2. INTRODUCTION.
This presentation is a illustration of what the
codes and conventions of factual programming
and how they inform and determine an
audiences responses. I will be looking at News
Reports and Factual based Documentaries.
3. WHAT ARE THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS?
Codes and conventions. Codes are systems of
signs, which create meaning. Codes can be
divided into two categories – technical and
symbolic. Technical codes are all the ways in
which equipment is used to tell the story in a
media text, for example the camera work in a
film.
5. EXPOSITORY DOCUMENTARY
Expository mode is most commonly used to speak directly to
the viewer, often in the form of an authoritative commentary
employing voiceover or titles, proposing a strong argument
and point of view. These films are rhetorical, and try to
persuade the viewer. The main C&C’s are a commentator,
Rhetorical questions, Facts, Opinions and Persuasive
techniques. They include footage, interviews and pictures
exclusive to the documentary. Chanel 4 and More 4 have
made 541 documentaries in total thus far. They are mainly
about history, biographic, health, science, nature,
environmental, music or even sport.
6. CODES & CONVENTIONS OF A NEWS SHOW
• Studio News Reader
• Field Reporters
• Links to Studio
• Modes of Address to Viewer
• Interviewing
• Experts & Witnesses
• Report Structure
• Actuality Footage
• Link to BBC News at 10:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRa7mLXbMe4
7. PARTICIPATORY
DOCUMENTARY
Documentary maker as well the crew interact with subject;
Interviews dominate but tend to be formal and include use of archive
material – still, news; footage, newspaper headlines, letters etc;
The Documentary maker is visible to the audience – intervenes and
participates in the action.
Examples of Participatory Documentaries are ‘Supersize me, Biggie and
Tupac and Louis Theroux’s many many different documentaries.
8. REFLEXIVE DOCUMENTARY
The reflexive style of documentary is usually associated with
experimental documentaries, where the viewer is just as interested
about how the film is constructed as they are the actual content. In a
reflexive documentary, the
Film maker acknowledges their presence in front of the camera and
provides a narrative to the documentary.
The reflexive style of documentary is usually associated with
experimental documentaries, where the viewer is just as interested
about how the film is constructed as they are the actual content.
An example of a reflexive documentary maker is Nick Broomfield, he is
best known for his reflexive style of documentary making, he films with
minimal camera crew, often just himself and a camera man, who makes
his documentaries seem more personal.
9. OBSERVATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
Observational documentary follow people around to observe the
events that unfold in their life. Normally it doesn’t normally feature
voice overs however the likes of Gogglebox do. 16 and Pregnant is
classed as an observational documentary because it follows pregnant
teens around and observes their every day life and how they deal with
it. They are not any interviews but the girls involved do talk through
what they are doing, how it makes them feels. Long takes are used in
the programme.
Another great example of an observational documentary is Gogglebox,
I know this
because producers of Gogglebox have aimed to create a documentary
about normal people watching popular TV shows expressing their
opinion on whatever they are watching. They do this by putting a
natural environment and comfort zone. MTV Cribs is also another
example.
