Radio demo at Heart (Exeter)

Radio demo from Heart Exeter, August.

Good news, Bad news (TV studio)

On Monday, we created Good News, Bad news. A TV production, I made in college alongside other students. We split into two groups, and my group produced a good quality show. Although one thing I’ve learnt from this TV show, is that the pre-production process is vital before the day of the actual filming.

• Planning (Scripts, storyboards and making sure presenters (Talent) know what they’re doing and when they’re doing it.
• Make sure we have correct equipment out, and it is working.

My role within this production was a presenter, I have a strong understand of what needs to be done. Although because I received the script actually when we had the studio set up, it made it harder to understand the lines. I was joined on the production by another presenter – although I was the main presenter on this show. I followed the script best as possible, but because the actual script structure wasn’t ideal it made it hard! Below I’ve attached a preview of the film production on Monday (without green screen effects added).

1019 from George Coombes on Vimeo.

 

 

Inside the Shed (TV Studio Production)

At College, we produced our first TV studio production. It was slightly ‘Off the cuff’. In terms of the production process, we didn’t use a script/ risk assessment etc. Although, I / the group used our knowledge already learnt on what needed doing/ what we shouldn’t do correctly. The show was a game show, based around a garden shed. Scenery was basic. We had me (George) presenter. Then, we had Josh French and Kris Curran as players on the show.

Overall what was produced looked/ and sounded clear. I think we could’ve had somebody who took more pictures so we could evidence more. As we had a lack of these.

Inside the SHED from George Coombes on Vimeo.

 

 

‘Inside the shed’. Was around 1 minute, using serval people as actors. Alongside the people using the cameras, which we had 5 doing. Capturing the different angles.

My role and what I did for the film:

• I was the presenter, who started the show. This was done without a script this first time, which made it slightly harder to do. In terms of knowing what I needed to say for the TV show. Although I did improvise on this occasion. I enjoyed doing this and it was a strong point of mine I felt.
• I had a position where I had to communicated between the camera crew, production manager and also my contestants (group A/B).
• I had to go through before filming what the groups were going to say, and make a running order.
• As expected we had to go over the production several times, trying to record it to the best standard.

Health and Safety we had to ensure was being met too.

• So making sure cables were tidy, neat and fit for purpose was important. If they were trailing around they were in an organised tape down.
• I made sure that the scenery was securely stable.

 

Channel 4 Case Study

Channel 4 Case Study

In order to pass this first unit I had to explore UK TV broadcasting through a case study. This was completed on Channel 4, including it’s distribution, modes of delivery, operating model plus more.

Operating Model

Channel 4 is operated by channel 4 television corporation who run a few services, all following similar branding. It’s a commercial channel, meaning all money needs to come from advertising by running regular commercials. It’s responsibility in which it sees it’s self is to create strong, meaning and powerful content across all it’s operations. Channel 4’s mandatory default is to promote social, environmental and personal change. These all feature in it’s key commitments. The channel’s owners ensure this is archived simply by following what they call ‘5 impacted areas’. Which range from Accountability which as a section promotes ‘responsible behavior. Another is People which is a strong part of the operation at Channel 4. Suggesting diversity, in a range of ways is vital to the channel. An example of this would be the show ‘What British Muslims Really Think’ shows to me that the channel is welcoming and promoting diversity in all areas possible. Channel 4’s structure is actually a non-profit company. It’s relationship with advertisers is key, and this to ensure a good link between both is archived is by broadcasting shows, which would be relevant to it’s advertisement clients . Example, Location, Location, Location would draw in say clients who would want to promote home changes such as DIY stores, furniture etc. Typically linking the consumer watching the show with the product they’d likely want to buy. Targeting the audience with adverts relevant. Channel 4 offers many of it’s TV shows the change to be sponsored although, the new s/ current affairs TV shows cannot be sponsored. Often the sponsors are linked massively with what’s being broadcast as mentioned above.

Product Types

Being a diverse channel. Channel 4 broadcasts a wide range of products. This would include the news aspect, which is provided by ‘ITN’. A product from ITV, the news is outsourced. News features massively on Channel 4, with episodes regularly going out daily. Another aspect of the product type offered by Channel 4 is ‘Soap Operas’ and actually is one of the largest products offered by the station. Hollyoaks has been running since the mid 90’s and remains one of the most popular programs on the channel. Current affairs documentary series feature on the channel, which includes Dispatches which I think would for fill channel 4’s ‘5 impacted areas’ in the ‘community’ section. As a show it helps shows a clear role within todays society/ community. It picks up on problems of it’s views, and uses its sources to fight against the other party, often a company, government company etc. Other products from the brand include different TV channels operated by the same company. Channel 4 run music channels, ‘4 Music’, ‘E4’, ‘More4 Channel’. All commercial operations, not-for profit. Channel 4 often outsources it’s shows, with ITV studios being used to produce certain shows that are ran on the channel. Channel 4 has strong views on producing products that’s make changes to peoples life’s, or influence which comes across in it’s products offered. Gives a voice to those who otherwise wouldn’t with different channels. ‘Unreported World’ for example is a show which studies have found 43% of people, made them see something in a different link. Eye opening products, which are realistic life.

Modes of Delivery

Channel 4 outputs all of it’s products using modern, 2016 systems. This includes offering its generic channel 4 actual channel (Freeview, sky), when it first launched analogue was the main broadcast route. Although, as time has moved on since it’s launch and with analogue not available now, Freeview is the main input for the channel. Alongside online sources, for example it’s ‘Demand 4’ service. Allowing the public to access it’s products on demand, which means they can watch whenever/ wherever they are. Channel 4 did launch it’s own ‘store’ in a couple of years back which allowed consumers to buy a range of it’s shows on DVD’s. Although, this service is now not available and ‘Demand 4’ is in replacement. Aside from Channel 4’s mainstream channel, it’s ‘E4’ and ‘4 Music’ are also easy accessible to the consumer. I see all of it’s operations easy to access with even it’s online content simple to navigate, with it’s delivery clear and simple. HD has allowed Channel 4 to deliver it’s products in the highest quality. I personally feel Channel 4 is very up-to date, ensuring it’s following modern routines in terms of how it’s delivering all products. Plus remove those operations like the 4 store, when newer/ modern ways are available as mentioned above ‘Demand 4’ for example. Channel 4 contacts the consumer using Email too, with links/ promotions for shows.

Programme Content

Channel 4’s range of TV shows is vast. Location, Location, Location for example is a reality show. The show, which shows off different houses to potential home buyer’s uses all sorts of different camera shots, ranging from extra long shots. For example when looking at a house from a long distance away, maybe from the bottom of a drive way, up. Close-Up to when the presenters Phil and Kirsty are in shot, presenting. With there full head/s, shown. Alongside a gap above and to the left and right, plus part of there chest. I think the range of shots used, creates a real scene real life. With different angles constantly being used, different camera shots it keeps the viewer engaged. They don’t know what’s going to come next. In the editing, the voice of the presenters is recorded on the top of the show. So, sometimes the presenters are speaking in real time, and others say when viewing the house you get one of the presenters. I.E Kirsty adding in words, brief jokes to add personality to the show. Often on reflection to the client being shown around the houses response to something that they’ve picked up on in the house. Meaning is created throughout. This includes visual affects, which are included such as text, when talking about properties. Showing it’s price, location, schools, facility’s within the area etc. All of which come onto screen with different transitions, and bold text.

BARB:

Barb measures TV audience figures for all major channels including BBC and also Channel 4. This insert from BARB suggests that the average person will watched Channel 4 for just over 1 hour per week. Which could equal 1 hours TV show etc, news, documentary. Its important to Channel 4 to bring in as many viewers are possible, as this will be easy to bring in sales. BARB looks at audience in depth too, so it allows the channel operator to really understand it’s audience.

Mise en scene:

This changes on each show. It depends the type of people featuring on Location, Location, Location at the time. Some people for example who have lots of money, you could tell with the lavish styles, large house types, expensive equipment, TV’s, furniture, pictures etc. Costumes as such aren’t worn, it’s people own typical choices of clothing. So this then would suggest the demographic of the people being featured in the show. People who are in expensive, slick and modern business clothes would suggest to the viewer they run busy life’s etc, earning lots of money. Look after themselves. Then say a couple of a family who feature could arrive to the set in a Ford Galaxy etc, wearing jeans a t-shirts would the suggest to the person watching, family life. Busy school runs, house that need’s to be larger to fit all the children in for example. Colour designs change throughout. Seasons of the year would suggest to the viewer the time of year, so the colour designs change. Winter time would be darker, maybe evening drawing in, lights on in the houses. Then summer brighter sunshine outdoors, windows open on the houses would suggest the summertime. Overall colour design changes on the location, and episode.

The start of location, location, location instantly suggests to the audience the type of area they’re in, in terms of money – area. So somewhere expensive shots of somewhere clear, tidy, expensive cars would then suggest an area of money. Whereas somewhere that doesn’t have much money, would maybe come across to the viewer if a road busy nearby, maybe lots of littler. It’s those establishing shots that suggest instantly what type of environment to the viewer, that the episode is in. Plus the presenters Phil and Kirsty, how they’re friendly together shows strong bonding and a possible close friendship between them both.

Sound:

A theme tune starts the show, which then becomes distinctive as it’s the same one on each show. The show overall doesn’t have masses of music, or sound FX other than when the TV show goes into schedule end of segments ready for commercials. Voiceovers are key in this show, with the presenters being the voiceovers themselves. Dropping in on top of the footage comments, sometimes jokes, comments about houses normally.

Production Process

Pre-production for Location, Location, Location. Would include doing a recce of the show, with crews going to the sites and ensuring they’ve got areas they can place cameras, cables, vehicles. Rick assessments would need to be made for each location too, ensuring they’re complying with health and safety. Cables trailing around driveways, houses etc. Plus scripts would need to be made, allowing the presenters to then be aware of what they need to be doing on arrival to the set. The production may take several attempts/ shots, before the directors are happy with the final cuts. They could even get the presenters to return to location, on another day. Weather conditions etc. Then the post production would be completed, editing the show together. Reviewing all scenes recorded on the shoot, adding in transitions, applying visual affects, sound and titles. Pre-recording of documentary’s is often completed way in advance of the show airing, sometimes 12 months in advance. Which allows the production process to be completed to a high standard, and gives plenty of time to re-complete certain aspects of shows if they aren’t to the right standard. Live shows would need to be planned on in advance even more, with practice runs happening many times before the live show. All of the above pre-production would still need to be completed. Although, to the standard of a live show. Like risk assessments to suit live working crews, with equipment moving around.

Audience Profiles

Target audience is a main aspect of commercial TV. With shows having to be relevant to advertisers, which brings in profit for the channel. It’s audience will vary massively throughout, depending on time of day, time of the week. Weekday mornings, would have typically a completely different audience to that of a weekday evening. So the channel caters for it’s different audience throughout by broadcasting relevant shows. Children, teenager shows would be shown first thing in the morning, likely when the adults would be getting ready for work. Whereas in the evening, children would be in bed adults would watch TV. So Channel 4 would broadcast news, current affairs, soaps etc. The channel has a primary audience which it aims to please as a whole, although this does as mentioned above depend on time of day. It sees it’s self as target for young adults 18+ and those below 30 typically according to the channel it’s self. I would see this type of person as maybe a UNI student, leaving late education. Possibly in part-time/ full-time employment. Mainly switching over during the evening, to relax at the end of the day. Still keen to learn new skills, yet be engaged with entertainment.

Distribution

Channel 4 as a whole distributes it’s programs and products as a nation service. With no regional shows on offer. News is done nationally, alongside weather. It distributes all of it’s show content mainly on it’s Channel 4 channel. Using online services like ‘Demand 4’ allow it to distribute to a wider audience, who may not be able to access a TV. Channel 4 recently has worldwide success with it’s prime time show ‘Gogglebox’ which has been sold worldwide, to country’s including Japan. Making it more than just a national TV channel. It’s distribution is a key factor to the service it’s providing, as the way in which this is done has got to be following modern day practices to the consumer otherwise Channel 4’s products simply won’t be watched/ easy to get hold of to view. Social media is a key way to distribute it’s products be it on Facebook running promotional trailers, to posting engaging tweets to get the consumer to watch a product of it’s. ‘Demand 4’ is probably another main way it distributes it’s products, which is why the site is easy to use and every show broadcasts goes on line to view. Unlike BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 doesn’t have an actual channel assessable across the world and does focus mainly targeting the UK with it’s distribution.

Regulatory Bodies

Channel 4 is under close watch, by government body Ofcom. They regulate, constantly ensuring the operator is following it’s key commitments. Plus makes sure that the station doesn’t broadcast anything inappropriate. Of course it’s hard for Ofcom to always be watching, so as part of having the licence to broadcast Channel 4 has to ensure back-up recordings are always available for Ofcom to get hold of if any complaints/ issues become clear. Ofcom mainly acts between the consumer and the broadcaster, and if any consumer issues are submitted has to review and possibly open an investigation. The consumer has the right to contact Ofcom at any given time, regarding a broadcast on Channel 4. The Ofcom broadcasting code, which Channel 4 have to comply with doesn’t however apply to Channel 4’s online content. Although Channel 4 apply the same rules of there programs broadcast to the online content. The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) is another aspect of the regulating body of UK commercial TV. They ensure all adverts comply with stands set out by Ofcom in terms of TV commercials running. For example, they have the power of banning commercials before they even go out on air if they feel it isn’t clean/ decent for air. It can vary for reason why certain adverts can’t run. Anything from the statistics mentioned don’t add up, to it being un-clear, un-clean etc. Channel 4 will have it’s own body regulating shows before going out on air, with a team trained to ensure that content is safe to air. Plus Channel 4 will have a team, who communicate and attend meetings with Ofcom.