2. My media project is going to be a half hour mockumentary
based on gang crime in Canford Heath. The three similar
products I have chosen to analyse are:
Almost Royal
An Idiot Abroad
People Just Do Nothing
These three programmes have aired on different channels,
have greatly contrasting budgets, and were filmed in
different countries. They all however mockumentaries and
rely on comedy for entertainment value.
4. Almost Royal was a seven episode mockumentary series
which aired on BBC America in 2014. It followed two
comedians tour America, claiming to be British
Aristocrats George and Poppy Carlton, whose position in
line to the throne changes in each episode but is always
above 50th.
The two actors Ed Gamble and Amy Hoggart improvised
all their lines except for the pre-recorded introduction
at the start of each episode. They also claimed they were
inspired by ‘Borat’ yet wanted to target the American
Culture from an “overly British view”.
The show has been renewed for a second series of eight
episodes despite receiving generally unfavourable
reviews from critics.
5. There is always the same two minute
introduction and title sequence, with their
backstory being narrated as you see their
dying Father request them to visit his
beloved America.
Each episode lasts for about 23 minutes
and features the two comedians visiting
different states such as Boston, New York
and Texas.
They will usually visit several cities or
towns in each episode, going to a festival
or a getting hands on with their culture.
For example, with the picture on the right,
they are at a civil war re-enactment.
6. The two comedians will ‘unwillingly’ partake with their American
counterparts in local events such as riding a rodeo and going to a
shooting range.
They make several one liners to show they misunderstanding and
cultural barrier. They then pull seriously dumfounded faces and
manage to prevent themselves from falling about laughing.
Costumes and Props
George always wears a 2 piece tailored suit,
often with a smart coat or jacket over the
top. Poppy wears an assortment of expensive
designer dresses, sometimes with a smart
jacket.
They continuously flaunt jewellery like
necklaces, brooches and watches to show off
their ‘royalty’.
The running joke is them carrying a vase
with their Fathers’ ashes with them at all
times
7. Executive producer: Clive Tulloh
Producer: Seamus Murphy-Mitchell
Lighting
The lighting is always
natural as most the
scenes are filmed
outdoors whilst any
indoor scenes are
during the day with
sunlight or room lights.
The time of day depends
on what event they’re
attending. For example
in the picture (left), they
are at an evening
baseball game.
Camerawork
There is only one camera
used for filming which
obviously limits the variety
of shots within each episode.
Most the shots are close ups,
medium or over the shoulder
shots.
This is also due to the fact
that both the comedy and
purpose stems from the
interaction between at least
three people (i.e. the
presenters and at least one
other person)
9. An Idiot Abroad has been a television phenomenon and is currently into
its third series, with a spin off show, Karl Pilkington The moaning of life
about to start a second series.
The show stars Karl Pilkington traveling the world and exploring different
cultures. It is however his very negative persona and unforgettable
comments that make this show stand out.
The success of the series has led to it being nominated and winning many
television awards as well as critical success from critics and viewers.
Karl Pilkington himself has been lauded the ‘TV phenomenon of the 21st
century’. He had initially been the producer for Ricky and Stephens radio
show on XFM. It was from a few segments and comments he made on air
that launched him into the public eye. The more involved he got, the more
Ricky, Stephen and the audience loved him
10. Each episode is 60 minutes long with the first series consisting of 8
episodes.
The start of every episode consists of Karl being brought into Ricky and
Stephens office to be told where he is going next. After some funny
travel advice and a hilarious disapproving response from Karl, he heads
off to the airport, always packing his Pickled Onion Monster Munch.
Because Pilkington has no interest in global
travel, Merchant and Gervais make him travel
the world whilst they monitor his progress with
skype and phone calls.
Throughout each episode, Ricky and Stephen
will phone or leave Karl a voicemail telling him
to meet up with a local or tor guide who will
welcome them into their home and show him
their culture.
Eventually towards the end of the episode, Karl
will get to the wonder and obviously, will be far
from impressed.
11. The idea for the show came from
Sky wanting to create a new travel
documentary and Ricky and Steven
wanting to put Karl into his own
prime time TV show.
Sky liked what they saw and
branded it as a travel
mockumentary, commissioning the
first series to air in 2010.
Ricky Gervais describes the show in
the series 1 intro as “The most
expensive practical joke I’ve ever
been involved in”.
PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION
Me & You
Productions
(season 3-)
British Sky
Broadcasting
(BSkyB)
RiSK Productions
(season 2-)
Science Channel
(2011-)
Sky Travel Channel
(2015)
12. Karl is followed round by a production team with one cameraman,
boom mic operator, health and safety officer, a producer and a
travel guide. His day is often determined by where he is sent by
Ricky and Stephen from regular phone calls.
Lighting
The lighting is always
natural as most the
scenes are filmed
outdoors whilst any
indoor scenes are
during the day with
sunlight or room lights.
The time of day depends
on what event they’re
attending. For example
in the picture (left), they
are at an evening
baseball game.
Camerawork
Only one camera follows Karl
on his journey around the
globe however with the
budgeting muscle behind
them with Sky, there are still
a lot of quality stock footage
and ariel shots etc. that they
have filmed from helicopters
and from usually ‘out of
bounds’ locations.
A lot of camera shots alter
during filming to add
comedic value such as a
sudden close up, slow zoom
out or a high angle shot.
14. People just do nothing originally started as a YouTube series
in 2010, although it struggled for views, the popularity
eventually grew and the BBC commissioned a pilot episode in
2012.
A four part series launched in mid 2014 and was followed by
a 5 episode series a year later.
The series follows the producers and DJs for a pirate radio
show, Kurupt FM.
It was the first BBC Three programme to premier exclusively
on the iplayer.
15. Each episode runs for approx. 30 minutes
The first scene is always the boys during a segment or playing music
on their radio in one of their council apartments.
Very often there is a scene in which the camera is in one of their
homes and sees the family getting ready for school and work as the
Dad talks to the camera explaining family life.
As the main story unfolds, the main characters are interviewed in-
between often in pairs and outside smoking.
Each story focuses on one of their characters and their background
or history with episodes on knife crime and debt.
16. Executive producer: Ash Atalla
Producer: Jon Petrie
Location: Brentford and London
Production company: Roughcut
Like the other similar products, only one camera follows the gang
around, however with People Just Do Nothing, they still have a huge
variety of shots ranging from extreme long shots to POV and
handheld.
The budget for the series is relatively small as most the props are
already owned by the actors who had used them for YouTube videos
beforehand.
The costumes for the main cast are always tracksuits and hoodies
with Nike or NY baseball caps. Other characters in the series are
usually extras who play minor roles who wear sports clothing or
basic casual clothing such as jeans and t-shirts.
