Understanding the codes and conventions of a Factual Programme
What is a documentary?
A documentary is a term to describe a film or programme, that in some way ‘documents’ or captures reality through the use of different camera techniques. Documentaries are always factual and normally used to give or a different angle on information in topics. Some documentaries use persuasive language through their camera shots and the main message that is sent across an example of this would be Aileen: The selling of a serial killer.
What is a news programme?
A news programme or news show is a regularly produced and broadcasted television programme that reports recent, current and world events. A news program can include live or recorded interviews by field reporters, expert opinions, opinion poll results, and occasional editorial content. An example of this would be BBC news. News resources are almost 100% accurate as they have a huge fan base and cannot afford to miss lead the audience with irrelevant and invalid information.
What is a factual programme?
A factual programme is a non-fiction television programming that documents actual events that take place in real life. Most situations are real, many of the audience can relate to the events that take place. This can also be described as a documentary. An example of this would be KiDULTHOOD.
Finance
Items
Items I will need to complete my factual programme will include:
Equipment
Overall in general we will need several Cameras; that vary in range sizes. A big camera for filming, and several smaller cameras for head cams, so the viewers can see what we see. Torches/Head torches so when we’re down there, we can turn off the lights and only have a small bit of light. We will use various tripods as well. Sound boom, to record any sound we cannot hear. And a candle, to give the film some ‘spooky’ effect
Transport
We may need transport to get to other known haunted places around Henley, such as private houses or pubs. For this we could use public transport, or a car, however everything we are filming on college school days is no further than a three mile walking distance. Everything is local.
Talent
Talent will be anyone who is on camera at any time. Our talent will include Jack, Annie, Josh, Elliot and Sarah, as we will all be part of the documentary at some point.
Crew
Project manager, camera man, assistant camera man, producer, assistant producer, sound recorder, lighting, presenter, extras, researchers, runners, technicians, historians, experts on site, to help with the realism of the shoot.
Materials
Reconstruction materials, scripts, sound recordings,
Facility hire
We will not need to hire out anything, but use of the Rother field basement will be needed. For this we will need to speak to reception.
Clearances
Clearance means to have legal access from (in some cases) Police, the Council, and the government.
Time:
What is a deadline?
A deadline is the latest time or date in which something should be completed.
Why are deadlines important to TV productions (News and documentaries)?
Deadlines are important to TV productions because the channel will want to get the show out by a certain date or time. The longer the company goes over the deadline the more money it would cost them. Working to a deadline is essential as it can show the company that you can do whatever they ask in a certain amount of time without causing them to pay extra money.
Why is availability of equipment important?
It is important for the equipment you want to use to be available at the time because if they do not have the equipment in, you will have to delay your deadline, which will then cost you more money. Usually best to think in advance and plan what equipment you need for what event.
Why is availability of personnel important?
It is important for the availability of people when producing a TV production because you will want the right people to be a part of it, if it is not how you planned then everything could turn around. All participants must be willing to give up some of their free time in order to make their production work. You can’t choose when best suits you, you all work as a team.
What is meant by ‘timescales for clearances’?
Timescale for clearances means that when you have finished your production you will need to get it cleared by (in some cases) the police, the council and the government. The timescale is how long it will take for this to be cleared before airing.
Personnel:
What is the average size of a news/factual production team?
The average size of a news team can be over 65 people. This includes lead positions, as well as assistant positions.
What are the roles?
Roles include; Producer, cameraman, wardrobe, researchers, interviewers, interviewees, researchers, journalists, casting director, costume designer, location manager, make-up artist, production designer, set designer, television producer, writer, head writer, screenwriter, story editor, boom operator, floor manager, graphics coordinator.
What is the cost of your average production team
(In dollars)
Facilities:
What production equipment is needed?
Cameras, tripods, microphones, booms, lighting etc.
What post-production equipment is needed?
Computer software; Premiere (Maybe after effects), Word, PowerPoint and paint.
Cost of hiring?
There will be no cost, as everything above will not need hiring.
Materials:
What are the ‘original materials’, ‘archive and library materials’, ‘sound library’, ‘script’, interviews, recorded music.
Original Material: Original material is a piece made by yourself, and not copied from the internet or from other sources.
Archive and library materials: These are materials that you can get from a library or other resources.
Sound Library: This is where you can get various sound clips which do not have any copyright on them.
Script: Script is where you write the words you want the actors to read out on a sheet, for them to learn, and have as evidence.
Interviews: An interview is where you get an expert in a certain subject, or a 1st hand victim or viewer of an event.
Recorded Music: Recorded music is music that has been pre-recorded, so you would not have to record it yourself.
Contributors:
What are…?
Specialists: Specialists are someone who has been taught in what they specialise in, so will know a great deal about it.
Experts: Experts are very much the same; they know a lot about what they study or are interested in.
Talent: Talent is anyone shown in the documentary, even if they are an extra.
Public: The public is the audience of the documentary. The people watching.
Contributor biographies: This is at the end of our documentary, like credits, I will name everyone involved or who helped out.
Why are they needed?
These are all very important because they add to the idea of the documentary being put together and working well. Without just one of them the production would not be the same, and something would be left out.
Locations:
Identification: Identifying a location or studio for your production
Reeces: before filming can start you need to do a 'recce' - this will entail going to the location and making sure it is correct for your production - you will look into, sound, privacy, access (especially if you are interviewing disabled people), fees for the location, can you get all your equipment in there.
Limitations and risks: this is more like a H&S - Weather: could that effect the production, do you need a public liability insurance policy?
If you are shooting on location, public liability insurance is mandatory to ensure the producer is covered for any accidental damages that might occur as a result of a shoot. It also covers members of the public in the event that they are accidentally injured during your production. Key features are:
Identification: Identifying a location or studio for your production
Reeces: before filming can start you need to do a 'recce' - this will entail going to the location and making sure it is correct for your production - you will look into, sound, privacy, access (especially if you are interviewing disabled people), fees for the location, can you get all your equipment in there.
Limitations and risks: this is more like a H&S - Weather: could that effect the production, do you need a public liability insurance policy?
Public liability insurance is essential to any media production as it covers general members of the public and the location you are working on.
If you are shooting on location, public liability insurance is mandatory to ensure the producer is covered for any accidental damages that might occur as a result of a shoot. It also covers members of the public in the event that they are accidentally injured during your production. Key features are:
- Damage to Property
- Bodily Injury to any person
- Limit of Indemnity £2,000,000 or £5,000,000
- Higher limits of indemnity available on request
- No forms to fill in
- Documents e-mailed to you
- Payable by debit / credit card
- Available annual or short period
Codes of practice and regulation:
A break down on the Code of Practice on Guidance on Regulation, sets out eight golden rules that Government, should follow, when publishing guidance for businesses and third sector organisations on how to comply with the law.
Importance of clearances: For every production you need to get clearance if you are filming outside or in restricted areas. This can take up to 6 weeks to get so you need to schedule that into your production plan. You may need clearance from police to film in the street, from the council to use a building, form owners of a house to use it as a location, even clearance from solicitors to interview certain people or cover certain legal issues.
Who are Ofcom? http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/
Ofcom is the communications regulator. They regulate TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.
Film clearences:
You also need to get it cleared in order to get it aired on TV. OFCOM will need to clear it
A ‘cleared’ Film is a film that can be distributed, performed, copied, and otherwise exploited by Filmmaker (or its licensees/distributors) without infringing or violating, and without the likelihood of a claim of infringing or violating, some person or some entity’s rights. Without proper clearance, a film is generally not distributable
Who are Ofcom? http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/
Ofcom is the communications regulator. They regulate TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.
Press complaints: http://pcc.org.uk/about/index.html
The PCC is an independent self-regulatory body which deals with complaints about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines (and their websites). We keep industry standards high by training journalists and editors, and work pro-actively behind the scenes to prevent harassment and media intrusion. We can provide pre-publication advice to journalists and the public and have published advice on dealing with media attention after a death.
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