This document outlines the tasks involved in a practical production project for a factual programming course. Students will work in small groups to plan and film a multi-camera show. They must decide on a format (talk show, review show, or magazine show), pitch their idea to an executive producer, research a theme, plan guests and scripts, and film the final production in a studio. Individual deliverables include an in-depth research portfolio and group planning portfolio. The tasks guide students through choosing a format, theme, and research topics to inform their show planning.

1. Factual Programming
Practical

2. Last week
 What were you doing?

3. This week
You will begin your practical production for factual
programming this week.

4. Over the next few weeks
 You will be planning a multi-camera show in small groups.
Your group will be able to decide the format of the show and
its central theme, but you will need to pitch this to your
executive producer.
 You will each need to conduct in-depth research for your
show, recording it as a detailed research portfolio.
 You will need to plan your show, finding guests & a host,
writing questions and scripts, designing your set, planning time
and organising the filming of inserts. You will record this as a
detailed planning portfolio.
 You will be given a date and time for when your groups show
will be recorded in the studio. Your final video will be
marked.

5. What do I need to produce?
 An individual research portfolio, with notes and
references, and an evaluative report where you explain the
reliability and usefulness of what you have discovered.
 A group planning portfolio.
 The final video, recorded in the studio live.

6. Task 1: Formats
Your company has been asked to come
up with an idea for a multi-camera
factual programme for an online
broadcaster.
 Your team must decide which of the following formats of show
you will pitch an idea for:
 Talk show
 Review show
 Magazine show

7. Task 1: Feedback

8. Task 2: Theme
Every show needs to have a theme, a central unifying idea
which ties the show together.
 What is the central theme of Top Gear? What format of
show is it?
 What is the central theme of The Gadget show? What
format of show is it?
In your groups decide on the central theme of your show. If it
is a review show, what type of products you will be reviewing?
If it is a talk show, what issue will be at the heart of the show?

9. Task 2: Feedback

10. Task 3:
 As part of your work you will each need to produce an
individual research portfolio into your subject matter (ie.
the issue or theme of your show).
 You will need to conduct both primary and secondary
research, and write your findings up in a research report.
 In your groups brainstorm the different things you
could research.

11. Task 3: group feedback

12. Task 4
 Log onto Moodle and download the research portfolio
template.
 Working alone begin to research your TV shows theme, finding
out background information.
 Copy and paste your information and any links you find into
the research template, writing up your findings as you go.