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

What is factual programming?

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Examples

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.

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.

Examples

Examples Bowling for Columbine Secret Millionaire Supersize me

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

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

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.