Unit 27 - Factual Programme Production Techniques for Television

Activity
1) What do we mean by factual programmes?

Factual programming is a genre of non-fiction television programming, something that documents actual events and people. These types of programmes can be called: Documentaries, Observational Documentaries, Docudrama, Fly On The Wall and Reality Television. They are often subjective facts based on someone's opinion making them biased seeing only one point of view.

2) Give some examples of the different types of factual programmes on TV. 

Documentary- a film, television or radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject. Using pictures, videos and interviews with people involved in events or subjects to provide a factual report.

Observational Documentary-a documentary maker follows a person around to observe the events that happen in their life. The equipment is usually informal, having them use hand held cameras and long takes. There are never really any interviews or voice overs included. An example of a type of observational documentary is the show MTV's Teen Cribs.

Docudrama- a dramatised television film based on real life events. An example of a Docudrama is Heroes and Villains which was a docudrama series which looked at key moments in the lives of the greatest warriors in history shown on the BBC.

Fly on the wall- A style of documentary making used in filmmaking and television production. The documentary type is seen as how a fly on the wall might see them. Usually the camera works unobtrusively however it is common for participants to be interviewed (often by an off-camera voice). An example of a Fly on the Wall programme is Celebrity Big Brother.

Reality Television- a television programme in which ordinary people are filmed continuously  They are designed to be entertaining rather than informative. An example of Reality Television is The Only Way Is Essex.

3) What is a documentary? 

A film, television or radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject. Using pictures, videos and interviews with people involved in events or subjects to provide a factual report. Documentaries try to represent the world in a realistic style. They aren't always the truth they are still constructed products like Big Brother. They focus on truth vs construction and they are based on the creator's opinion and point of view.

4) What are the different types of documentaries? Give examples to demonstrate your points. 

The styles and documentary modes were developed by an American theorist called Bill Nichols. The concept was created because he wanted to distinguish the particular traits and the different conventions used in documentaries. The 6 types are:

• Poetic- a documentary that has a topic which is personal to the people involved, usually the presenter or the interviewees. It emphasises aspects of a person's life presenting them through the use of music, camera shots, camera angles and the editing. It is often quite artistic in the way in which it's presented. Example: Water

• Expository- documentaries in this style are usually non-fiction films. There is direct access to an audience, social issues are assembled into an argumentative frame with a voice-over narrating to emphasise what is happening with argumentative logic. Example: America's Most Wanted

• Observational- a documentary where the filmmaker is a neutral observer (looking from the outside in). They are normally out of shot so as not to influence what is happening. Nothing is rehearsed or staged making the camera work often look shaky due to the camera crew having to rush around. They are commonly wildlife documentaries, very similar to 'Fly On The Wall'. Example: Celebrity Big Brother

• Participatory- a documentary where the events and situations presented are influenced and altered by the presence of a filmmaker. Example: Supersize Me

• Reflexive- a documentary where the audience engages with the documentary content as it's happening, they acknowledge issues of realism and representation. It shows a constructive nature of documentary which isn't necessarily the truth but a reconstruction. The audience are made aware of the process throughout, they are also made aware of the editing, sound and video/sound recordings. Example: Human Trafficking

• Performative- a documentary which acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of documentary to present ideas as a part of a context having different meanings for different people and are often an autobiographical nature. Example: Tongues Untied

Activity 2

Watch the YouTube (https://youtu.be/FgcwEfYBZIs)  identify and write down what you think are the conventions of a documentary.

• Elements of balanced views (not just subjective)?

• Lots of wide shots, basic shots nothing too complex or highly thought out

• Interviews/talking heads and archive (real) footage. 

• Hand held camera work. 

• Features experts, professionals and real participants.

• Voice overs 

• Use of texts, titles and graphics (usually showing who someone is or where they are) 

• Use of non-diagetic sounds, music added to the background for example in the documentary 'Supersize Me' they use childish music.  

• Most of the time they have a presenter. (If they're participatory)

• Linear/single strand narrative (follows one structure and focuses on one subject)  

• Features renactments or dramatisations

Activity 3
Watch the YouTube video (https://youtu.be/6JL9j9xv9Ms) identify and write down what you think are the conventions of a news bulletin.

• Archive/actual footage 

• Voice overs (usually by a reporter or a journalist, experts)

• Presenter -the narrative is more scripted, their tone of voice is more serious and formal. They look professional, often wearing suits.

• Graphics, text and titles (showing who someone is and their job or role) 

• Sound limited -only things they are talking about, recapping but no non-diagetic sound. 

• Opening theme tune with the logo of the channel usually or an image/graphic that relates to the world. 

• Multi-camera set up (based in a Studio)

• Outside broadcasting  

• Bulletin Narrative Structure- opening them tune, 1/2 presenters who relay what happens, go to story showing eye witnesses/interviewees or experts and reporters doing voice overs.

Activity 4
What do you think are the three key issues that we need to be thinking about when we are watching documentaries and news programmes? 

• Bias

• Accuracy 

• Representation 

The 3 issues that effect factual programming

Accuracy

• Truth -how true it is.
• If you lie it's NOT factual
• Situations do not just naturally occur for the camera (prior to shooting there us preparation and planning.)
• The invasion of the camera will alter people's reactions (people hide their true selves to give a different representation.)
• Editing (editors will leave out things, they choose certain clips and put things that they think will be entertaining which can make it misrepresented and change accuracy levels)

Bias

• Leaning towards your own opinion
• Very one-sided 
• It has to be unbiased so that you get a fact and not someone's opinion.

Representation

• How its shown -to do with a topic, a person or an issue. 
• These things can be mis-represented.

Positive values of factual programmes

• Entertaining: It has to engage an audience and let them form an emotional response.
• Educate: gives a variety of points of view. Can give you some important information.
• Inform: issues that the public are unaware of. Sheds light on situations and issues.
• Create empathy: urge an audience to help or change something.
• Encourage social/political change: brings the issue to a public arena and encourages people to want to change it somehow.

                                                             

Watch the channel 4 clips on Benefit Street.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefits-street

Channel 4 described 'Benefits Street'  as a documentary series which reveals the reality of life on benefits, as the residents of one of Britain's most benefit dependent streets invite cameras into their tight knit community.

Do you agree with Channel 4's description of the programme? List your points under the following headings:

• Accuracy

-Fly On The Wall style -participants are on benefits so it's accurate. 

• Bias

-There has been a selection of clips chosen so it could be seen as one-sided.

-The participants are answering questions by interviewers, always on camera so we only get their views and never any expert opinions. 

• Representation

-Their point of view so it gives them an accurate representation.

-Labelled as scroungers 

Some participants claimed that they were duped -thinking that they were making a program about community spirit. If the makers are going to lie to the participants how can we trust that the program is accurate, unbiased and a true representation?!

Several participants started a petition for Channel 4 to axe the programme 'Benefit Street', one of them said and quote: "These are marginalised people with complicated situations being exploited for entertainment, and the thousands who have signed my petition agree with me."

                                                       

ITV Fake Footage

Read the article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8792315/ITV-Gaddafi-documentary-claimed-videogame-was-terrorist-footage.html

What effect does 'fake footage' or lying to viewers have on the reputation of a programme/channel/ documentary filmmaker?

I think that having 'fake footage' and lying to viewers makes the channel look bad, the programme loses its' accuracy and it is misrepresenting a particular issue or topic. The footage can present an issue in a better or worse light depending on what is shown which makes the programme biased. The filmmaker will be challenged and their reputation could be damaged, audiences will lose trust and they will question future issues of their factual programming. Using 'fake footage' can be insulting to the participants involved in the real footage or the topic at hand. The channel itself might get backlash and they could lose money or funding as people won't want to work with people who lie and mislead their audiences.

ITV Program: Exposure: Gaddafi and The IRA

• Accuracy -people may question accuracy and reliability of future programmes.

• Representation -mis-represented the 1988 Attack (The Event). It could insult the memories of service men and women and it could offend their families.  

                                                         

BBC Programme: Frozen Planet -Polar Bears

Dramatic footage of a polar bear tending to her newborn cubs in the flagship BBC show Frozen Planet was actually filmed in a Dutch zoo using fake snow. 

• Accuracy -people may question accuracy and reliability of future programmes. The public expect more of BBC (and David Attenborough) 
• Representation -mis-representing the natural habitat of polar bears. The whole genre of nature programmes can become untrustworthy.

Below there's an article from The Guardian discussing the controversy this 'fake footage' caused.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/dec/12/frozen-planet-polar-bear-bbc

                                                            

Find an article on factual program that was accused of being Biased.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13767216

This is an article about the documentary 'Choosing To Die' with Terry Pratchett made in 2011. The article brings up the point about bias and critics slated the BBC for their decision to show such a programme calling it "pro-assisted suicide propaganda loosely dressed up as a documentary" 

Michael Nazir Ali (the ex-bishop of Rochester) claimed that the documentary 'glorified suicide'

'Care Not Kill' campaigners claimed that it was the 5th programme on the subject to be produced by the BBC in those past 3 years presented by someone who was a pro-euthanasia campaigner or sympathiser.

• Biased -it only gave one point of view and it didn't show a fair and balanced view on the topic. This is known to create controversy and it can split people who believe that it is favouring a particular belief whilst not showing a correct representation of factual programming rather showing someone's opinion and possibly 'glorifying' issues.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CVs-wxp4hPqtQbJ8ybB8s_Wds1Cu6XJTLmT1LfR_DMg/edit?usp=sharing

                                                                 

The 3 main factors that affect factual programming:

Definition will get you a Pass

Giving examples (screenshots, interviews, clips) will put you up to a Merit

If you discuss the impact you will get a Distinction

                                                                 

News Section:

Explain the codes and conventions of news programmes such as report structures, outside broadcasts or graphics.

Give examples of actual footage by linking to clips, stills or interviews

Explain why they are used, using terminology to explain the examples.

                                                                   

Documentary Section:
Explain what different forms of documentary there are, with examples (clips, stills or interviews) to explain why they are used.

Outline key issues, codes and conventions of documentaries and news.

Give examples of the conventions

Discuss how or why they are used.