Task 1B
Codes and conventions of my chosen documentary
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03x1zs2
Daisy Abeka
Reggie Yates
millionaire preacher
The first documentary I will be reporting on is Reggie Yates: the millionaire preacher.
The documentary follows Reggie Yates as he travels to South Africa to find out
about why the famous Preacher Mboro is such an influence to many people in
South Africa and how he make his money. This type of documentary I have chosen
is an interactive type of documentary, the reason for this is because the film
maker interacts with the subject as Reggie spends a day shopping with the
preacher, becomes a part of the congregation at one point and follows him to
the poor parts of South Africa as he shows love to the people.
This particular documentary follows the conventions of an
interactive programme because the audience are able to see the film maker as
well as watch the producer get involved with the subject. In the beginning of the documentary exposition
happen first this introduces the main theme of the subject. And it creates the
viewers first impression as the producer selects segments of the programme that
will catch the viewer’s attention. There are verbal conventions; the use of
voice over is also to allow the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the
subject and what is going on. However voice of authority is used so we can see
who is representing the view of the documentary, an example of this was when after Reggie Yates visited
the church, and there was a voice over as the camera showed the city of South
Africa as he explained his first impressions of the congregation. In a way this
is enabling the audience to understand his views about the subject. My
chosen documentary also follows the conventions of an interactive format as it
doesn’t use re- enactments of events it’s all real life and people that are
shown, this is also shown
when the use of the handheld camera that captures the live events that take
place in the church, and in the streets of South Africa when the producers
follow the preacher around. This is to create realism in his programmes
and allow the audience to also base their opinions on the subject. Hand held
camera is used for Reggie Yates programmes this is because majority of his
programmes a lot of action occurs and it is easier for the audience to keep up
with any live events or action that takes place, in a way it is also making the
documentary realistic.
Another reason why
the programme follows the conventions of an interactive mode is because the
producer also interviews with eye witnesses and people that are related to
subject and become reliant on the honesty of the witnesses. However it does not
follow the typical codes of a factual documentary as there are no written codes
used, an example would be headlines or captions. The reason for this is the
producer wants his programme to be represented in the honest way possible, and as
the subject the producer is also in contact with the subject at all times.
Heal me in the
name of Jesus
Heal me in the name of Jesus is a documentary about a
disabled journalist who travels to Australia to meet a preacher who claims he
can heal sick people and make the disabled free from using wheelchairs or any
support that may be using. The programme lies under the code of an expository
mode, as well as an interactive mode. The reason for this being expository is because it
follows the typical conventions of an expository mode. The use of constant authoritative
commentary used to persuade the audience her point of view on the subject. This
was seen as the producer watched past videos of the healing congregation online
and the voice over played persuading the audience that she was not convinced by
the videos she was watching. This persuasive technique is what draws the
audience’s attention onto her point of view on the subject, being expository
appeals audience as the producer is talking directly to the audience. In a way
this is drawing the audience attention making the viewers feel as if they are
with the producer. The use of old footages and pictures also make the
documentary to fall into the code of expository showing past events and facts
about the church in the programme. As the documentary is getting an
insight to the lives of preachers and why so many people believe. The producer
has a one to one interview with the main subject at the end, this enables the
audience to see the two different opinions being shared allowing the audience to be left with their own
opinion on the subject.
There was also an interview with an expert in the particular
field who gives an overview on the subject; the expert is used to balance the
story so it doesn’t come across as bias to viewers. It’s another way of giving
professional observations.
An example was when the producer visited the church witnessed firsthand a
miracle taking place, as it then cut back to the expert in science explaining
how miracles may be difficult for the human mind to understand.
Another reason why it falls under the code of a
participatory documentary is because the encounter between the filmmaker and
the subjects. She actively joins the members of the congregation to be healed,
and spends a week interviewing members of the church as well to also gather
their opinions and find out why they have faith in the preacher. The use of
images and testimonials from the members of the congregation are also part of
the programme to allow the audience to get an insight into the mind of the people
that believe in the preacher. There is no definitive argument or biased
opinions at the end of the interview.
BBC News
BBC news is a major news channel but the style is different
when it comes to reporting news worldwide. This particular factual news programme
doesn’t have the typical news reporter in the studio but a reporter visiting
the subject and reporting directly to the audience in documentation. I have
picked a subject from BBC news, as it talks about the positive effects of cannabis oil and how it
can treat epilepsy. The programme focuses on one child with epilepsy this type of programme lies
under observational and expository. The reason for it being expository is
because of the use of “voice of God” in most factual programmes this is used to
narrate the subject in a more in depth way for the audience. It is another way
of Speaking directly to the viewer, in an authoritative commentary employing
with titles proposing a point of view. An example of this was when the camera
showed the subject with the parent as the voice over talks over, informing the
audience of the extent of the epilepsy, alongside a title on the screen with
the subjects name and age. Another reason why it falls under the category of observational is
because there is simple observation of the subject with minimum intervention.
Majority of the programme
consisted of the observation of the subject with the voice over’s of the author
and experts, with their titles coming up at the bottom of the screen. Diegetic
sounds is used throughout making the programme making the subject real to the audience, as it is
shown on a news programme. An interview with an expert in the health field is
also interviewed to give a more in depth explanation to the audience, speaking
directly to the camera stating the facts and statistics on the weight of the
subject. The producer is hardly seen in the video only heard through narration;
this allows the audience to be free to
judge their opinion on the subject.
With
this programme it follows the conventions of a news programme, the use of
titles to inform the audience of who is speaking. With the statistics shown being
broadcasted on a well known news channel allows the audience to trust the
information given.
Steve back shall-
deadly 60
Deadly
60 is a wildlife factual programme showing nature and wildlife that viewers
have not seen. This type of programme falls under the code of expository, the
reason for this is because the producer constantly engages the viewers by directly
addressing to the audience with his strong point of view. This was shown when
Steve was having an
encounter with one of the wildlife and at the same time talking to the camera
on his opinion on how powerful nature is and how humans fail to realise it.
This was then followed by a voice over which was in sync with the image of the
wildlife, directly speaking to the audience. Another reason for deadly 60 to fall under the
category of expository is the use of titles. The titles are used when the
producer is explaining the features of an animal or insect. This was used when
Steve encountered a scorpion and held it close to the camera, as the features
of the scorpion appeared on the screen ranking the scorpion as one of his
‘deadly 60’s’ .This
engages the audience in order for them to keep up with the information.
However,
this programme also follows the code of an interactive documentation the
producer actively engages with the activities and gets in contact with
dangerous animals. Another example of this interaction was when Steve was
joining the sharks in the sea and at the same time speaking to the camera, this
engages the audience making them feel the same experience. The use of
hand held camera is constantly used throughout the filming; this is to create a
live feel for the audience. Allowing the producer to host the audience as they
watch the danger that he is facing the audience are aware of the presence of
the camera and the crew as they would also be in the shot whiles recording. The
editing in this program is normally long takes and the use of zooming in as a
lost of fast action takes place as the camera crew try to be fast to capture
the action. The long shots in deadly 60 signify the mass scale f the extreme
situation the producer is going through. This also entices the viewer into
waiting to see what occurs next. As well as seeing the depth of the danger of
the wildlife scenery. Non-diegetic sound is when there is dangerous segments shown,
this enhance’s the mood of the programme controlling the audience emotions.
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