*TV companies want to reach the right audience for a particular programme.
*Inheritance- Scheduling a programme after a popular programme to try and 'inherit' some of it's audience.
*Pre-echo- As above but reverse- They might tune in before the popular programme.
*Hammocking- A programme in between two popular programmes.
HOWEVER, remote controls and digital TV can affect this type of scheduling.
*Watershed (9.00)- Children in bed, therefore there is stronger language, sex references, drug references and violence. Also taboo subjects/ graphic images can be included.
*Narrow casting- Specific audiences, for example channels such as 'Dave' and 'Disney Channel'.
Analysing the terrestrial TV listings-
1. The schedule for each day can be broken down into clear segments. How would you categorise these segments?
* Daytime and Evening.
2. Who are the target audience for these segments?
*Day- Primarily senior persons, stay at home parents or children under school age.
*Night- Mass audience
3. What would you say are the most popular genres on television?
*Soaps, as they are long running and scheduled at prime time slots.
4. Who is the target audience of each terrestrial channel?
*BBC1- Mass Audience
*BBC2-Educational (mass)
*ITV- Mass audience
*4- Mass audience
*5- Mass audience
5. Roughly what percentage of each channel's schedules is taken up with repeats? Why do you think this is?
*Channel 5- 15% (going with what they know will be successful.
*ITV1 + BBC1- 5%
6. Which channels have more imported programmes in their schedules? Why do you think this might be?
*Channel 5- neighbours, home and away etc. lower rated channel- therefore, they are using what they know will be successful.
7. What do you understand by the term 'the watershed' and where does this occur in the schedules? After 9.00pm- greater use of bad language, violence, graphic/sexual scenes.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Brainstorm
-Shopping
-School/education
-Music
-Christmas
-Celebrities
-Healthy eating
-Jeans
-Chocolate
-Halloween
-School/education
-Music
-Christmas
-Celebrities
-Healthy eating
-Jeans
-Chocolate
-Halloween
Summary of codes and conventions of documentaries
*Images relating to/illustrating the points made in the documentary.
*Voice over/presenter.
*Interviewee looks at camera with a space next to them (looking space).
*Graphics/visuals.
*Documentary type suits the TV channel and audience.
*Music matching genre and audience.
*Use of archive material.
*Talking head interviews.
*Vox pop- interview in the street.
*Narrative structure
*Appropriate mise en scene (signifies something).
*Hand held camera work (for drama and involvement).
*Cutaways.
*Factual and informative.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Documentary Analysis
'Public Enemy Number One: The Devil Made Me Do It'
Type of documentary- Expository (Voice of God)
Themes- Murder and investigation
Narrative Structure-START- Marilyn Manson, Then moved onto a murder of a nun- This makes you wonder how the two are linked (ENIGMA CODE- Clues, questions)
MIDDLE-Enigma code from the beginning is starting to be answered.
END- Conclusion, and what happened to the murderers- CLOSED NARRATIVE.
Camera Work-
-Tracking shot with coffin, makes the audience feel involved so therefore provokes emotion.
-Interview- Mid shot (head and shoulders)- conventional.
-Establishing shot to cemetery, to signify the start of a new sequence.
-Hand held camera work in the woods- makes it seem eery, and as if it is a p.o.v shot.
-Hand held camera work- tracking shot into the trial; frantic feeling, involves the audience.
Mise en scene-
-Marco Politi (Vatican reporter, La repubolica)- Placed him in front of a religious backdrop and books to make him seem intelligent and well-read.
-Phone box- eery framing, trying to communicate and provoke specific feelings within the audience.
-Shot through the door- voyeuristic, makes the audience feel as though they are being included in something secret.
-Police officer- Dress and desk- to show importance.
-Dark images- add drama and communicate a feeling.
-Teenagers-slouching, cigarette- makes them seem uncaring.
Sound-
-Narrator and translator (non diegetic)
-Music- sad, spooky (to create meaning subtly)
-Heartbeat sfx- To add drama
-Voice of God- Formal mode of address- male.
Editing-
Cutaways- To make the interviews more interesting and to illustrate the points made in the interview.
Archive Material-
-The funeral at the start.
-Marilyn Manson footage- Not filmed from the documentary, taken from a secondary source.
Graphics-
Title graphics- Stereotypically gothic design to match the theme.
Conventional- same colour and font design.
The Music Biz- Marketing Meatloaf
Type of Documentary- Educational documentary, expository.
Themes- The music business- informative.
Narrative structure-
START- music industry introduction.
MIDDLE- Meatloaf, will he succeed?
END- closed narrative, he did succeed, followed a journey.
Camerawork-
Opening- Handheld camera work, exciting and involving.
P.O.V shot- Involves audience.
Mise en scene-
-Background for interviews- Superimposed, use of green/blue screen- overlapping images.
-Journalist behind messy desk- To make him look busy.
Sound-
-'Voice of God'- Male, Authoritative- male- to match the theme, male artist.
-Quite opinionated voice over
-Music- dramatic to reflect dramatic moments.
-Keep replaying verses to keep the audience in suspense for the chorus.
Editing-
-Fade in and out for the interviews.
-Not as many original cutaways, more archive footage.
-Cross fades- move in and out.
Archive material-
-Meatloaf performing and videos.
-Uses alot of archive footage, eg: Video footage, interviews, press, concerts/live shows etc.
Graphics-
-Opening credits- imitating a magazine front cover with sound bites from people who may later appear in the documentary.
-Used logo of the programme to match any captions and give the programme an identity.
-Quotes across the middle of the screen- Rolling across.
That thing Lara Croft
Type of documentary- Expository
Themes- Games, films with Lara Croft in.
Narrative structure-
START- Introduction to who and what Lara Croft is.
MIDDLE- Talks about sociological and psychological links (e.g Lara compared to Barbie and Lara as a puppet figure to males.)
END- Ends on summing up what Lara is to people.
Sound-
-Narration all by interviewees.
-Voice of God narration male to match target audience.
Editing-
-Blue/green screen behind interview with game footage superimposed onto the background.
-Fast paced- to reflect target audience.
-Lots of use of cutaways from game footage.
Archive material-
-From film footage and game footage.
Graphics-
-Computer screen with interview placed inside to match the theme of the documentary.
Type of documentary- Expository (Voice of God)
Themes- Murder and investigation
Narrative Structure-START- Marilyn Manson, Then moved onto a murder of a nun- This makes you wonder how the two are linked (ENIGMA CODE- Clues, questions)
MIDDLE-Enigma code from the beginning is starting to be answered.
END- Conclusion, and what happened to the murderers- CLOSED NARRATIVE.
Camera Work-
-Tracking shot with coffin, makes the audience feel involved so therefore provokes emotion.
-Interview- Mid shot (head and shoulders)- conventional.
-Establishing shot to cemetery, to signify the start of a new sequence.
-Hand held camera work in the woods- makes it seem eery, and as if it is a p.o.v shot.
-Hand held camera work- tracking shot into the trial; frantic feeling, involves the audience.
Mise en scene-
-Marco Politi (Vatican reporter, La repubolica)- Placed him in front of a religious backdrop and books to make him seem intelligent and well-read.
-Phone box- eery framing, trying to communicate and provoke specific feelings within the audience.
-Shot through the door- voyeuristic, makes the audience feel as though they are being included in something secret.
-Police officer- Dress and desk- to show importance.
-Dark images- add drama and communicate a feeling.
-Teenagers-slouching, cigarette- makes them seem uncaring.
Sound-
-Narrator and translator (non diegetic)
-Music- sad, spooky (to create meaning subtly)
-Heartbeat sfx- To add drama
-Voice of God- Formal mode of address- male.
Editing-
Cutaways- To make the interviews more interesting and to illustrate the points made in the interview.
Archive Material-
-The funeral at the start.
-Marilyn Manson footage- Not filmed from the documentary, taken from a secondary source.
Graphics-
Title graphics- Stereotypically gothic design to match the theme.
Conventional- same colour and font design.
The Music Biz- Marketing Meatloaf
Type of Documentary- Educational documentary, expository.
Themes- The music business- informative.
Narrative structure-
START- music industry introduction.
MIDDLE- Meatloaf, will he succeed?
END- closed narrative, he did succeed, followed a journey.
Camerawork-
Opening- Handheld camera work, exciting and involving.
P.O.V shot- Involves audience.
Mise en scene-
-Background for interviews- Superimposed, use of green/blue screen- overlapping images.
-Journalist behind messy desk- To make him look busy.
Sound-
-'Voice of God'- Male, Authoritative- male- to match the theme, male artist.
-Quite opinionated voice over
-Music- dramatic to reflect dramatic moments.
-Keep replaying verses to keep the audience in suspense for the chorus.
Editing-
-Fade in and out for the interviews.
-Not as many original cutaways, more archive footage.
-Cross fades- move in and out.
Archive material-
-Meatloaf performing and videos.
-Uses alot of archive footage, eg: Video footage, interviews, press, concerts/live shows etc.
Graphics-
-Opening credits- imitating a magazine front cover with sound bites from people who may later appear in the documentary.
-Used logo of the programme to match any captions and give the programme an identity.
-Quotes across the middle of the screen- Rolling across.
That thing Lara Croft
Type of documentary- Expository
Themes- Games, films with Lara Croft in.
Narrative structure-
START- Introduction to who and what Lara Croft is.
MIDDLE- Talks about sociological and psychological links (e.g Lara compared to Barbie and Lara as a puppet figure to males.)
END- Ends on summing up what Lara is to people.
Sound-
-Narration all by interviewees.
-Voice of God narration male to match target audience.
Editing-
-Blue/green screen behind interview with game footage superimposed onto the background.
-Fast paced- to reflect target audience.
-Lots of use of cutaways from game footage.
Archive material-
-From film footage and game footage.
Graphics-
-Computer screen with interview placed inside to match the theme of the documentary.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Genre analysis
What is a documentary?
Documentaries focus on real life people and events. It's purpose is to present factual information about the world and also to present this information in a believable, honest and true to life way.
They may do this by using techniques such as presenting interviewees' actual names and job titles in an on-screen tag, which leads the audience to trust that the people and events are real life.
Techniques used in documentary making..
*Compilation film- Made up of archive material, such as newsreel and footage.
*Interview- Also known as 'Talking heads'
*Direct cinema- Recorded at the time, with not much editing or interference from the director.
*Narrative form- They tell a story, using tension, interesting characters and interesting opinions.
*Parallelism- Prompting the audience to make parallels between characters, settings, opinions etc.
*Narration- This enables the audience to recieve plot information. The most commonly used type of voice over is 'The Voice Of God', who remains anonymous whilst telling the audience the story.
*Lighting- The lighting used in a documentary is usually natural and the director will only use what light is available or necessary.
*Camera Work- The hand held camera is commonly used, as shaky shots make the film seem more authentic and real-life. It also creates an intimacy between the film and the audience.
*Editing- Fade out, fade in, dissolve and wipe are the most commonly used editing techniques used in documnetary film making. Material is mediated and therefore gives 1 perspective of reality.
*Sound- Documentaries rely heavily on non-diegetic sound to prompt an audience response, and diegetic to show authenticity.
Documentary styles...
*Expository- Characterised by a 'voice of God' narration, images also accompany this to illustrate the narration and make what is said seem true to life and realistic.
*Observational- (Fly on the wall) Lightweight equipment made this style of documentary possible as it is as unobtrusive as possible but is still able to catch all the action.
However, there can be problems with this style of documentary, as, even though the cameras are as unobtrusive as possible, they are still there, and so this can affect how people react.
*Docusoaps- A developement of the observational documentary. Like a soap, it follows a group of characters who have been chosen for their entertainment value. This type of documentary also uses lightweight camera work, making intrusion minimal.
*Reality T.V- This term was first used to describe news magazine programmes based around emergency service activities, e.g 'Emergency 99' and 'Police, Camera, Action'.
However, the term is now used to describe shows such as 'Big Brother'.
It is a mixture of authentic, 'real-life' material along with the seriousness of an information programme and the commercial success of tabloid content.
*Interactive- This is when the presence of the cameras and the crew is acknowledged, for example, in behind the scenes programmes featuring bands/artists. Some people may find this type of documentary to be more honest as there is no attempt to disguise the cameras or crew.
*Drama documentary- 'Docudrama': A fictional story that uses thye techniquesof documentary to reinforce it's claim for realism
'Dramado.c': A documentary reconstruction of actual events using techniques taken from fiction cinema.
*Current Affairs- These are journalist led, and usually involve investigating the political in greater depths than an average news programme and searching for political scandal.
These programmes are organised around the structure of a journalistic report, so the journalist may be presenting the programme but there could also be a 'voice of God' narration.
Documentary Dilemmas...
Documentary footage is barely ever unedited and therefore, once the footage has been filmed the documentary maker has to decide what their responsibility to the people in their film is and they then have to balance this with their need for making an interesting film and also with any legal obligations which they may have. So the film maker may have to decide on a strong set of morals on which to work around.
Documentaries focus on real life people and events. It's purpose is to present factual information about the world and also to present this information in a believable, honest and true to life way.
They may do this by using techniques such as presenting interviewees' actual names and job titles in an on-screen tag, which leads the audience to trust that the people and events are real life.
Techniques used in documentary making..
*Compilation film- Made up of archive material, such as newsreel and footage.
*Interview- Also known as 'Talking heads'
*Direct cinema- Recorded at the time, with not much editing or interference from the director.
*Narrative form- They tell a story, using tension, interesting characters and interesting opinions.
*Parallelism- Prompting the audience to make parallels between characters, settings, opinions etc.
*Narration- This enables the audience to recieve plot information. The most commonly used type of voice over is 'The Voice Of God', who remains anonymous whilst telling the audience the story.
*Lighting- The lighting used in a documentary is usually natural and the director will only use what light is available or necessary.
*Camera Work- The hand held camera is commonly used, as shaky shots make the film seem more authentic and real-life. It also creates an intimacy between the film and the audience.
*Editing- Fade out, fade in, dissolve and wipe are the most commonly used editing techniques used in documnetary film making. Material is mediated and therefore gives 1 perspective of reality.
*Sound- Documentaries rely heavily on non-diegetic sound to prompt an audience response, and diegetic to show authenticity.
Documentary styles...
*Expository- Characterised by a 'voice of God' narration, images also accompany this to illustrate the narration and make what is said seem true to life and realistic.
*Observational- (Fly on the wall) Lightweight equipment made this style of documentary possible as it is as unobtrusive as possible but is still able to catch all the action.
However, there can be problems with this style of documentary, as, even though the cameras are as unobtrusive as possible, they are still there, and so this can affect how people react.
*Docusoaps- A developement of the observational documentary. Like a soap, it follows a group of characters who have been chosen for their entertainment value. This type of documentary also uses lightweight camera work, making intrusion minimal.
*Reality T.V- This term was first used to describe news magazine programmes based around emergency service activities, e.g 'Emergency 99' and 'Police, Camera, Action'.
However, the term is now used to describe shows such as 'Big Brother'.
It is a mixture of authentic, 'real-life' material along with the seriousness of an information programme and the commercial success of tabloid content.
*Interactive- This is when the presence of the cameras and the crew is acknowledged, for example, in behind the scenes programmes featuring bands/artists. Some people may find this type of documentary to be more honest as there is no attempt to disguise the cameras or crew.
*Drama documentary- 'Docudrama': A fictional story that uses thye techniquesof documentary to reinforce it's claim for realism
'Dramado.c': A documentary reconstruction of actual events using techniques taken from fiction cinema.
*Current Affairs- These are journalist led, and usually involve investigating the political in greater depths than an average news programme and searching for political scandal.
These programmes are organised around the structure of a journalistic report, so the journalist may be presenting the programme but there could also be a 'voice of God' narration.
Documentary Dilemmas...
Documentary footage is barely ever unedited and therefore, once the footage has been filmed the documentary maker has to decide what their responsibility to the people in their film is and they then have to balance this with their need for making an interesting film and also with any legal obligations which they may have. So the film maker may have to decide on a strong set of morals on which to work around.
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