Link to Ruth's Research

As Ruth and I are working together, I will post the links to the work she has done on my blog, rather than copying it all to my blog. These are the links to Ruth's MTV research and Sky Living research.

Research: BBC3

Logo

The BBC is a widely recognised company, with a widely recognised symbol. As the BBC has several channels, including radio, each has to have it's own specific logo, so people can easily relate the logo to the channel. The BBC3 logo is the original BBC logo at the top, with 'three' in large, bold, lower case letters. The colour used is pink, suggesting the programmes shown are largely aimed at the female population. It is clear, and simple, yet eye-catching at the same time. The font used for the word 'three' is quite fun, and not as serious as the likes of BBC2, which suggests the channel is targeted towards a younger audience.

Homepage

Research: Channel 4

Before we start our brief, Ruth and I have decided to carry out some research on some current television channel websites. We already have a rough idea of our target audience - young adults. We are going to research two websites each, one which is suited to all age groups and audiences, and one suited to our target audience. I am going to be researching Channel 4 and BBC3.

LOGO

The Channel 4 logo is unusual, but to the point. It almost looks like an optical illusion, however this does not confuse the audience as it is clear it is a number '4'. The black and white colour scheme keeps it gender/age neutral and simple. It is easily recognisable to people everywhere. The use of a number rather than a word allows it to be understood and recognised by people of different languages. All these contributing aspects of the logo allow it to reach out to a larger audience as possible.

HOMEPAGE

These are two screen shots I have taken of the Channel 4 homepage. As I couldn't fit the whole homepage, I have had to take two shots to allow the whole of the page to be shown.

 The colour scheme, like the logo, is mainly black and white, although the images add colour. There are several features which are in colour; 4SEVEN, PARAMLYMPICS, Scrapbook, WATCH LIVE and the buttons to 'explore'. The use of colour for these links helps them to stand out to the audience, attracting their attention. I feel this design works well, as when I clicked on to the website, I was automatically drawn to those features, to see what they were and if they were of any interest to me. All the coloured links are either turquoise or fuschia, except the 'watch live' link which is orange. The colour scheme is very simple, and relatable to all audiences, as is Channel 4.

Along the menu bar of the webpage are the website's dominant features. The television channel related features are on the left hand side: 4SEVEN, FILM4, MORE4, E4, 4MUSIC, 4oD and PARALYMPICS, and the website features are on the right hand side, just to the left of the search bar: SIGN IN, REGISTER, WHY REGISTER and COOKIES. Being at the top of the page ensures the audience can find them easily, without having to waste time looking around the website. As 4SEVEN and PARALYMPICS are recent, new additions to Channel 4, they have highlighted this fact by using colour. The old, regular features are simply white.

Having a search bar is an extremely beneficial addition to the website, as it gives the audience easy access to find whatever they would like to look for. As with the other features, being placed in the menu bar ensures the audience always know where it is. This is a feature commonly found on most websites now, and from experience I can say this is definitely a helpful feature of a website.

There are only a total of seven images used on the Channel 4 homepage, all of which are images taken from programmes shown on the channel. This reinforces the fact this is Channel 4 only website, and also gives the audience a visual idea of what kinds of shows are available. There is one large image which takes up most of the page, and six smaller images in a row underneath the main image. All have the name of the programme shown, and the time it will be aired.

A main feature of the Channel 4 homepage is the links. Almost everything on the website is a link, from the images to the Terms and Conditions.

Important Update

As from yesterday, Marie chose to leave the group, leaving me and Ruth to work as a two. As the documentary brief was not our favoured topic, we have decided to do Brief 9 instead.

Brief 9

A website for a new TV channel (to include a minimum of three hyperlinked pages with original images, audio and video extract), together with two of the following three options:

• a newspaper advertisement for the channel;
• a double page spread for the listings magazine, focused on the channel's launch;
• an animated ident sequence for the channel.

Although we are now at a disadvantage for time, this has given us more determination and drive to really get on with the task. This morning we have designed a plan of what we will need to do, which will give us a good idea of the things we need to think about and include.

Codes and Conventions in Detail

Camerawork 

A wide range of shots are used in documentaries. For example:

• Close-ups
• External shots
• Pan shots
• Tracking shots

Hand held camerawork is commonly used in documentaries, however it is varied and certain shots are used to suit the topic of the documentary.

Interviews

• Mid-shot to medium close up are the shots most often used in interviews.
• Both eyes of the interviewee should always be in shot.
• Interviewee should face either slightly left or right of the camera to show they are talking to the interviewer rather than the camera.
• Rule of thirds usually used.
• Eyeline should be in the top third.
• Framing used.

Sound

• Background music
• Incidental music
• Voiceovers
• Buzz track / Ambient sound
• Wild sound

Mise-en-Scene

Mise-en-scene helps to create the mood, and gives the audience a feeling of the documentary. Lighting is a strong example of this. The background helps to reinforce to the audience the content of the documentary, and assists with giving the viewer an insight to the life of the interviewee.

• Chiaroscuro lighting
• Chroma key
• Low/high key lighting

Narrative Structure

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Documentaries

Documentaries are one of the earliest forms of cinema and television, and are still extremely popular and important in the present day. Modern day documentaries can be produced in different forms, however the essential codes and conventions stay the same.

Documentary Conventions

• Interviews with participants are used to emphasise to the audience that the documentary is factual.
• Hand-held camera work and poor lighting and sound suggest there was no time to set up or prepare for filming, and there was no time to take care with the filming.
• The editing used in documentaries can put across to the audience that the makers of the documentary have not been able to edit the 'reality' eg. if it is disjointed or the sequencing is unclear.
• By having a presenter or a voiceover, it is clear to the audience that it is not a television drama.
• Photographs or still images, captions and archive film can be used to create a clear context for the events, emphasising that the documentary is factual.
• Music can be used for effects, to either match and support the visuals and what is being showed, or clash, implying the maker disagrees with what is being shown/heard.
• Framing creates meaning and establishes who the audience should sympathise with or disagree with, for example.

Types of Documentary

• Event documentaries
  Event documentaries provide a record of a major event eg. The London Marathon or the Royal Wedding. There is normally a voiceover or presenter, and to keep the audience's interest, a use of montage may be included.
• Documentary accounts
  Documentary accounts follow the events leading up to a certain event or happening. Different accounts or perspectives may be presented about the chain of events. History documentaries are often presented in this format.
• Documentary journeys
  Documentary journeys are either the account of an investigative reporter who's job it is to follow a story, or the account of a real journey. Whichever one, it will work around the idea or exploration. Travel documentaries are often presented in this format.
• Fly-on-the-wall
  Fly-on-the-wall documentaries study a particular topic in extreme detail. An example of this could be family life. A mixture of techniques are used, including interviews and montage to bring meaning to the documentary. Reality tv can be presented in this format.
• Docusoaps
  Docusoaps are a hybrid form of documentary, using the codes and conventions of fly-on-the-wall documentaries and those of soap operas to study a certain society, rather than a small social group.
• Docudramas
  Docudramas are also a hybrid form of documentary, presented by a dramatic retelling of a real event. Historical documentaries may be presented as a docudrama, to make them more current for the audience.

Documentary films are constructed, they do not just 'happen'. The makers of the documentary decide which versions of reality the audience will see, and how it will be portrayed. This gives the audience the task of deconstructing the makers construction to recieve the meaning.