Format of Single Camera Production

(Format section)

Series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWeXkZEHfeY

It is a type of show which can be shown online and also for mainstream. The industry would often make their show run for set amount of episode for each of their series. Also in each series it may has a different plot to it depending on the TV show. Another thing that an industry may do is make a multiple of series name of the same show such as Naruto and then the next name of the series is called Naruto Shippuden as there is part 1 story and part 2 story. The genre that would often tend to run as a series is drama, crime or comedy.

Example

An example of show that run multiple of series is called Family Guy. The reason why this would relate to the format is because it runs for multiple series and it has reached to season 15 and it is still on-going. For most of the 15 series it run up to approximately 20 episodes

Season 15 is still ongoing  picture is shown below

Advantages

The advantage that this has on the broadcaster is that they have a set time to show this to the viewers as it is very popular. The more popular the show is the more likely that the broadcaster will be able to spend more money for each episode of their show.

Disadvantages

Whenever a show becomes too popular, the other broadcasters from different channel will try to buy the show. Once the show is bought it will go to another channel therefore the viewership will go down for the channel that has not got the show any more. Another thing is that if the broadcaster invested lots of money into a show and it does not become popular they waste a lot of money and the broadcaster loose some profit. If a series goes on for too long often the viewership of the programme will decrease as the picture from above illustrates it.

Serial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhYDtnadrQ

These are a type of shows which are very popular in UK and also South/ Central America and it is on-going series 52 weeks a year. The broadcaster may show a couple of episodes per week of the show. The show have low budget in each episode as they have lots of cast of character. These type of shows have lots of complex storylines and the show can often run for months or even years.

Example

An example of a show that does relate to this type of format is called Hollyoaks as it has been running from 1995 for 21 years. This is an on-going series show, during the weekdays everyday new episodes are shown. Therefore this means that the cast member must be spending in production 52 weeks a year if they are showing that many amount of an episode.

Advantages

The advantage that this has on the broadcaster is that it brings in the viewers. This will also allow the broadcaster time to put in slots of the shows that need to be put in for the weekend. Another advantages that this has on the broadcaster that it allows the viewers to catch up on the programme that they missed throughout the weekdays because it is shown during the weekends as a repeat.

Disadvantages

The disadvantage that this has on the broadcaster is that the show may lose viewership as it has been for many years also many of the same story line are shown frequently for the characters in Hollyoaks especially like murder cases and court cases. The viewers may only rely in only watching the catch up times when the soap genres are mainly shown in the weekends. That means all of the episode that was shown for that programme during the weekdays will be shown in the weekend in the morning. Therefore there will be less viewership during the time slot that Hollyoaks is shown during the weekdays as the viewer will prefer to watch Hollyoaks during the weekends.

Single drama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va1N9r2Vieg

This is just a one off time when the broadcaster decides to add something new within the channel. This will be shown only once in the channel and not more. The broadcaster will make a show with a high budget involved with it and there is no series to follow. Whereas a TV series spends lower in budget. Single drama used to be popular however it is not as much today. Sometime it is done in a series but it is done in a completely new storyline, something unrelated to the previous series. The genre that would broadcast often this type of style is a Docu drama.

Example

An example of a docu dram that relates to this genre is called Exposure-Please Don't Take My Baby. The reason why this would is one is because there is only one episode about this topic and no more.

Advantages

The advantages this has on the broadcaster is that gives the one off shows opportunities to be advertised and a let the show tell one story to bring in views for the channel. Another good thing that this has on the broadcaster is that it gives them opportunity to put new element to the programme so it would intrigue the viewer.

Disadvantages

The disadvantage that this has on the broadcaster is that they will invest lots of money to make this show especially if it is a film or documentary that couldn't get any support in funding and the making of it. If the documentary does not get lots of views especially when the channel does invest in a lot of money it should be fine for the broadcaster as it is just one episode that they will be showing. However this means that the broadcaster will lose a lot of money. One off single drama used to be popular however it is not as much as many channels tries to make similar documentary as the ones that have been made such as smoking.

Genre

Period

http://watchseries.cr/series/downton-abbey/season/2/episode/1

A period drama is a type of drama which is set in the past. This can be set about a couple of years ago or 100 years ago. Often the producer will have to spend a lot of money on the Mise-en-scene as they may have to create a location set in the past and the costume set in the past. The camerawork is pretty much very refine as they will make the look of the area look posh and there would be not much incident happening within the location. This is often peaceful. An example of period drama show is one called Downton Abbey as it  is based in the past.

In Downton abbey at 17:05 the audience can see the costume that is being worn by the character. The clothing that they are wearing is set from the past. the location is set around an old building and the character are wearing lots of make ups. The inside of the house, old portraits are shown which contain people in the picture, this is shown during the time of 30 seconds which will make the audience believe it is set in the past.

Drama doc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIIN0Ug8wg8

A docudrama is a show which illustrates videos on actual event but adds drama so that it is more interesting to the audience. It often shows real archive footage based on that event. They use real expert to add on the drama which will make the audience believe that the experts is well educated within that field. This is often done as a documentary. An example of a documentary that does this is called 'America the story of us'. In this video they show footage of an actual event which started at the time of 0:01 using dissolve editing. It shows that the American soldier are invading into another country by the river and showing some of their death. By showing some real archive footage of the soldiers death, the audience can gain some information on what war is like.

In this programme they use the experts to explain what happen during the American invasion. This is done at the time of 0:12. By using the experts within the documentary the audience are more likely to believe the experts as their knowledge is better. They also used voice-over, over the archive footage to let the audience see it from their point of view and this will make the audience feel more involved in the event.

Crime

http://www.watchseries.ac/link/exashare.com/5656800

This is based around criminal activities that happens in the real world. The camera often follows the crime solvers, not the criminals. One of the themes that makes a crime show is investigation and interrogation. Usually a case is solved per episode however it it can be done as a series. An example of a programme that shows this element throughout their programme is called Midsomer Murder as it contain themes that relates to a crime show.

In Midsomer Murder season 18 episode 1 there are scenes which relate to the convention of an crime. Throughout the whole show the camera sticks to the crime solvers, the only time that the camera does not follow the crime solvers is when a point of view shot is being illustrated of a murder happening at the beginning of the show. Then there is an investigation scene which was done at the time of 5:34. This show that this is a crime show.

Soap opera

A soap opera often reveal real situation that happen in the real world. They tend to deal with issues very dramatically and exaggerate the whole situation. This will include actor over reacting to situation that is quite small. This is only film by camera not animated. Their chosen location is often a permanent set and it is set in a small town in the real world. An example of soap opera is called Eastenders as it is shows situations in a over dramatic way.

In Eastenders, there is a moment in the episode where a a situation is being over dramatic near the end of the episode. This is shown during the time of 26.09 to the end of the Eastenders episode where there is a conversation scene between the two characters. The camera stays static and throughout the scenes which it only ends when the women takes off her clothes and takes a picture of herself. This happen during the time of 26:45 last shot of her expression as a close up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCpc1XFbfhs 

Comedy

A Comedy is a type of show which contain lots of funny moment that would make the audience laugh. The amount of cast member that would be involved is quite small around 5 to 6 people. The reason why they do this is to keep the character memorable. A comedy genre can be a sketch show. An example of a TV show that illustrate this type of convention is a show called Friends. The reason why this show be a great example for a comedy show is because there lots of scene where the character says or do something silly.

In Friend season 1 episode 1 part 2 there is a scene where Joey place his hand on Rachel's shoulder for a very long time. This will make the audience laugh as you can see the expression on Rachel's face and also Monika who is sitting next to her. This is done between the time of 3:41-3:50. The first shot you will see an over the shoulder shot of the Rachel looking sick to the women next to her which is Monika, a long shot of Joey intervening with the conversation, then there is a close up of Joey placing his hand on Rachel's shoulder. In addition there is another close up of Joey holding onto a sandwich and eating it and the camera cuts back to the shot of a close up of Joey holding on the shoulder of the Rachel and by one hand shakes it like a shot reverse shot.