Codes and conventions of factual programming unit 27
Download as PPTX, PDF1 like5,059 views
The document discusses codes and conventions used in factual television programs such as documentaries and news. It defines factual programs and provides examples. It explains that factual programs aim to educate and inform audiences, but may also provide biased points of view. The document then discusses codes, which are systems of visual and audio symbols, and conventions, which are generally accepted ways of presenting information. It provides examples of codes and conventions used specifically in documentaries and news programs. Finally, it outlines different styles and formats of documentaries such as expository, observational, and poetic documentaries.
Codes and conventions of factual programming unit 27
- 1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMES By Chelsie Brandrick
- 2. What are Factual Programmes? The genre includes news, documentary, educational, magazine, discussion, review, chat show, special interest (hobby, makeover, and how-to formats), ‘reality’ TV and other sub-genres. Examples of factual programmes are News, Bargain Hunt, Graham Norton, Loose Women and Big Brother.
- 3. Positive Values of Factual Programmes Educate Inform Create Empathy Encourage social/political change Accurate, balanced and neutral material
- 4. Negative Values of Factual Programmes Offer a biased point of view No impact on society due to a niche audience
- 5. Two Examples of Factual Programmes in More Detail News: Facts and statistics and contract with the viewer. Documentary: Earliest form of cinema, feature important information on a vast range of topics.
- 6. What Are Codes? Systems of signs, consist of agreed rules and can be divided into Technical, Symbolic and Written and Audio. Technical codes are: camera techniques, framing, layout, lighting, editing and sound. Symbolic codes are: Objects, setting, body language, clothing, colour. Written and Audio codes are: Headlines, captions, speech bubbles and language style.
- 7. Codes in News & Documentaries News Documentaries Studio News Readers Film Field Reporters Script Links to the Studio Music Mode of address to viewer Costumes Interviewing Camera Angles Experts and Witnesses Lighting Report structure Interviewing Actuality Footage Experts and Witnesses
- 8. What Are Conventions? Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. It is the way that the codes are used (which is known as conventions) that helps the audience understand which roles each character is playing in the story. The way directors use these tools can encourage us to like or dislike a character and help us to understand how important each character is in the story.
- 9. Conventions in News & Documentaries News Documentaries Broadcasts from outside the studio Archive Footage Newscasters smartly dressed Presenter Graphics Bulletin Voice-Over Narrative Structure Graphics/Text Theme Tune Single strand narrative Multi Camera Set Up Real people Camera Shots Re-enactments
- 10. Documentary Formats Expository Observational Interactive Reflexive Performativity Poetic
- 11. Expository A commentator talking over the images or videos shown to explain the story, speaking directly to the audience Graphics & animations Rhetorical questions Editing is used for continuity Include factual information and figures; a variety of footage, interviews, stills, archive material to support the argument of the documentary. Persuasive techniques Legal and ethical considerations
- 12. Observational Filmed on Location Equipment is usually informal like hand held cameras Long takes dominate. Synchronous sound recording No interviews Crew are neutral observers No rehearsals or staged events
- 13. Interactive Filmmaker is sometimes visible to the audience. Interviews dominate Use of archive materials Location shooting Long takes dominate Synchronous sound recording Voice-Over
- 14. Reflective Borrows techniques from fiction films for an emotional response. Emphasise on the expressive nature of film, anti-realist techniques Voiceover is questioning and uncertain – rather than authoritative Reliance on suggestion rather than fact Crew and equipment are clearly seen – filming process is not hidden.
- 15. Performative Documentary maker (and crew) interact with subject An investigation or search which there may be no satisfactory conclusion Addresses the audience in an emotional and direct way Documentary maker comments on the process of making the documentary Subject matter often about identity (gender, sexuality, ethnic minorities) rather than factual subjects Subjective views of the film maker Hypothetical re-enactments.
- 16. Poetic Filmmaker gives subjective view Not in typical narrative structure Particular mood/tone is created - enhanced by music Some light rhetoric but not always Events are under-developed and situations can be left unsolved Unrelated shots edited together - linked by a mood/music Perceived as Avant-garde - innovative, experimental and pushes boundaries
- 17. Realism Include an interest in the real world and show real footage. They are based on real life people and their lives, and show what their lives or the people themselves are like. Go into detail of the subject’s experiences using re- enactments of events to show this. They may include handheld camera, interviews with people involved in the topic/accident, statistics and graphs to support the facts. They may also show the setting up of the equipment and camera's before the filming takes place. Observational, reflexive, interactive and poetic documentaries use realism conventions.
- 18. Dramatisation These documentaries are also known as ‘Docudramas’ They include cliff hangers, voice overs, music and computer generated imagery (CGI). Expository, interactive, performative and poetic documentaries all use dramatization conventions.
- 19. Narrative Communicate factual events/experiences in a narrative form to gain a greater understanding. Expositional approach that details with events but keeps the narrative in mind. Interactive, performative and poetic documentaries use narrative conventions.
- 20. How documentaries use conventions to advise or determine audience responses. The Verbal Conventions: Persuasive voice-overs, compelling language, particular type of interviewees and music or sound effects. The visual conventions: Presenter or interviewees external appearance, location, body language, camera work and editing. The documentary conventions: Documentary style may affect how the audience thinks about the people portrayed in the documentary if they are shown in a particular way.
- 21. Codes and conventions and how I will use them in my documentary Codes: Expository, Interactive & Poetic. Conventions: Realism & Narrativisation.