codes and convention of tv documentary

1. THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACTUAL
PROGRAMMES – ISSUES, CODES AND
CONVENTIONS
By Sophie White

2. INTRODUCTION
In this power point I am hoping to illistrate the codes and coventions of factual
programming and how they can inform and determine the audiences responses.
I will also compare the 5 modes of documentary and analyse the conventions of
news programmes.

3. WHAT ARE THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF
FACTUAL PROGRAMMING ?
There are many basic codes and conventions in factual production and these represent the typical
signs and events that we generally see in any type of factual production whether this be TV
documentries or TV news. These are often things that we don’t realise are planned and we think
they are just meant to be there. This may be the main presenter on the news or the fact that every
documentary will have shown basic evidence such as statistics that are not really noticed whilst
watching but are there to prove the factual base of the story. These coventions can also vary
depending on the audience for example if you are watching a political documentary the creater may
want you to be outraged so they may edit the informations so they can get this reponce to do this
would be following a convention of political documenties as many think that they alter there
information to make the situation controversial. This will be very different if they just want to inform
the audience as they might just do ths by stating the correct facts and showing evidence. The
audiences response can be controlled by the documentary and how they chose to structure it.
These structures come in the shape of the 5 modes.

4. EXPOSITORY DOCUMENTARY
The main purpose of an expository documentary is to create and fight for a particular subject
possibly making a controversial argument. They will tend to feature many facts and statistics to use
as evidence to make you believe just that little bit more. The main presenter/narrator will speak
directly to the viewer trying to get them to engage and interact with the evidence they are presenting
overall trying to pursuade you to their side. There main goal is to get you to change your thoughts
on that particular subject. They will use a clear narrator that is not often seen this will make the
voice appear authoritive this authority often makes us trust them. This narrator will most likely
address the audience directly again this is trying to pull in the audience and wants to make you a
part of there argument. These documentries have a lot of controvosy surronding them as they often
are opionated and can provide false evidence and they often alter footage so that it suits their
purposes.
There are many examples of expository documentries such as Americas most wanted, Paranormal
experiences and many more.

5. EXPOSITORY DOCUMENTRY : BENEFITS STREET
Benefits street is a popular and controversial documentry that appeared on channel 4. It
documents the life of the families on the famous benefits street which is the most highly
populated area of benefit claimers. This documentry follows many of the key themes of
expository documentry and follows many of its codes and coventions such as there being a
narrator that never appears in front of the camera instead it becomes reliants on the family
and short interviews where the family make there point. They also have created this
documentry to make it opinionated as it grasps peoples attention and has a varied response
after it was found that they altered most of there footage to suit there needs. Instead of using
facts and figures as many expository documentries do they instead have let the footage of the
street occupiers to speak for themselves . Overall the documentry was controversial and this
is the main impact and purpose of an expository documentry.
To see an example of benefits street see : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkKJQF1xSJU

6. OBSERVATIONAL DOCUMENTRY
Observational documentry is basically just what it sounds like it is when the main creater will
just observe the the subject with minimal interaction possible. This does mean that they are
shot informally on the go sometimes with just a handheld camera they also will feature not
interviews and possibly may have no voice over. They allow the events speak for
themeselves. You may also hear these documentries being refered to as “fly on the wall “
documenties this is just what they want to reanact in the documentry itself. These
documentries will have no given agenda this means they can show whats happeing without
having the impact of being bias or trying to opininate an audience. This means there will be a
lack of facts and figure although they still may feature them to edjucate the audinece. In
modern times these documentries often come in the form of reality TV such as the popular
shows like big brother or Made in Chelsea.

7. OBSERVATIONAL DOCUMENTRY : BIG BROTHER
Big Brother Is a very modern take on observational documentry it follows a group of people as
they competing in tasks while they are trapped in a house away from the civilisations outside.
In the recent year it has become a staple on our TV’s. Big Brother has many of the features of
an observational documentry for one it is all shot through cctv camera and has no interuption
by the main maker of the documentry instead it allows the events to flow as they do. This can
mainly be seen through the many times that filming is not always needed like while they are
sleeping or even how they carry out there daily lives but we see it all anyway. I think that
these are mostly watched because it allows the audience to be nossy and see how others live
and how they can face problems such as the tasks set.
To see a clip of big brother check : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoP34cfyfv8

8. PARTICIPATORY DOCUMENTARY
Participatory is the direct opposite of observational, instead of stopping any interuption with
the subject it instead tries to get as involved as possible whether this is trying to takepart in
the subjects daily events or just interviewing them. The filmaker will record the interactions
between them and the subject hopefully gaining more experience to portrait the the subject to
the audience more realistically. This does mean that the film maker is heavily featured in the
documentary this also allows you to see how it changes them. These documentaries are very
intrusive on the subjects life and often mean that both them and the film maker have to
diverege as much imformation as possible not only on there experience but also their lives.
They are mostly filmed on handheld cameras that are not hard to carry or use on a day to day
basis so that life can go on as normal as possible. These are a popular choice of documentary
when people are trying to learn new cultures such as the documentary that features David
Attenborough trying to learn the day to day routines of african tribes. Others include Truth of
the Armish and the many Danny Dyer documentaries.

9. PARTICIPATORY DOCUMENTARY : DANNY DYER
DEADLIEST MEN
This documentary series follows the celebrity Danny Dyer and his interations with some of the
deadliest men. These include past murders and many gang leaders that can still pose danger.
Like many participatory it involves Dyer getting involved with the people hearing them tell
there stories and exploring there past. The documentary shows the truth behind many stories
of these deadly men by becoming an eaquel to them. This really makes you see the world
from there eyes without judgement and any opinionated facts.
To see more of this documentary check : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igq4lMXUWpc

10. REFLEXIVE DOCUMENTARY
In a reflexive documentary they will show the process of the film maker making the
documentary and the content within them. The viewer will typically be just as interested about
the film is made and how the film is made just as much as its actual content. They will like
most documentaries feature a lead narrator mostly in the role of explaining what is happening.
It edjucates the audience of the difficulties of making a documentary film and the sort of
situations they can get into. They are known to be more truthful as you are seeing most of the
process and hopefully this means the film maker is being more realistic. The narrator will
address the audience directly and tries to make the audience as involved as possible in the
whole process. This has been commonly done in the past with bands and tours where you can
see what is happening and how strange the documentary process is but it still focuses on the
main subject and how their life if progressing including how it has got to an extent where a
documentary is being made about them.

11. REFLEXIVE DOCUMENTARY : CATFISH
Catfish the movie is classified as a reflexive documentary as the lead Nev sets of to make the
documentary about his life this includes the fact that he’s making a documentary on his cyber
dating story. Most of the footage comes from hand held camera held by his friends this makes
it feel a little bit more realistic and exclusive for you as the audience is supossed to feel like
they are there with them as they are going through this journey. The documentry had many
sidescreens and graphics to break up the footage this may have been done to make the
footage longer as they would have only captured the needed footage so to tell the story if
further depth they would have needed to add extras such as sound and the added graphics
and voice over.

12. PER FORMATIVE DOCUMENTARY
This documentary is commonly done with celebrity's as it is based on experimenting and see
the subjects reactions. It allows the subject or possibly the fil maker themselves with new
experiences as they learn about various subjects. A lot like participatory they are getting
involved with the subject but instead of being about the topic it is about the persons reactions
this is why there often needs to be an interest in the person that is involved in the
film/programme. They will try to involve the audience hopefully trying to get them to react
emotionally this is similar to the charity videos that we see mostly on TV extraveganzas such
a Children in need. They want us to react so that we get involved and donate so that we feel
that we are helping the situation.

13. PER FORMATIVE DOCUMENTARY : RHOD
GILBERTS WORK EXPERIENCE
Rhod Gilberts work experience follows the comedian Rhod Gilbert in his journey to experience
as many jobs as possible trying new things. This documentary uses the recording to show the
reactions of Rhod and how he interacts with the people he meets. Its proffesional filmed but
does not have a professional finish as he doesn’t speak directly to the camera or audience but
instead talks to the cameramen and crew. The experimentation side is seen as Rhod is a
“ginepig” in the situation that is being put in the many situations he is placed under. We see
how his emotion changes when hearing peoples stories and taking an active role in their life.

14. TELEVISION NEWS

15. WHAT ARE THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF
TV NEWS BULLETINS ?
There are many that are involved the main being the main annchorman/woman will directly
read the news straight to the camera they are the main directors to the show. There are often
more then one to spread to a wider audience. There is also the typical set for a news
programme this typically is a large desk or sofa where they are presenting the news there may
also be a side screen to show reports on and possibly another station for other reports. There
are many typical shots that are also used throughout the reports such as cutaways, pans and
establishing shots. These will all come together to create an entertaining report that will grasp
the audiences attention. The main feature of the show is the fact that they must tell the story
subjectively and cannot add any opinions or views that could seem like they are swaying the
audience to their way of thoughts.

16. MISE-EN-SCENE
The definition of mise-en-scene is basically “placed in the picture or scene” this is refering to the set
that we would be typically seen on the set of a typical news broadcast. The mise en scene need to
be correct to seem approrate for the right situations so that it keeps the sreiousness of the news but
is also apprachable and entertaining for the audience. The set of a TV news bulletin should look
proffesional this makes the programe seem more realiable and credible. The set would include
things such as :
• Set, location
• Studio
• Colour
• Costume
• Lighting / sound
• Positioning
• Props/ furniture
• Actor/ acting

17. WHAT DOES THE TYPICAL NEWS BROADCAST
LOOK LIKE?
Screen to present from.
Background news room.
Two main preseneters achorman and women.
Large main desk.
Dark professinal colours.

18. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MAIN
PRESENTER?
Every news bulletin will have a main presenter or possibly two. The anchormen / women need to be able to carry our many proffesional roles for their
job these include:
• Doing extensive reasearch into every story they have to present.
• To read and portrait the news accuretly
• To edit and evolve the script so it suits their style.
• To interview many guests and experts
• To abide by all laws and regulations
• To possibly provide briefings to the crew and contributors
To carry out these jobs they will need many skills/attributes these include :
• Communication skills
• Confidence
• Fast thinker
• Clear voice
• Editorial knowledge
• Focused
• Professional
• To understand legal and wthical issues which effect journalism.
• interpersonal skills.

19. WHAT SHOULD A PRESENTER LOOK LIKE ?
Short maintained hair.
Clean shaven
Proffessional suit

20. FIELD REPORTER
The second most important people in a news bulletin are the field reporters who are exactly
like the main presenters except they typically report from outside the studio. They commonly
oprsent live from the scen but they may also do pre recorded stories. They can be also known
as correspondents and are typically used more because they know more about a certain field
for example a sports reporter. They are also known as off scene reporters that broadcast from
locations such as war zones, live events and sporting matches.

21. TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
To create a news bulletin you need to use many technical elements these are the many shots that
come tegether to form the show these are used to keep the programme entertaining it also adds
depth to the stories they are telling these shots are the basic form of the show. The technical
elements include :
Direct address to camera : The most privaleged shot in Film and TV it includes looking straight at
the camera in turn looking straight at the audience and addressing them directly . This opens up a
connection to the sudience. This is mainly used in the main desk scenes of news broadcasts where
it is mainly them alone looking straight into the camera and welcoming you to the show.
Cutaway : A cutaway shot this is usually a shot of something that is usually something other the
current action. The cutaway is used a buffer between shots this is typically used on the BBC news
and is typically a photo of people on the streets of London or location shot.
Establishing shot: An establishing a shot is a wide shot that flows into a closer shot of the subject
matter this is typically done with locations as they can start with a shot of the general area and then
close on on one particular location.
Actuality footage : This is footage with a revelance to the story that is being reported it helps us see
whats truly going on for example war footage of Iraq that is currently being showed on many news
broadcasts.