 The background and thinking that go into producing a documentary ▪ The idea ▪ The format in which the idea is presented ▪ The trends that may have affected the choices of format and storyline

 Documentaries are produced using either  Single-camera ▪ or  Multiple-camera  In documentaries,  The functions of the director and the producer are often blurred

 The idea: ▪ An idea is the first step in developing a story or documentary. ▪ Some ideas make for wonderful television documentaries ▪ Others, although meaningful and exciting, belong in different formats, such as newspapers, magazines, articles, or books.

 Specific documentary formats (which act as the containers for the idea)  Found footage: ▪ Old film or animated still shots  Expanded coverage: ▪ This can be edited or unedited.  Creation: ▪ In these programs, a dynamic situation is created

 Recreation:  Events are recreated using documentary techniques and styles to simulate reality.  Montage/Quick cuts:  The 1960 commercial for Jamaica which used 50 shots in 60 seconds

 Trends:  These are affected by innovations and inventions in hardware and software and by changes in conventions.  These trends shape our approach to documentary television production

 Both short and long pieces often rely on a production plan that calls for interviews and coverage (or “B-roll”)

 Once the idea is in place, we must begin to consider plans  Preproduction  Production  Postproduction

 Preproduction often yields a many lists: ▪ Lists of people to interview ▪ Lists of questions to ask ▪ Lists of crew members’ names and contact info ▪ Lists of equipment needed ▪ Lists of services needed, such as: ▪ Animation ▪ Graphics ▪ Sound effects ▪ Proposed time lines

 Review the 9 tips on shooting interviews  Page 227 & 228

 Viewing your footage  You should plan on viewing all your footage and logging what you see.  It will make it easier to find and select footage during editing  Along the way, you should give some thought to “pacing.” ▪ What is pacing? (Pg 228)

 Editing  Even though it’s television—a video medium— video always follows audio

Reality TV – Click HereClick Here

 The major difference between documentaries and reality programming  Seems to be about information & entertainment. ▪ Documentaries primarily aim to inform, but they can be entertaining. ▪ Reality programs aim to entertain, but they can be informative.

 As reality TV’s popularity has increased, producers have begun to use many different production formats.  Lifestyle changes:  Fantasies fulfilled:  Docusoaps starring: celebrities:  Hidden camera:  Reality game shows  Talent searches: Spoofs: Documentary: Historical recreation: Science: Dating: Law enforcement/military: Makeover:

 As a production format, reality programming requires, broadly speaking,  The same kind of staffing that’s required for most other formats. ▪ The key ingredient may be that the bulk of the material is spontaneous, but ultimately the material is scripted. ▪ We are led in and out of segments, scripted questions are asked, and situations are created that provoke unscripted responses

 Good audio for reality productions can be tricky. ▪ The following are some ways to get workable audio: ▪ Put a microphone on everyone. ▪ Hide the microphones where the speakers can’t help but speak into them. ▪ Have locations from which speakers talk, as in a town meeting. ▪ Have standby overhead mics

 Review the tips listed on Page 243