1. Be able to describe factual programming
Be able to describe factual programming by genre
Be able to describe codes and conventions

2. What is factual programming?

3. Factual programming is?
Factual programming is a genre of programs based on non-fiction and based on actual people and events.
Factual television has existed since the birth of television, but has only recently been recognised as a genre in its own right and has appeared as a category since the 1990s at the British Academy Awards .
Factual programs are based on giving out facts, and should show both side of the argument.

4. Task 1
You must find a range of programs you think are factual programs. You should also find out what the programs are about.

5. Your examples
Which one of these are based on the following categories of factual programming.

6. Types of factual programming by genre:
News
Documentaty eg documsoap or docudrama
Infotainment
Reality
Educational
Wildlife
Special interest
Makeover
Magazine
Discussion
Review
Chat show

7. Codes and conventions
All genres are recognised by codes and conventions
A code is a way of communicating ideas. These can be analysed based on the following
Technical Codes: Camera techniques, framing, depth of field, lighting, exposure and juxtaposition
Symbolic Codes: Objects, setting, body language, clothing and color
Written Codes : Headlines, captions, speech bubbles, language style
Conventions: a long accepted ways of doing thing , which becomes familiar to the audience i.e the use of establing shots to set the scene, or over the shoulder shots to show conversation.

8. Language of TV and film Camera Lights Sound Editing Setting Costume
Actor expressions

9. Factual programing codes and conventions
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

10. Examples

11. Documentary
Document of fact, which should be unscripted and often use steady cam.
Often use voiceovers
Real footage of events and will often say in the narration that these are real footage and have not been altered.
Element of realism with use of stedicam as must not looked staged.
Uses archive footage and stills
Interviews with experts, but must be balanced to show both sides.
Will often used text with labels and dates to show peoples titles or when it happened.
Use of music is important to anchor emotion in the documentary
Will use visual coding i.e when Louie meets Nazi family.

12. Documentary by type: Docudrama
A docudrama is a film or television show which combines the fields of documentary and drama with a focus on real events and real people, which are dramatized and often uses actors and reconstruction of events.
Docudramas can also focus on hypothetical situations i.e. what might happen i.e. the effects of global warming. It focuses on the facts of the event, as they are known.
Docudramas sometimes enhance historical events but the narrative must not mislead.

13. Examples

14. Examples
Bowling for Columbine
Secret Millionaire
Supersize me

15. Are they a document of fact?
Documentaries are supposed to be a document of fact and unbiased, but they often contain and element of bias, i.e. from what is shown and not shown, but also how things are shown to be through codes to create meaning

16. Task 2
You now will be given a category and you need to find and research the following:
A definition of your category
Find 2-3 examples and prepare an analysis of what you think are the codes and conventions are in your genre.
Present to the class your ideas
Consider whether you think all the programs you have selected contain the same codes and conventions or are they different

17. What you are analysing Codes and Conventions
Technical Codes: Camera techniques, framing, depth of field, lighting, exposure and juxtaposition
Symbolic Codes: Objects, setting, body language, clothing and color
Written Codes : Headlines, captions, speech bubbles, language style
Conventions: a long accepted ways of doing thing , which becomes familiar to the audience i.e the use of establishing shots to set the scene, or over the shoulder shots to show conversation.