing images of her leaving a drug concealing meeting. Naomi had sued the tabloid for breaching her private life and said she was "shocked , angry and betrayed". The court was in her favour and decided ti pay her £3.500 in damages. However four months later the decision was overturned and the court ordered the model to pay the tabloid's legal cost at £350.000.
Here is a link which states some privacy Law's in the UK : http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/government/constitutional_law/fundamental_rights/500284.html
Here is a link which states some privacy Law's in the UK : http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/government/constitutional_law/fundamental_rights/500284.html
Monday, 3 December 2012
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Initeial ideas and feedback
My 3 Initial documentary ideas and feedback
Idea 1:
Idea 1 feedback:
Idea 2 :
Idea 2 feedback :
Idea 3 :
Idea 3 feedback :
Idea 1:
Idea 1 feedback:
Idea 2 :
Idea 2 feedback :
Idea 3 :
Idea 3 feedback :
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Nicholls - Modes of Documentry
Modes of Documentary
Bill Nicholls has suggested there are only 5 main different types of modes of documentary which documentations decide to use in attempt to represent the 'truth'
-Expository = This mode of documentary is when the film maker decides to have a 'voice of god' to represent the documentary by voicing a narrator to verbally communicate the truth towards the audience. This documentary in simple terms interprets what is going on screen to the viewer by persuading them into believing what the voice over is saying as it can use objectivity which means presenting only the facts without any opinion. This is one of the most popular types of modes used by a film maker as the film maker holds the power to show you what they want and also somehow guide you through it and make you think a certain way by the end of it. Without actually seeing the narrator nor being stated any references to back the statements the narrator is making we blindly trust them on what they are saying and showing us. These documentaries also use direct terminology and avoid over exaggerating things so it sticks with the fact they are trying to show the truth and nothing but the truth.
An example i have chosen is "March of the penguins"
This is a popular documentary which showcases a penguins reproductive cycle , most nature based documentaries use expository because it is the easiest way to get their points across by using a narrator. The documentary wants to achieve trust from the viewers and wants to educate us on the penguins reproductive cycle. In the March of the penguins we never see the narrator but we are constantly being told what is occurring on screen and also facts are presented to us such as during the pregnancy scene the narrator tells us some statistics on how many penguins actually survive the winter months. Narrativsation is important because without it the audience would be clueless of what is actually going on and this documentary uses a lot of narrativsation. Realism is created many ways but the narrators tone in this specific documentary is what sets its scene , Morgan Freeman is one of the narrators and he is very well known for his gentle but powerful tone of voice so this helps with buying the viewer into thinking that the film makers know what they are talking about and Morgan Freeman being as popular as he is , must be presenting the truth to the audience. However sometimes the "truth" can be a very rocky term when it comes to nature documentaries as the film maker chooses what we actually see and what they don't want us to see. March of the penguin has also been criticised for using animation and also shooting some of these underwater shots in places like the zoo so this documentary cant be 100% truth , but because they want to create realism for the viewer these shots are put in to educate us further.
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-Observation = The Observation method is what some may call 'the fly on the wall' , its purpose it to stick with the truth as much as possible by keeping the documentary as accurate as they can. This is a very normal , calm and laid back sort of documentary mode as most of the time it does not have any hidden agenda. Observation also allows the viewers to see most things without having to worry about it being fabricated or being staged as most of the time this type of documentary uses a hand held camera so it captures everything that is happening and is about to happen. This is one of the easiest types of documentary mode to create but also the most interesting as real life situations occur while the documentary film maker stays behind the camera without influencing what is happening.
The example i have chosen is "Exit through the gist shop"
This was a documentary lets you in on the inside story of street artists and also one of the most famous street artist called "Banksy". This documentary is a observational documentary because it follows around a group of street artist and does nothing but show us what is occurring and what people are saying . no narration's or graphics are needed to help us through the documentary better yet the documentary allows us to create a story line inside our own head. The conventions can be clearly seen from the trailer below as we see most of the film is hand held and follows these group of street artist and some footage are in the dark or with poor lighting and sound so you know for a fact nothing was staged as they could have set up a tripod and lighting to make the footage more clear. The documentary keeps to realism by showing us that nothing is really staged. Realism is created with hand held cameras as when situations occur the camera man runs with the camera as you can see from the trailer.This documentary mode is used to help create a more edgy looking documentary but also show us that dispute the heavy editing the documentary tries to keep to the facts and showing us actuality footage,
-Participatory = The Participatory mode is when the film maker becomes involved in what is showing , the film maker decides to take part in things going on and becomes part of the story line. The documentary directly shows us the film maker and most of the time the film maker is in every scene. Narration also can be used slightly to dramatise the situation or tell the viewer what is going on or what is about to happen next , there is a mix of hand held and set up use as sometimes unexpected events occur and other times the interview is set up and the film maker knows what he is about to do and what he is about to say.
An example i have chosen for this is "Biggie and Tupac"
This is a documentary which explores the murder of Biggie and Tupac two of the most famous rap starts in America. The film maker for this documentary directly becomes linked with the whole story and we follow him around to see how he digs out various information and evidence to help us get down to the murder of Tupac and Biggie and also help us gain more knowledge about the two killings. In this documentary we constantly see the film maker or hear him do a voice over on what is happening and what is about to happen. We see a lot of interviews and evidence being shown to us as the director wants it to be shown , so even though we are getting second opinions and everything seems to be quite un-biased and trustworthy , we need to remember that at the end of the day we only get to see what the film maker wants us to see so if he decided to tamper with the interviews by editing bits out , then we as the audience would never know as we have put our trust in him and what he is showing. This type of mode is used on the viewer so they trust what the documentary is saying and at the same time drag them into a story line which keeps giving us more evidence and facts but then leaves us with a cliffhanger so we end the story and come to our own conclusions in our own minds.
-Reflexive = Reflexive mode is when the truth is reconstructed to fit the truth , it doesn't always show you a 360 degree of full events and what happened but it the documentary tries to stick with the truth. This type of documentary bases its self around realism and makes the viewers question and be sceptical about how real it actually is , we are shown the documentary and then we our selves decide how much truth is inside of it and how much is actually fabricated.
An example i have chosen is "Miami Mega Jail"
This documentary lets us into the lives of prison inmates who are staying in very tough prisons involved with gangs , drugs and violence. This documentary uses Lois Theroux as a narrator who guides us through what is happening and why, We see a lot of piecing together of stories and extra unneeded footage such as a prison guard saying "you do not need to film here" but the camera keeps rolling so the truth is exposed to the viewers and also the audience get a feel of the editing and the sound being recorded. This documentary also uses a hand held camera even during interviews the camera moves from left to right (Louis & the person being interviewed) this adds to the effect of realism. We also see raw and unedited footage most of the time and the documentary does not shy away from anything as it only wants to expose the truth. Interviews are also used and in this case the inmates are interviewed to get more out of the story and also tell their side of things and how they are feeling about the situation , it also refrains from being bias by also interviewing the guard but at the same time the presenter does have an effect on the way he talks to the guards and what sort of question he asks. This type of mode is used to show us the raw and truth of a documentary without having to make it look fancy or have any hidden agendas.
-Performative = Perforative mode basically means the film makers version of events , this can be created through many different ways such as editing and sound. This type of documentary is made to play with the audiences emotions and buy the viewer into their side of the story. This mode of documentary uses a lot of opinions and somehow "evokes" the audience members to feel a certain way while leading them through the story line / footage it is presenting.
The example i have chosen is "Cat Fish"
Cat fish is a documentary which fellows a documentary film maker as he explores his way into a relationship which he starts with someone on a social networking site. The main character in this documentary is the film maker who uses a hand held camera which can be one of the conventions to a performative documentary to tell us the story. The documentary uses a lot of opinions and we see the main character mostly give his version of events and tells the story the way he wants to. This type of documentary also uses a lot of dramatisation with the help of music and hand held camera so the viewers emotions and mind state is played with by the film maker as his bias opinions and his side of the story if fed to the person watching. The hidden agenda behind the film was the fact how Internet dating can be misleading but at the same time a lot of characters were involved and there was clearly two sides of the story but only one side was presented, This type of mode is used to mainly create drama for the audience so this helps with the fact that the audience is dragged straight into the story/
Bill Nicholls has suggested there are only 5 main different types of modes of documentary which documentations decide to use in attempt to represent the 'truth'
-Expository = This mode of documentary is when the film maker decides to have a 'voice of god' to represent the documentary by voicing a narrator to verbally communicate the truth towards the audience. This documentary in simple terms interprets what is going on screen to the viewer by persuading them into believing what the voice over is saying as it can use objectivity which means presenting only the facts without any opinion. This is one of the most popular types of modes used by a film maker as the film maker holds the power to show you what they want and also somehow guide you through it and make you think a certain way by the end of it. Without actually seeing the narrator nor being stated any references to back the statements the narrator is making we blindly trust them on what they are saying and showing us. These documentaries also use direct terminology and avoid over exaggerating things so it sticks with the fact they are trying to show the truth and nothing but the truth.
An example i have chosen is "March of the penguins"
This is a popular documentary which showcases a penguins reproductive cycle , most nature based documentaries use expository because it is the easiest way to get their points across by using a narrator. The documentary wants to achieve trust from the viewers and wants to educate us on the penguins reproductive cycle. In the March of the penguins we never see the narrator but we are constantly being told what is occurring on screen and also facts are presented to us such as during the pregnancy scene the narrator tells us some statistics on how many penguins actually survive the winter months. Narrativsation is important because without it the audience would be clueless of what is actually going on and this documentary uses a lot of narrativsation. Realism is created many ways but the narrators tone in this specific documentary is what sets its scene , Morgan Freeman is one of the narrators and he is very well known for his gentle but powerful tone of voice so this helps with buying the viewer into thinking that the film makers know what they are talking about and Morgan Freeman being as popular as he is , must be presenting the truth to the audience. However sometimes the "truth" can be a very rocky term when it comes to nature documentaries as the film maker chooses what we actually see and what they don't want us to see. March of the penguin has also been criticised for using animation and also shooting some of these underwater shots in places like the zoo so this documentary cant be 100% truth , but because they want to create realism for the viewer these shots are put in to educate us further.
-
-Observation = The Observation method is what some may call 'the fly on the wall' , its purpose it to stick with the truth as much as possible by keeping the documentary as accurate as they can. This is a very normal , calm and laid back sort of documentary mode as most of the time it does not have any hidden agenda. Observation also allows the viewers to see most things without having to worry about it being fabricated or being staged as most of the time this type of documentary uses a hand held camera so it captures everything that is happening and is about to happen. This is one of the easiest types of documentary mode to create but also the most interesting as real life situations occur while the documentary film maker stays behind the camera without influencing what is happening.
The example i have chosen is "Exit through the gist shop"
This was a documentary lets you in on the inside story of street artists and also one of the most famous street artist called "Banksy". This documentary is a observational documentary because it follows around a group of street artist and does nothing but show us what is occurring and what people are saying . no narration's or graphics are needed to help us through the documentary better yet the documentary allows us to create a story line inside our own head. The conventions can be clearly seen from the trailer below as we see most of the film is hand held and follows these group of street artist and some footage are in the dark or with poor lighting and sound so you know for a fact nothing was staged as they could have set up a tripod and lighting to make the footage more clear. The documentary keeps to realism by showing us that nothing is really staged. Realism is created with hand held cameras as when situations occur the camera man runs with the camera as you can see from the trailer.This documentary mode is used to help create a more edgy looking documentary but also show us that dispute the heavy editing the documentary tries to keep to the facts and showing us actuality footage,
-Participatory = The Participatory mode is when the film maker becomes involved in what is showing , the film maker decides to take part in things going on and becomes part of the story line. The documentary directly shows us the film maker and most of the time the film maker is in every scene. Narration also can be used slightly to dramatise the situation or tell the viewer what is going on or what is about to happen next , there is a mix of hand held and set up use as sometimes unexpected events occur and other times the interview is set up and the film maker knows what he is about to do and what he is about to say.
An example i have chosen for this is "Biggie and Tupac"
This is a documentary which explores the murder of Biggie and Tupac two of the most famous rap starts in America. The film maker for this documentary directly becomes linked with the whole story and we follow him around to see how he digs out various information and evidence to help us get down to the murder of Tupac and Biggie and also help us gain more knowledge about the two killings. In this documentary we constantly see the film maker or hear him do a voice over on what is happening and what is about to happen. We see a lot of interviews and evidence being shown to us as the director wants it to be shown , so even though we are getting second opinions and everything seems to be quite un-biased and trustworthy , we need to remember that at the end of the day we only get to see what the film maker wants us to see so if he decided to tamper with the interviews by editing bits out , then we as the audience would never know as we have put our trust in him and what he is showing. This type of mode is used on the viewer so they trust what the documentary is saying and at the same time drag them into a story line which keeps giving us more evidence and facts but then leaves us with a cliffhanger so we end the story and come to our own conclusions in our own minds.
-Reflexive = Reflexive mode is when the truth is reconstructed to fit the truth , it doesn't always show you a 360 degree of full events and what happened but it the documentary tries to stick with the truth. This type of documentary bases its self around realism and makes the viewers question and be sceptical about how real it actually is , we are shown the documentary and then we our selves decide how much truth is inside of it and how much is actually fabricated.
An example i have chosen is "Miami Mega Jail"
This documentary lets us into the lives of prison inmates who are staying in very tough prisons involved with gangs , drugs and violence. This documentary uses Lois Theroux as a narrator who guides us through what is happening and why, We see a lot of piecing together of stories and extra unneeded footage such as a prison guard saying "you do not need to film here" but the camera keeps rolling so the truth is exposed to the viewers and also the audience get a feel of the editing and the sound being recorded. This documentary also uses a hand held camera even during interviews the camera moves from left to right (Louis & the person being interviewed) this adds to the effect of realism. We also see raw and unedited footage most of the time and the documentary does not shy away from anything as it only wants to expose the truth. Interviews are also used and in this case the inmates are interviewed to get more out of the story and also tell their side of things and how they are feeling about the situation , it also refrains from being bias by also interviewing the guard but at the same time the presenter does have an effect on the way he talks to the guards and what sort of question he asks. This type of mode is used to show us the raw and truth of a documentary without having to make it look fancy or have any hidden agendas.
-Performative = Perforative mode basically means the film makers version of events , this can be created through many different ways such as editing and sound. This type of documentary is made to play with the audiences emotions and buy the viewer into their side of the story. This mode of documentary uses a lot of opinions and somehow "evokes" the audience members to feel a certain way while leading them through the story line / footage it is presenting.
The example i have chosen is "Cat Fish"
Cat fish is a documentary which fellows a documentary film maker as he explores his way into a relationship which he starts with someone on a social networking site. The main character in this documentary is the film maker who uses a hand held camera which can be one of the conventions to a performative documentary to tell us the story. The documentary uses a lot of opinions and we see the main character mostly give his version of events and tells the story the way he wants to. This type of documentary also uses a lot of dramatisation with the help of music and hand held camera so the viewers emotions and mind state is played with by the film maker as his bias opinions and his side of the story if fed to the person watching. The hidden agenda behind the film was the fact how Internet dating can be misleading but at the same time a lot of characters were involved and there was clearly two sides of the story but only one side was presented, This type of mode is used to mainly create drama for the audience so this helps with the fact that the audience is dragged straight into the story/
Friday, 16 November 2012
Friday, 9 November 2012
Sunday, 14 October 2012
News Conventions
News Packages
News packages are based around a single story which includes a whole range of diffrent elemnts combained together , these includes interviews , pre recreded footage's , links to the studio and would run for more than a minuite. News packages are tend to be shown for very complicated stories because it covers many things in one go and also may include sevral interviews to help explain the storty even better.
The newsreport which i have choosen to cover is Gaddafi's death ...
File Reporting is when a news reporter goes out to cover a news story on the actual scene of the events and situations. This convention is used so that the actual events and situations can be caught first hand by the reporters and also shows the live emotions of the news reporter and also the events happening around him/her , this is done by having a presenter who is enthusiastic and someone who also suits the theme of the story an example can be taken out of the clip i have provided as we see the field reporter getting invloved with the events taken place around him as he sits in cover enjoying the fact that his at the heart of the libiyan revolotuion which was taking place around him.This creates a theme for the viewer and helps them understand the situation more by showing someone who is live from the evnts and situations taking place. The costume is also something which depends on the situation the presenter is under , as you can see from the example the reporter is in a war torn Libiya in which a lot of killings and attacks are happeing and people are walking around with guns , this means that the reporter has to take action for his safety by wearing a bullet proof vest and a helmet incase something goes wrong , as you can see from the example he is wearing a blue bullet proof vest showing thoese around him that he is reporter/journalist and is not actually invloved with the conflict. The viewers are put into a more thrilling seat as they can telll that the reporter is in a dangerous area and anything can happen so the cosutume is an element which suits the theme of the story and also drags the viewer in. The choice off presenter is very typical as it steryotypically portrays a white person with a posh accent , the level of involvment wiith the story could not be done by every one so these reporters might have some sort of background in the story/filed in which they are reporting from. In this case the theme of the story is War and Conflict , the news reporter Tony Birtley who is presenting this story most likely has studied or has a massive intrest in this field , this can be told by the situation he is in as not many people with no passion towards the story would risk their life to report a dangerous news story .The level of involvement plays a big role in setting the tone for the story and makes it more appealing for the viewer.
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| The reporter is shown wearing special clothes to suite the environment and also add to the fact he is field reporting. |
Interviewing Experts and Witnesses is a common convention added into a news report . This helps the news report have a more factual voice by interviewing experts who know what they are talking about and witness's who have seen a certain situation and event with their own eyes. The interviews are mostly taken in a relevant location as it creates a scene towards the framing , this is done by suiting the interviewer with the location. An example of this would be if the news report was about a child being killed due to a hit and run , the family members would be interviewed in their family home because this would be the best place to display the emotions connected with the story and this could be empathised with the person being interviewed holding a frame of the child. This type of convention can be seen in the example i have provided at "1.04" we see a group of libyan revolotuinal fighters who have been in the conflict , they voice their opinion on the recent death of Gaddafi and what they think about the situation. We also see them holding guns which empathises on the emotions and the framing if the report ,which connects with the story being told. In most interviews an establishing shot is show of the person and a voice over generally tells the viewer who he/she is and how they are related to the story or situation, Good camera technique is also used as it would show the interview in a angle suited to the topic , this convention also uses things such as questions being asked but the audience does not see these questions being asked , the edit cuts to the person being interviewed talking and answering question.Graphics are also shown to identify the person being interviewed , as from the example i have provided the key eye witnesses are being interviewers the graphics tells us the situation and what has happened and also telling us who is being interviewed.
Report Structure is how the whole news report package is made up of , different elements from voice over's to cut aways which add to the structure. The news reporter is first introduced to the audience by presenting the story to the audience and introducing the contents which will be in this news package. From the example i have provided above the we see at the start a voice over explaining what is happening and what the 'story line' is about. The news story is then told and explained what is happening and why the story is important , this is done because the audience need to know why they are being told such a story and how it can effect their lives or how it is effecting other peoples lives around the world. Facts are put up and shown on screen in many different ways , there can be a use of graphics , experts and even the reporter telling us what he or she knows about the subject being shown to the viewers. From the example i have provided in many positions through out the news report we have the voice over of the reporter giving us facts about libya , how many people have died and what he things will happen now. The presenter may also be able to get into a 'special area' to film the report as he or she may want to cover as much as the story as they can so they would be allowed into a place where any normal person would not be allowed to enter , an example for this would be at "0.10" when we see the reporter actually standing next to army men and weapons . This creates a more thrilling and more of a primary viewing for the audience as they feel as if the story is trying to get into as much depth as they can , the reporter also would feel as if he or she is getting involved with the story as much as they can. Archive footage is also shown a lot , this helps to clear cut aways and helps the report move onto its next aspect. Noddies are also used when in a interview , this is when the reporter nod's when he/she is trying to show they understand the points that is being given across by a interviewer or expert.
Actuality Footage is also a very good convention which helps the audience connect with what is going on as first hand and primary footage is being shown. Actuality footage is another source of archive footage , this is something which could have been shot anywhere at anytime by someone random using their video camera or their phone. This can also be called amateur footage as it is shot by the public with their everyday camera or cell phone for unexpected events and situations which might have occured. An example for this would be at "0.50" the news report shows us a archive footage which is used by other broadcasters , the video clip shows us someone who had filmed the capture of Gaddafi and him being put to death. We know this because we here the news reporter's voice over tell us what is happening and also we can see the graphics at the bottom of the screen showing 'Gadaffi Killed". Actuality footage is used more regularly on news channels because these days everyone has a decent camera on their phone in which they can capture footage at unexpected events. The actuality/archive footage creates a more emotional connection with the audience as the footage being shown is RAW and has been actually witnessed by someone . the effect is created a lot better when it is a very big situation like a natural disaster , this is when we hear the live emotions of the people around the situation taking place which includes screaming , crying and other sorts which helps build the bridge of sympathy and distress which the footage gives out to the audience watching it.
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| Actuality footage of Gaddafi's death |
Links to studio is when a link is formed between studio and on screen action . A presenter or a correspondent (around the world correspondent who will talk on location) would have a crossover between the studio.This is mostly One shot and consists of continuous filming , this situation can also turn into something bad as it is Live and something unexpected could occur,
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Codes and Conventions
Here are some codes and conventions for the 12 main sub genres for documentary ...
Docu Drama
A docu drama is a TV or drama mixed with a real life story or actual events. This is mostly done for entertainment and also to connect with the audience a lot more , this is done by presenting the basic facts about the subject with a non bias point of view. Certain events are over dramatised to show certain situation in a more dramatic and engaging way. Music is used to empathise points such as when a sad scene is shown the music would be slow and sad.
Here are some Docu Drama's ...
Road to Guantanamo :
This is a docudrama which is centred around a group of boys , they travel to Pakistan and then cross over to Afghanistan and get held up into a war which leads them to be suspected of terrorism and taken to Guantanamo. The film re creates scenes which have happened to these boys and also includes interviews with the real life characters during the film , these characters give their own opinions and state the situations which where happening to them during their torture at Guantanamo. Facts are also given throughout the movie by graphics and also the interviews by the real life characters. Scenes from this film may have been over exaggerated and words and statements might have been made in this film which the real characters may have not said , this is done for the viewers entertainment and to add to the drama so the viewer is drawn in even more.
127 Hours :
127 hours is an American film which is another example of a docudrama , this film is based on a true story showing a guy stuck between two enormous rocks in the middle of nowhere. This docudrama tries to stick with the facts and emotions that the actual character felt. This was done by leaving the character in the film stuck in a room with a camera rolling, this is how the true dramatic emotions were captured and the docudrama is somewhat very believable. The framing of the film really helps it to connect with the character struggling to survive as it uses certain types of camera languages to make the viewer also feel trapped like the man in the movie.
Another example would be ...
Docu soap
Docu soap is when peoples every day lives and duties are filmed and put into a series for people to watch as entertainment and drama. This type of documentary is non scripted and involves real people exposing their own lives and day to day routine to the viewers , many common characters form an ensemble and many story storylines are formed and this development of a story and the drama between characters is shown in each episode. This is done by the disjoint editing as different events and situations occurring with different characters are split up throughout the episode so it switches from story to story.
Luton Airport:
Luton airport is an a example of a docu soap , this show follows the staff at luton airport and film their every day duties. Many characters are reoccurring and the story develops per episode. The documentary uses on camera to follow the characters about this gives us the documentary type of fill towards it. The voice over also helps to add humour to certain situations to keep the viewer entertained and also the voice over does help guide the story and highlight the important situations which are going on. This specific example called Luton Airport uses a lot story lines based in Luton Airport , this showcases the lives and duties of air pilots , check in desk staff and also interview the passengers who are waiting for a flight.
Here are another 2 examples of a Docu Drama ..
Infotainment
Infotainment is a information based program which is also driven with elements of entertainment and discussion. These shows have a constant and very memorable host's and presenters , this is done by having them over exaggerate and also act in a more entertain way rather than present the show in a more formal and neat way. These shows are claimed to also dumb down the audience as it's tone is not very serious and more of the entertainment side to it is shown rather than all of it being factual and about information.
Top Gear is a type of infotainment , this show is based on Cars, the show has interviews with experts and also outside of the studio filming to test out these mortar vehicles and carry out experiments. The hosts are very memorable characters who like to over empathise certain points and also these types of shows are put in a more lighter tone and not serious as it tend to hold a lot of humour . The show has its dose of humour , facts , interviews and stupidity all thrown into each episode as sometimes the viewer might be learning something from an interview or maybe a VT based on facts about a car , but then the next minute the viewer might be hit by some random topic which has nothing to do with the show or even the topic but as an infotainment documentary this is allowed because it keeps the viewer away from being bored and also adds to the fact that anything unexpected could be said and done like a reality tv show.
Here are another examples of Infotainment ..
Reality TV
Reality is maybe one if the most famous style's of documentary around today , this style of documentary shows actual events of situations of real life people broken into episodes. These show mostly showcase ordinary people being filmed on their day to day basis as it shows story lines and narratives being formed and created , some of these shows also include game shows in which a 'prize' is received at the end but filmed in a 'fly on the wall' style and then edited and put all the interesting footage together for the episode.
Shah;s of sunset :
This is an American reality TV shown broad casted in America on a TV channel called Bravo. The program consists of 5-6 reoccurring characters who live in Beverly Hill's in America , the show allows the audience to take a look into these rich and famous people's lives. This type of documentary is heavily edited as many cameras follow these characters about. Many situations occur during the show which may be heated up by the producers to add entertainment, these are not scripted shows because these are real people living real lives. However even though this might be a reality TV show sometimes to create drama and to get extra attention and ratings towards the show during promo , the director or producers may heat up situations or ask some characters to stir trouble so this show cannot be really classed 100% real. This show aims to make the viewer feel as if he or she are in some what way jealous of these rich and famous people but at the same time makes the viewers want to stay tuned to see how different story lines develop and after a couple episodes this fly on the wall type of show makes you connect with some cast members and hate others. This also adds to the fact the viewer is some way taking a short break from their own lives to see someone else's for entertainment or other purposes.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Educational TV
Education TV tends to educated the viewer on a topic or most likely a subject , educational TV is used for open university in which students can view these videos to gain more knowledge and information about the topic they are studying , this is mostly shown as someone directly speaking to the camera and explaining things about the topic the student watching is learning. The other method which educational TV takes is that it uses children's TV programs and uses this to indirectly teach children watching it by using animation and maybe recurring cartoons , and some decide to take a straight forward method like some BBC shows which directly teach you about the topic.
Chocablock :
Chockablock is a BBC 2 educational TV program which provides children with education by using elements such as cartoon and characters which children will memorise and get to know. The set is also very bright and colourful which attracts attention to the younger audience, this show also indirectly teaches at some point to keep the viewer entertained an also learning something. The show is already pre recorded and the main character tends to use easy language spoken slowly so that the younger audience and can grasp onto things more easily. She also has a very normal or next to posh accent so the viewers understand what she is saying as this show would be watched by children all over the UK. As you can see from the example i have provided at one point of the show (1:44) the presenter wants the audience to guess the animal she is displaying on the screen , to do this she plays the noise which the animal makes and repeats it 2-3 times this shows us mainly who the show is actually aimed at which is a very young audience who maybe still learning their animals and also the fact that she repeats the noise so it help to connect with the child so they can easily learn and pick it up.
Here are another 2 examples ..
Wildlife Documentary
Wildlife documentaries show a wide range of topics about nature , animals , wildlife and showcase different aspects of it. Footage's are shown which a viewer might have never seen before and the program most of the time is very educational and in a serious tone. These programs are often broadcasted on television and also on some mainstream channel's and others often on channels which dedicates it self to nature and wildlife programs.
Planet Earth :
Planet Earth is broadcasted on BBC One , showcasing very fascinating footage of nature and wildlife around the world. This show attracts a lot of viewers because of the footage which is shown in the program , from the trailer above you can see things which you may never witness with your own eyes and this is what drags the viewers attention in. David Attenborough is the voice over used for the show and he is also known famously for his documentaries and fascinations of wildlife. The voice over really sets a tone for the audience and really makes or breaks a wild life documentary , David uses his soft and mellow tone to guide the audience in what is happening and just adds to the viewers interest even more by communicating with the viewer's with his posh accent . This is mainly done so all types of viewers can understand the voice over and also in a way be some sort of subtitles instead of having to read the graphics which may disturb you from actually watching the show so it helps the viewers understand the situation and what is actually happening while their eyes are fixed onto the action taking place. The wildlife is also shown in vary rare detail using the best of technology to get every bit of action on film.
Here another 2 examples ...
Special Interest Documentary
Special interest documentary is aimed at a small minority of people showcasing maybe a one off special or a different topic per episode documentary , these documentaries are mot aimed at the mainstream rather it is intended to interest the niche appeal which is why it is not broadcasted on mainstream TV such as ITV or BBC. The type of topics and interest's it covers are targeted at a specific culture ,tradition and age group.
Diana : Story of a princess :
Diana the princess is a special interest documentary because it has a very niche appeal and the viewers to a documentary show like this are not many. These types of shows tend to drag and going to very long details with footage or archive footage, there is also a voice over in the background which is stereotypically a white male with a posh accent so it can be understood by the majority and even plays a part into the target audience which is a older generation. Diana's story was not shown on mainstream channels because this was aimed at a more older audience and also someone who is interested in the royal family or wanted to gain more knowledge about it. The show uses a lot of montage of pictures and achieve footage to show the history of Diana and also to back their points up , this adds the fact that the viewer can feel as if the program has done its research and is showing some sort of reliable evidence. This show is also flooded with experts and interviews giving their opinion about Diana's life , this adds to the aspect of having professionals with more knowledge on the subject to give more stronger views an ideology on the subject so the viewer can learn and gain knowledge based on what they say.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Makeover Show
Makeover shows aim at changing someone or a group of people's lives in the public for the better , this type of documentary is seen as an offspring to a reality TV show. This type of documentary has a lighthearted and positive tone and aims to transform someones features or aspect/issue in someones life , mostly a different situation occurs with different people in each episode and the host's are mainly an expert in the filed which the show is based on.
Extreme makeover Home Edition :
Extreme home edition is an American TV program which shows normal families in America with problems with their homes , the program then has a group of builders and decorators to build their house from scratch and re-event the house into a more bigger and nicer home. As you can see from the episode above the show first starts of with showing the families background this drags the viewers in and makes them emotional , after this the team go ahead and demolish the homes and then build it back up. The show is set in a very positive tone and makes the viewers want to help these people and also find out the final result , a lot of cameras are used and this is also heavy edited to make it more interesting and also not to drag during parts such as the building of the actual house which takes a week because this would be boring for the viewers. A lot of shot types are used such as long shots to view the house before and after and also captures a wide range of reactions when the house is revealed to the family , this helps with also capturing the audience emotions as this is also the first time the viewer would see the families new home.
Here are another 2 examples ..
Discussion
Discussion shows are based in a studio generally with a panel discussing serious topics. This type of show mostly has a serious tone and discusses topics which are up to date which means sometimes show's like this are live or maybe near to live.
The Big Question:
The Big Question is a discussion show which takes place every Sunday morning in different parts of England , the discussion is mainly political and religious driven and consists of experts , audience and a main presenter which introduces the show and controls who gives out their opinion during the show. This show is set in a studio and uses multi camera to covers the discussion going on in the studio, this show is also live and is edited live, the show also includes the audience participation using social media. and also the people on the show giving their opinions about the topic which the show is discussing. I would not say this show is very bias as most of the time a ride range of people with different backgrounds and opinions are invited to give their say towards the things being discussed. The camera set up is mostly the usual three , but sometimes extra cameras are used to capture extra emotions and footage. The set of this show is very professional and simple compared to other discussion show such as 'loose women' which has a lot of funky and over the top set design to attract its audience , another key difference is that the big question is more serious and on point with what they are discussing so no extra chit chat or off topic discussions occur but compared to show's like 'The view' most of the time unnecessary discussion occur which in some way is entertaining to watch.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Review Show
Review shows commit them selves to reviewing something in a specific fields like books , cars , films etc. The show includes the presenters trying out these products and then talking about them , or may show the presenter doing a voice over over pre recorded footage or archive footage. These shows may have interviews with experts giving their opinion about the product and also be based in a studio as the main scene even though they may go out to test these products outside and have audience involvement.
The TV Book club :
The TV Book club broadcasts on channel 4 which has a very niche appeal , the programs aims to attract viewers who are interested in reading and books. The show hosts regular people in a set designed like a living room , each week the show reviews a book and the panel give their opinion on the book and review its content , they also have VT's of maybe the Author discussing why he or she may have written the book etc. The panel is kept the same as the people who are presenting the show love reading books and do it as a hobby , this is pretty much needed as the viewer would be able to tell the passion of the panel and how much they either liked or disliked the book they had decided to review.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Chat Show
Chat Shows are programs which talk about every day issues , these programs include judges who are very opinionated and over exaggerate situations and topics to entertain the viewer, Programs like this are very audience driven as the audience who are sitting in the usual scene which is a studio tend to boo or cheer to control the mind set of the viewers at home , this is normally done by the situations which and topics which are played out and discussed on the program and sometimes there are things such as a lie detector test and the audience judge the people on the show from these different elements.
Jerry Springer :
Jerry Springer is a chat show which shows the American public come onto a show to reveal their secrets and sort out their affairs and conflicts. Jerry springer is famous for its most outrageous situations and hard to believe situations , this is what makes the show very interesting for the viewer and most of the time people tune in to laugh at what is happening rather than sympathise with any characters , and purely because this show is not set in a serious tone compared to other chat show's. This type of documentary uses its multi camera and is most likely based in a studio to capture all the action thats taking place on set. The show has a very biased presenter who takes the situations less seriously and rather creates more humour and throws in punch lines even though sometimes he would voice his bias opinion on the situation. Other chat show's may consist of interviews with celebrities and experts but this show is based on normal people and their situations , this makes the show just a little more unreliable as we know nothing about the background of the characters appearing on stage so the question 'is this situation real or are these paid actors' does come across many peoples minds.
Another 2 examples ...
Magazine Show
Magazine shows bring together different elements of each documentary type , Magazine show's are mostly based in a studio with a regular presenter with constant VT's , live links and small discussion segments. The show ma also showcase other features like discussion , review etc with a group of experts they may interview , these type of shows some time's stick to one topic but some shows such as Daybreak may have lots of different segments such as news's which is live or next to live to keep the news up to date when it broadcast's on TV.
The one show :
The one show broadcasts on BBC ONE , this show has a lot of different elements towards it including reviews , interviews and also VT packages. The One Show is live or next to live as the news segments are kept up to date and so is the discussion , this is to make sure that these topics being shown and discussed are relevant to the viewers understanding, The show has different elements thrown into it such as interviewing celebrities , VT packages about cars and even clips about sheeps in Yorkshire so the layout of this show can change and be very unpredictable. Multi camera is used on basic studio set up and the cameras are always rolling as sometimes because this is a live show anything unexpected can happen and this can be vital to the audience and the show , another element to this is thats sometimes depending on how fast or slow the show is moving it can either be short on time or the show has more time to kill off , this calls for extra segments and extra lines in which the presenters might want to quickly cover this up for but they have to be ready for any type of situation as this is a live show and anything could happen. The mode of address is also important as the one show is a more of a very laid back and casual show so the on going presenters may wear causal clothing but compared to a show such as 'watch dog' this serious tone makes the show's presenters be dressed in a suit and tie so they can look the part.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Docu Drama
A docu drama is a TV or drama mixed with a real life story or actual events. This is mostly done for entertainment and also to connect with the audience a lot more , this is done by presenting the basic facts about the subject with a non bias point of view. Certain events are over dramatised to show certain situation in a more dramatic and engaging way. Music is used to empathise points such as when a sad scene is shown the music would be slow and sad.
Here are some Docu Drama's ...
Road to Guantanamo :
This is a docudrama which is centred around a group of boys , they travel to Pakistan and then cross over to Afghanistan and get held up into a war which leads them to be suspected of terrorism and taken to Guantanamo. The film re creates scenes which have happened to these boys and also includes interviews with the real life characters during the film , these characters give their own opinions and state the situations which where happening to them during their torture at Guantanamo. Facts are also given throughout the movie by graphics and also the interviews by the real life characters. Scenes from this film may have been over exaggerated and words and statements might have been made in this film which the real characters may have not said , this is done for the viewers entertainment and to add to the drama so the viewer is drawn in even more.
127 Hours :
127 hours is an American film which is another example of a docudrama , this film is based on a true story showing a guy stuck between two enormous rocks in the middle of nowhere. This docudrama tries to stick with the facts and emotions that the actual character felt. This was done by leaving the character in the film stuck in a room with a camera rolling, this is how the true dramatic emotions were captured and the docudrama is somewhat very believable. The framing of the film really helps it to connect with the character struggling to survive as it uses certain types of camera languages to make the viewer also feel trapped like the man in the movie.
Another example would be ...
Docu soap
Docu soap is when peoples every day lives and duties are filmed and put into a series for people to watch as entertainment and drama. This type of documentary is non scripted and involves real people exposing their own lives and day to day routine to the viewers , many common characters form an ensemble and many story storylines are formed and this development of a story and the drama between characters is shown in each episode. This is done by the disjoint editing as different events and situations occurring with different characters are split up throughout the episode so it switches from story to story.
Luton Airport:
Luton airport is an a example of a docu soap , this show follows the staff at luton airport and film their every day duties. Many characters are reoccurring and the story develops per episode. The documentary uses on camera to follow the characters about this gives us the documentary type of fill towards it. The voice over also helps to add humour to certain situations to keep the viewer entertained and also the voice over does help guide the story and highlight the important situations which are going on. This specific example called Luton Airport uses a lot story lines based in Luton Airport , this showcases the lives and duties of air pilots , check in desk staff and also interview the passengers who are waiting for a flight.
Here are another 2 examples of a Docu Drama ..
Infotainment
Infotainment is a information based program which is also driven with elements of entertainment and discussion. These shows have a constant and very memorable host's and presenters , this is done by having them over exaggerate and also act in a more entertain way rather than present the show in a more formal and neat way. These shows are claimed to also dumb down the audience as it's tone is not very serious and more of the entertainment side to it is shown rather than all of it being factual and about information.
Top Gear is a type of infotainment , this show is based on Cars, the show has interviews with experts and also outside of the studio filming to test out these mortar vehicles and carry out experiments. The hosts are very memorable characters who like to over empathise certain points and also these types of shows are put in a more lighter tone and not serious as it tend to hold a lot of humour . The show has its dose of humour , facts , interviews and stupidity all thrown into each episode as sometimes the viewer might be learning something from an interview or maybe a VT based on facts about a car , but then the next minute the viewer might be hit by some random topic which has nothing to do with the show or even the topic but as an infotainment documentary this is allowed because it keeps the viewer away from being bored and also adds to the fact that anything unexpected could be said and done like a reality tv show.
Here are another examples of Infotainment ..
Reality TV
Reality is maybe one if the most famous style's of documentary around today , this style of documentary shows actual events of situations of real life people broken into episodes. These show mostly showcase ordinary people being filmed on their day to day basis as it shows story lines and narratives being formed and created , some of these shows also include game shows in which a 'prize' is received at the end but filmed in a 'fly on the wall' style and then edited and put all the interesting footage together for the episode.
Shah;s of sunset :
This is an American reality TV shown broad casted in America on a TV channel called Bravo. The program consists of 5-6 reoccurring characters who live in Beverly Hill's in America , the show allows the audience to take a look into these rich and famous people's lives. This type of documentary is heavily edited as many cameras follow these characters about. Many situations occur during the show which may be heated up by the producers to add entertainment, these are not scripted shows because these are real people living real lives. However even though this might be a reality TV show sometimes to create drama and to get extra attention and ratings towards the show during promo , the director or producers may heat up situations or ask some characters to stir trouble so this show cannot be really classed 100% real. This show aims to make the viewer feel as if he or she are in some what way jealous of these rich and famous people but at the same time makes the viewers want to stay tuned to see how different story lines develop and after a couple episodes this fly on the wall type of show makes you connect with some cast members and hate others. This also adds to the fact the viewer is some way taking a short break from their own lives to see someone else's for entertainment or other purposes.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Educational TV
Education TV tends to educated the viewer on a topic or most likely a subject , educational TV is used for open university in which students can view these videos to gain more knowledge and information about the topic they are studying , this is mostly shown as someone directly speaking to the camera and explaining things about the topic the student watching is learning. The other method which educational TV takes is that it uses children's TV programs and uses this to indirectly teach children watching it by using animation and maybe recurring cartoons , and some decide to take a straight forward method like some BBC shows which directly teach you about the topic.
Chocablock :
Chockablock is a BBC 2 educational TV program which provides children with education by using elements such as cartoon and characters which children will memorise and get to know. The set is also very bright and colourful which attracts attention to the younger audience, this show also indirectly teaches at some point to keep the viewer entertained an also learning something. The show is already pre recorded and the main character tends to use easy language spoken slowly so that the younger audience and can grasp onto things more easily. She also has a very normal or next to posh accent so the viewers understand what she is saying as this show would be watched by children all over the UK. As you can see from the example i have provided at one point of the show (1:44) the presenter wants the audience to guess the animal she is displaying on the screen , to do this she plays the noise which the animal makes and repeats it 2-3 times this shows us mainly who the show is actually aimed at which is a very young audience who maybe still learning their animals and also the fact that she repeats the noise so it help to connect with the child so they can easily learn and pick it up.
Here are another 2 examples ..
Wildlife Documentary
Wildlife documentaries show a wide range of topics about nature , animals , wildlife and showcase different aspects of it. Footage's are shown which a viewer might have never seen before and the program most of the time is very educational and in a serious tone. These programs are often broadcasted on television and also on some mainstream channel's and others often on channels which dedicates it self to nature and wildlife programs.
Planet Earth :
Planet Earth is broadcasted on BBC One , showcasing very fascinating footage of nature and wildlife around the world. This show attracts a lot of viewers because of the footage which is shown in the program , from the trailer above you can see things which you may never witness with your own eyes and this is what drags the viewers attention in. David Attenborough is the voice over used for the show and he is also known famously for his documentaries and fascinations of wildlife. The voice over really sets a tone for the audience and really makes or breaks a wild life documentary , David uses his soft and mellow tone to guide the audience in what is happening and just adds to the viewers interest even more by communicating with the viewer's with his posh accent . This is mainly done so all types of viewers can understand the voice over and also in a way be some sort of subtitles instead of having to read the graphics which may disturb you from actually watching the show so it helps the viewers understand the situation and what is actually happening while their eyes are fixed onto the action taking place. The wildlife is also shown in vary rare detail using the best of technology to get every bit of action on film.
Here another 2 examples ...
Special Interest Documentary
Special interest documentary is aimed at a small minority of people showcasing maybe a one off special or a different topic per episode documentary , these documentaries are mot aimed at the mainstream rather it is intended to interest the niche appeal which is why it is not broadcasted on mainstream TV such as ITV or BBC. The type of topics and interest's it covers are targeted at a specific culture ,tradition and age group.
Diana : Story of a princess :
Diana the princess is a special interest documentary because it has a very niche appeal and the viewers to a documentary show like this are not many. These types of shows tend to drag and going to very long details with footage or archive footage, there is also a voice over in the background which is stereotypically a white male with a posh accent so it can be understood by the majority and even plays a part into the target audience which is a older generation. Diana's story was not shown on mainstream channels because this was aimed at a more older audience and also someone who is interested in the royal family or wanted to gain more knowledge about it. The show uses a lot of montage of pictures and achieve footage to show the history of Diana and also to back their points up , this adds the fact that the viewer can feel as if the program has done its research and is showing some sort of reliable evidence. This show is also flooded with experts and interviews giving their opinion about Diana's life , this adds to the aspect of having professionals with more knowledge on the subject to give more stronger views an ideology on the subject so the viewer can learn and gain knowledge based on what they say.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Makeover Show
Makeover shows aim at changing someone or a group of people's lives in the public for the better , this type of documentary is seen as an offspring to a reality TV show. This type of documentary has a lighthearted and positive tone and aims to transform someones features or aspect/issue in someones life , mostly a different situation occurs with different people in each episode and the host's are mainly an expert in the filed which the show is based on.
Extreme makeover Home Edition :
Extreme home edition is an American TV program which shows normal families in America with problems with their homes , the program then has a group of builders and decorators to build their house from scratch and re-event the house into a more bigger and nicer home. As you can see from the episode above the show first starts of with showing the families background this drags the viewers in and makes them emotional , after this the team go ahead and demolish the homes and then build it back up. The show is set in a very positive tone and makes the viewers want to help these people and also find out the final result , a lot of cameras are used and this is also heavy edited to make it more interesting and also not to drag during parts such as the building of the actual house which takes a week because this would be boring for the viewers. A lot of shot types are used such as long shots to view the house before and after and also captures a wide range of reactions when the house is revealed to the family , this helps with also capturing the audience emotions as this is also the first time the viewer would see the families new home.
Here are another 2 examples ..
Discussion
Discussion shows are based in a studio generally with a panel discussing serious topics. This type of show mostly has a serious tone and discusses topics which are up to date which means sometimes show's like this are live or maybe near to live.
The Big Question:
The Big Question is a discussion show which takes place every Sunday morning in different parts of England , the discussion is mainly political and religious driven and consists of experts , audience and a main presenter which introduces the show and controls who gives out their opinion during the show. This show is set in a studio and uses multi camera to covers the discussion going on in the studio, this show is also live and is edited live, the show also includes the audience participation using social media. and also the people on the show giving their opinions about the topic which the show is discussing. I would not say this show is very bias as most of the time a ride range of people with different backgrounds and opinions are invited to give their say towards the things being discussed. The camera set up is mostly the usual three , but sometimes extra cameras are used to capture extra emotions and footage. The set of this show is very professional and simple compared to other discussion show such as 'loose women' which has a lot of funky and over the top set design to attract its audience , another key difference is that the big question is more serious and on point with what they are discussing so no extra chit chat or off topic discussions occur but compared to show's like 'The view' most of the time unnecessary discussion occur which in some way is entertaining to watch.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Review Show
Review shows commit them selves to reviewing something in a specific fields like books , cars , films etc. The show includes the presenters trying out these products and then talking about them , or may show the presenter doing a voice over over pre recorded footage or archive footage. These shows may have interviews with experts giving their opinion about the product and also be based in a studio as the main scene even though they may go out to test these products outside and have audience involvement.
The TV Book club :
The TV Book club broadcasts on channel 4 which has a very niche appeal , the programs aims to attract viewers who are interested in reading and books. The show hosts regular people in a set designed like a living room , each week the show reviews a book and the panel give their opinion on the book and review its content , they also have VT's of maybe the Author discussing why he or she may have written the book etc. The panel is kept the same as the people who are presenting the show love reading books and do it as a hobby , this is pretty much needed as the viewer would be able to tell the passion of the panel and how much they either liked or disliked the book they had decided to review.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Chat Show
Chat Shows are programs which talk about every day issues , these programs include judges who are very opinionated and over exaggerate situations and topics to entertain the viewer, Programs like this are very audience driven as the audience who are sitting in the usual scene which is a studio tend to boo or cheer to control the mind set of the viewers at home , this is normally done by the situations which and topics which are played out and discussed on the program and sometimes there are things such as a lie detector test and the audience judge the people on the show from these different elements.
Jerry Springer :
Jerry Springer is a chat show which shows the American public come onto a show to reveal their secrets and sort out their affairs and conflicts. Jerry springer is famous for its most outrageous situations and hard to believe situations , this is what makes the show very interesting for the viewer and most of the time people tune in to laugh at what is happening rather than sympathise with any characters , and purely because this show is not set in a serious tone compared to other chat show's. This type of documentary uses its multi camera and is most likely based in a studio to capture all the action thats taking place on set. The show has a very biased presenter who takes the situations less seriously and rather creates more humour and throws in punch lines even though sometimes he would voice his bias opinion on the situation. Other chat show's may consist of interviews with celebrities and experts but this show is based on normal people and their situations , this makes the show just a little more unreliable as we know nothing about the background of the characters appearing on stage so the question 'is this situation real or are these paid actors' does come across many peoples minds.
Another 2 examples ...
Magazine Show
Magazine shows bring together different elements of each documentary type , Magazine show's are mostly based in a studio with a regular presenter with constant VT's , live links and small discussion segments. The show ma also showcase other features like discussion , review etc with a group of experts they may interview , these type of shows some time's stick to one topic but some shows such as Daybreak may have lots of different segments such as news's which is live or next to live to keep the news up to date when it broadcast's on TV.
The one show :
The one show broadcasts on BBC ONE , this show has a lot of different elements towards it including reviews , interviews and also VT packages. The One Show is live or next to live as the news segments are kept up to date and so is the discussion , this is to make sure that these topics being shown and discussed are relevant to the viewers understanding, The show has different elements thrown into it such as interviewing celebrities , VT packages about cars and even clips about sheeps in Yorkshire so the layout of this show can change and be very unpredictable. Multi camera is used on basic studio set up and the cameras are always rolling as sometimes because this is a live show anything unexpected can happen and this can be vital to the audience and the show , another element to this is thats sometimes depending on how fast or slow the show is moving it can either be short on time or the show has more time to kill off , this calls for extra segments and extra lines in which the presenters might want to quickly cover this up for but they have to be ready for any type of situation as this is a live show and anything could happen. The mode of address is also important as the one show is a more of a very laid back and casual show so the on going presenters may wear causal clothing but compared to a show such as 'watch dog' this serious tone makes the show's presenters be dressed in a suit and tie so they can look the part.
Here are another 2 examples ...
Thursday, 20 September 2012
10 Factual Programs
The 10 factual programs i watch ....
1. Channel 4 Dispatches
This is a channel 4 documentary series which covers a wide variety of real life issues , i enjoy watching this documentary because it provides a very revealing insight into things which the public may not have a knowledge of and sometimes the documentary can be bias with their information which is something i also look out for and like pointing out while watching. I have a huge interest in politics and affairs occurring around the world which makes this show more appealing to me as it provides me more knowledge. The presentation style for this documentary is also very appealing to me because its very fast paced and professional , the shots and angles used in this documentary is very eye catchy which is why i do not get bored of watching. Here is an example of a topic which Dispatches covered (below) as you cans see from this trailer Dispatches uses graphics suited with the theme of their topic which in this case was "war" and also uses Raw and exclusive footage taken primarily by them which just makes it even more appealing to the viewer.
2.Apprentice
The Apprentice is a BBC One show which gives an opportunity to one out of a few business related hopefuls to win a chance to work with Sir Allen Sugar by completing different situations in two different teams to make it to the final. I enjoy watching this factual program because of the insight into the business world it gives , the show drops different situations , tasks and dilemmas onto the contestants and as a viewer i get to see how they work as a team and how they complete the tasks which is also an entertainment factor. The presentation style which is displayed in this show is also very entertaining as even though 2-3 camera maybe used to film multiple shots , one main camera follows the contestant around and in some shots when the contestants are running the camera man runs with them which i think is very genuine and gives of that documented feature a factual program needs. Here is a clip from the show below...
3.Big Brother
Big Brother broadcasts on Channel 5 and shows random people from around the UK all coming together as total strangers and living in a house for two months. This is a factual show which i enjoy watching because i get to view how these total strangers learn to live with each other and how certain situation pans out inside the house which keeps the show entertaining , the presentation style of this factual show is very interesting as cameras are put in various places across the house behind a one way mirror and also 'CCTV' type cameras are put around the house. This is then edited to show how the viewer is peaking into the daily routine and lives that these housemates are living in the house , i also like the fact that the show edit's the footage to show us all the important aspects in under an hour so the viewer does not need to watch the boring bits which viewers like my self would feel is not needed. This is a clip from this year's (2012) big brother ..
4.Ross Kemp : Extreme World
Ross Kemp is a factual based program which shows presenter Ross Kemp travel the world visiting the worlds most troubled and dangerous places. I watch this factual show for its information , the show showcases things that the viewer may have never heard of or seen so this attracts me to this particular program. I think the element which stands out of this program is how Ross Kemp who also does other very high profiled documentaries based on the same theme , risk's his life and goes out to these places to document what is happening around the world and how people are living. The presentation style of this show is very fast paced , the raw footages as it happens grips viewers like my self to feel as if you part of this documentary.This is a trailer for Ross Kemp extreme world 2 ...
5. Jack the Ripper : The Tabloid Killer
This was a factual show about the famous serial killer 'Jack The Ripper' , this show exposes how the tabloid around the time of the killings used these murders for their own sales/exposure purposes by twisting certain stories and dramatising events. The content of information i gained from this documentary was very interesting because i have a huge interest in murders and crimes especially the crimes of Jack the Ripper , this show gave me a insight into what the newspapers where saying around the time of the killings which is even the more reason for me to watch this factual show as i love reading newspapers also looking at how one newspaper express a story compared to another. The show also showed some never seen before images and letters from the crimes which was one of the reasons i watched this. The presentation style of this show was something which i also found engaging as they travelled back to the crime scenes and re-acted some scenes from the crime.
6. Paranormal state
Paranormal state is a factual based program exploring the paranormal and investigating people's stories about the paranormal. This shows information content is appealing to me because i have a huge interest on the topic , the information of this show is very gripping and the way the show exposes the 'paranormal' gives you some sort of evidence that these events might be true. The presentation style is also why i like the show because each episode is shot like a professional documentary film and has many interviews with real life characters which draws the viewer into the story line more. The show also reconstructs certain scenes to give a visual aid to viewers like my self so i know what it might have felt like and what might have happened as it emotionally connects you with the characters whom are going through these paranormal experiences. This is a trailer from Paranormal State's season 5 ..
7. Myth busters
Myth busters is a show which the presenters try to see if they can break certain ideologies and myth's. This shows information content is very factual and based on evidence and investigations they carry out them selves and the show , this program also teaches me new facts and knowledge of science which i can gain because of the experiments they carry out cannot be done by people at home. I also enjoy the strange things the presenters of this show get up to , The presentation style of this show is very comic , it entertains the viewer and also provides them with facts and information. Here is a experiment which they carried out ...
8. Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters is a light hearted documentary series for young teenagers exploring some unsolved mysteries across the world. The Information content of this show is very appealing to me due to the fact i have a massive interest in mysteries and the unknown , footage of the presenters going out and actually exploring the scenes which make the show more entertaining and also the show shows audiences some mysteries which they might have never heard of before which is why people like my self watch the show to gain more knowledge on unknown things i may have not heard about. This shows target audience is young teenagers so its presentation style can be childish at certain points of the show but this is why i enjoy watching it as it has both the serious and the light hearted play towards it by having this mad scientist who seems to appear every now and then , the editing is also very swift and easy to understand as they re-act the scenes of the topic they are talking about. Here is a clip from the show Mystery Hunters ..
9. Panorama
Panorama is a serious topic based series broad casted on BBC ONE. The information side to this show tackles real issues from around the world and in the UK , this show also does undercover filming and exposes things the public maybe unaware of. This is why i enjoy watching this show very much as it exposes a lot of things the viewer may not know without being to biased. I am also very interested in politics and world conflicts and affairs which is why i tend to keep my self informed about what is going on around the world and shows like this provide me with more knowledge. The presentation style of this show is very professional and kept to a more educational based theme as it Lay's down the facts and shows clips and footage's in a causal way and does not go into too much of editing or graphics. The show also uses a lot of primary footage which is first made exclusive to this show , this helps it to attract attention to viewers such a myself. Here is a clip from Panorama covering Syria ..
10. Planet Earth
Planet earth is a BBC one show about animal's , wildlife and nature. This show interests me in its information because i enjoy learning new facts about nature and also watching things i wouldn't be able to with my own two eyes , the show goes into depth with its details and helps the viewer understand what is happening by the background narration , this show also helps me appreciate wild life and nature a lot more as most times people do take nature and wildlife for granted and do not see the true beauty of it. The style presentation of this documentary is also very unique as it uses most of the viewers time watching one long clip showing what is happening , as the show is about nature and wildlife the clips are shown in every detail as possible which i find very engaging. This is a small trailer showcasing some clips from the show ..
1. Channel 4 Dispatches
This is a channel 4 documentary series which covers a wide variety of real life issues , i enjoy watching this documentary because it provides a very revealing insight into things which the public may not have a knowledge of and sometimes the documentary can be bias with their information which is something i also look out for and like pointing out while watching. I have a huge interest in politics and affairs occurring around the world which makes this show more appealing to me as it provides me more knowledge. The presentation style for this documentary is also very appealing to me because its very fast paced and professional , the shots and angles used in this documentary is very eye catchy which is why i do not get bored of watching. Here is an example of a topic which Dispatches covered (below) as you cans see from this trailer Dispatches uses graphics suited with the theme of their topic which in this case was "war" and also uses Raw and exclusive footage taken primarily by them which just makes it even more appealing to the viewer.
2.Apprentice
The Apprentice is a BBC One show which gives an opportunity to one out of a few business related hopefuls to win a chance to work with Sir Allen Sugar by completing different situations in two different teams to make it to the final. I enjoy watching this factual program because of the insight into the business world it gives , the show drops different situations , tasks and dilemmas onto the contestants and as a viewer i get to see how they work as a team and how they complete the tasks which is also an entertainment factor. The presentation style which is displayed in this show is also very entertaining as even though 2-3 camera maybe used to film multiple shots , one main camera follows the contestant around and in some shots when the contestants are running the camera man runs with them which i think is very genuine and gives of that documented feature a factual program needs. Here is a clip from the show below...
3.Big Brother
Big Brother broadcasts on Channel 5 and shows random people from around the UK all coming together as total strangers and living in a house for two months. This is a factual show which i enjoy watching because i get to view how these total strangers learn to live with each other and how certain situation pans out inside the house which keeps the show entertaining , the presentation style of this factual show is very interesting as cameras are put in various places across the house behind a one way mirror and also 'CCTV' type cameras are put around the house. This is then edited to show how the viewer is peaking into the daily routine and lives that these housemates are living in the house , i also like the fact that the show edit's the footage to show us all the important aspects in under an hour so the viewer does not need to watch the boring bits which viewers like my self would feel is not needed. This is a clip from this year's (2012) big brother ..
4.Ross Kemp : Extreme World
Ross Kemp is a factual based program which shows presenter Ross Kemp travel the world visiting the worlds most troubled and dangerous places. I watch this factual show for its information , the show showcases things that the viewer may have never heard of or seen so this attracts me to this particular program. I think the element which stands out of this program is how Ross Kemp who also does other very high profiled documentaries based on the same theme , risk's his life and goes out to these places to document what is happening around the world and how people are living. The presentation style of this show is very fast paced , the raw footages as it happens grips viewers like my self to feel as if you part of this documentary.This is a trailer for Ross Kemp extreme world 2 ...
5. Jack the Ripper : The Tabloid Killer
This was a factual show about the famous serial killer 'Jack The Ripper' , this show exposes how the tabloid around the time of the killings used these murders for their own sales/exposure purposes by twisting certain stories and dramatising events. The content of information i gained from this documentary was very interesting because i have a huge interest in murders and crimes especially the crimes of Jack the Ripper , this show gave me a insight into what the newspapers where saying around the time of the killings which is even the more reason for me to watch this factual show as i love reading newspapers also looking at how one newspaper express a story compared to another. The show also showed some never seen before images and letters from the crimes which was one of the reasons i watched this. The presentation style of this show was something which i also found engaging as they travelled back to the crime scenes and re-acted some scenes from the crime.
6. Paranormal state
Paranormal state is a factual based program exploring the paranormal and investigating people's stories about the paranormal. This shows information content is appealing to me because i have a huge interest on the topic , the information of this show is very gripping and the way the show exposes the 'paranormal' gives you some sort of evidence that these events might be true. The presentation style is also why i like the show because each episode is shot like a professional documentary film and has many interviews with real life characters which draws the viewer into the story line more. The show also reconstructs certain scenes to give a visual aid to viewers like my self so i know what it might have felt like and what might have happened as it emotionally connects you with the characters whom are going through these paranormal experiences. This is a trailer from Paranormal State's season 5 ..
7. Myth busters
Myth busters is a show which the presenters try to see if they can break certain ideologies and myth's. This shows information content is very factual and based on evidence and investigations they carry out them selves and the show , this program also teaches me new facts and knowledge of science which i can gain because of the experiments they carry out cannot be done by people at home. I also enjoy the strange things the presenters of this show get up to , The presentation style of this show is very comic , it entertains the viewer and also provides them with facts and information. Here is a experiment which they carried out ...
8. Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters is a light hearted documentary series for young teenagers exploring some unsolved mysteries across the world. The Information content of this show is very appealing to me due to the fact i have a massive interest in mysteries and the unknown , footage of the presenters going out and actually exploring the scenes which make the show more entertaining and also the show shows audiences some mysteries which they might have never heard of before which is why people like my self watch the show to gain more knowledge on unknown things i may have not heard about. This shows target audience is young teenagers so its presentation style can be childish at certain points of the show but this is why i enjoy watching it as it has both the serious and the light hearted play towards it by having this mad scientist who seems to appear every now and then , the editing is also very swift and easy to understand as they re-act the scenes of the topic they are talking about. Here is a clip from the show Mystery Hunters ..
9. Panorama
Panorama is a serious topic based series broad casted on BBC ONE. The information side to this show tackles real issues from around the world and in the UK , this show also does undercover filming and exposes things the public maybe unaware of. This is why i enjoy watching this show very much as it exposes a lot of things the viewer may not know without being to biased. I am also very interested in politics and world conflicts and affairs which is why i tend to keep my self informed about what is going on around the world and shows like this provide me with more knowledge. The presentation style of this show is very professional and kept to a more educational based theme as it Lay's down the facts and shows clips and footage's in a causal way and does not go into too much of editing or graphics. The show also uses a lot of primary footage which is first made exclusive to this show , this helps it to attract attention to viewers such a myself. Here is a clip from Panorama covering Syria ..
10. Planet Earth
Planet earth is a BBC one show about animal's , wildlife and nature. This show interests me in its information because i enjoy learning new facts about nature and also watching things i wouldn't be able to with my own two eyes , the show goes into depth with its details and helps the viewer understand what is happening by the background narration , this show also helps me appreciate wild life and nature a lot more as most times people do take nature and wildlife for granted and do not see the true beauty of it. The style presentation of this documentary is also very unique as it uses most of the viewers time watching one long clip showing what is happening , as the show is about nature and wildlife the clips are shown in every detail as possible which i find very engaging. This is a small trailer showcasing some clips from the show ..
Monday, 17 September 2012
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