CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMES

By Chelsie Brandrick

What are Factual Programmes?The genre includes news, documentary,

educational, magazine, discussion, review, chat show, special interest (hobby, makeover, and how-to formats), ‘reality’ TV and other sub-genres.

Examples of factual programmes are News, Bargain Hunt, Graham Norton, Loose Women and Big Brother.

Positive Values of Factual Programmes

EducateInformCreate EmpathyEncourage social/political changeAccurate, balanced and neutral

material

Negative Values of Factual Programmes

Offer a biased point of viewNo impact on society due to a niche

audience

Two Examples of Factual Programmes in More Detail

News: Facts and statistics and contract with the viewer.

Documentary: Earliest form of cinema, feature important information on a vast range of topics.

What Are Codes?Systems of signs, consist of agreed rules and can

be divided into Technical, Symbolic and Written and Audio.

Technical codes are: camera techniques, framing, layout, lighting, editing and sound.

Symbolic codes are: Objects, setting, body language, clothing, colour.

Written and Audio codes are: Headlines, captions, speech bubbles and language style.

Codes in News & Documentaries

News Documentaries

Studio News Readers Film

Field Reporters Script

Links to the Studio Music

Mode of address to viewer Costumes

Interviewing Camera Angles

Experts and Witnesses Lighting

Report structure Interviewing

Actuality Footage Experts and Witnesses

What Are Conventions?Conventions are the generally accepted ways of

doing something. It is the way that the codes are used (which is

known as conventions) that helps the audience understand which roles each character is playing in the story.

The way directors use these tools can encourage us to like or dislike a character and help us to understand how important each character is in the story.

Conventions in News & Documentaries

News Documentaries

Broadcasts from outside the studio

Archive Footage

Newscasters smartly dressed Presenter

Graphics Bulletin Voice-Over

Narrative Structure Graphics/Text

Theme Tune Single strand narrative

Multi Camera Set Up Real people

Camera Shots Re-enactments

Documentary FormatsExpositoryObservationalInteractiveReflexivePerformativityPoetic

ExpositoryA commentator talking over the images or videos shown to

explain the story, speaking directly to the audienceGraphics & animationsRhetorical questionsEditing is used for continuity Include factual information and figures; a variety of footage,

interviews, stills, archive material to support the argument of the documentary.

Persuasive techniques Legal and ethical considerations

Observational Filmed on LocationEquipment is usually informal like hand held

camerasLong takes dominate.Synchronous sound recordingNo interviewsCrew are neutral observers No rehearsals or staged events

InteractiveFilmmaker is sometimes visible to the audience.Interviews dominate Use of archive materials Location shooting Long takes dominate Synchronous sound recordingVoice-Over

Reflective Borrows techniques from fiction films for an

emotional response. Emphasise on the expressive nature of film, anti-

realist techniquesVoiceover is questioning and uncertain – rather

than authoritativeReliance on suggestion rather than factCrew and equipment are clearly seen – filming

process is not hidden.

Performative Documentary maker (and crew) interact with subjectAn investigation or search which there may be no

satisfactory conclusionAddresses the audience in an emotional and direct wayDocumentary maker comments on the process of making the

documentarySubject matter often about identity (gender, sexuality, ethnic

minorities) rather than factual subjectsSubjective views of the film makerHypothetical re-enactments.

PoeticFilmmaker gives subjective viewNot in typical narrative structureParticular mood/tone is created - enhanced by musicSome light rhetoric but not alwaysEvents are under-developed and situations can be left

unsolvedUnrelated shots edited together - linked by a mood/musicPerceived as Avant-garde - innovative, experimental and

pushes boundaries

Realism Include an interest in the real world and show real footage. They are based on real life people and their lives, and show

what their lives or the people themselves are like. Go into detail of the subject’s experiences using re-

enactments of events to show this. They may include handheld camera, interviews with people

involved in the topic/accident, statistics and graphs to support the facts. They may also show the setting up of the equipment and camera's before the filming takes place.

Observational, reflexive, interactive and poetic documentaries use realism conventions.

Dramatisation These documentaries are also known

as ‘Docudramas’ They include cliff hangers, voice overs,

music and computer generated imagery (CGI).

Expository, interactive, performative and poetic documentaries all use dramatization conventions.

NarrativeCommunicate factual events/experiences in a

narrative form to gain a greater understanding. Expositional approach that details with events but

keeps the narrative in mind.Interactive, performative and poetic

documentaries use narrative conventions.

How documentaries use conventions to advise or determine audience responses.

The Verbal Conventions: Persuasive voice-overs, compelling language, particular type of interviewees and music or sound effects.

The visual conventions: Presenter or interviewees external appearance, location, body language, camera work and editing.

The documentary conventions: Documentary style may affect how the audience thinks about the people portrayed in the documentary if they are shown in a particular way.

Codes and conventions and how I will use them in my documentary

Codes: Expository, Interactive & Poetic.

Conventions: Realism & Narrativisation.