10/12/2010... :)

Today we learnt about different interview techniques, this is going to help when we start to plan our own interviews and start filming them. Some important things to remember when conducting an interview are;

• Location - make sure the filming location is relevant to the subject.
• Background - make sure there isn't too much crowding the background, you don't want to distract the audience away from the interviewee.
• Camera position - make sure the camera is in a good position, don't leave too much empty space around the interviewee. Have two camera set ups so that you can get different shots of interviewee.
• Eye contact - keep good eye contact between interviewee and interviewer.
• Questions - ask relevant questions, make sure interviewee reads questions before filming, don't make interviewee feel uncomfortable.
• Movement - make sure interviewee doesn't move around too much.
• White balance - make sure you remember to set the white balance every time the camera is turned on.
• Sound - make sure the sound levels aren't too high, or too low.

Codes and Conventions of Factual Programming... :)

Codes and Conventions of Factual Programming

In this assignment I am going to be discussing different types of factual programme, and some of the codes and conventions within these. Firstly I will explain what a factual programme is. I will then show some examples of factual programme, and go on to discuss some codes and conventions used in these.

A factual programme is a programme that is based on facts, the purpose is to present these facts to the audience so that they can either agree with or disagree with these facts. Although, these facts are often twisted to show the writers biased opinion of the facts and make the audience believe this.

According to Jacquie Bennett a documentary is;

Documentary is one of the earliest forms of cinema and television and still one of the most important. Early film was originally documentary, such as the Lumière brothers’ early films such as Workers leaving the Lumière factory. Modern documentary can take many forms but the essential codes and conventions remain the same.

(Bennett: 66, 2005)

There are many types of factual programme, some examples of these are

• News
• Quiz show/Game show
• Documentary/Mockumentary
• Live sports/sports show
• Discussion shows
• DIY shows
• Reality shows
• Lifestyle
• Special interest
• Cooking Shows
• Educational

As well as these there can be sub-types such as; docu-soap and docu-drama etc. With there being so many different types there is something for everyone. There are new types of factual programme being added continuously, making it impossible to relate all of the codes and conventions to each and every one.

There are many codes and conventions within factual programming, after naming all of these, I will discuss a few of them in more detail, and relate them to examples of programmes and genres.

• Editing – Montage
• Presentation of facts
• Strong and interesting premise
• Voice over/Presenter
• Editing, piecing together to make meaning
• Use of suspense, concealing outcome
• Point of view; bias
• Constructing a version of reality often using narrative techniques
• Hand held camera
• Poor sound/lighting
• Disjointed editing
• Interviews
• Use of experts
• Archive footage; film and photographs
• Music
• Framing to create meaning

Although there are many different programmes to use these, I am going to name a programme, its genre, and then a few of the codes and conventions used. I will do this for a few different programmes in order to give an example for each convention.

Secret Millionaire (RDF Media, 2006-Present) is a documentary, which uses a few of these codes and conventions, some of the ones used are;

A strong and interesting premise – This keeps the audience entertained by making good points.

Editing, piecing together to create meaning – This can show the story from the writer/directors point of view but also keeps the outcome a surprise.

Music – This is used to add different emotions to a documentary.

Bowling for Columbine (Moore, 2002) is a documentary, although some of it does have a little more comedic approach to it. Some of the conventions used are;

Point of view; bias – This sells the writer/directors POV, trying to make the audience agree with what they are promoting.

Constructing a version of reality often using narrative techniques – This entertains an audience, while at the same time putting across the writer/directors bias.

Disjointed editing – This is used to add more information while allowing the audience a break.

Editing/montage – This adds information quickly/slowly, depending on how the director wants it.

Grizzly Man (Herzog, 2005) is a docudrama using the following codes and conventions;

Voice over/Presenter – This keeps the audience updated with the images and videos while telling a story.

Handheld camera – This is used when whoever is in the docudrama is on the move, it keeps the audience ready for the next piece of action.

Poor sound or lighting – This shows that it is not a staged docudrama, it is showing real events. You can’t always have a setup. This makes it more believable for the audience.

Super Size Me (Spurlock, 2004) is a documentary about unhealthy eating. Some of the conventions used are;

Interviews – Used to show facts or witness accounts, making it more believable.

Use of experts – This helps to show realism and use of facts.

Presentation of facts – This is used to add believability and ties in with the use of experts and interviews.

Those are some of the codes and conventions used in different types of documentary making. Those have and can also be used for many different documentaries and other types of factual programme.

I am going to be using many different codes and conventions the documentary I am making with my group, the particular ones we will be using are;

• Presentation of Facts
• Strong and Interesting Premise
• Voice Over/Presenter
• Editing, Piecing Together to Create Meaning
• Interviews
• Use of Experts
• Archive Film/Photographs
• Music

These conventions will help to make our documentary more interesting, more entertaining and more believable.

Without different codes and conventions to follow, a documentary or factual programme could be very dull and boring.