Year Two - Unit 27 - Factual Programme:Criteria One

Factual Programme Production Techniques for Television 

This blog entry will cover the issues facing producers in factual programming, and the impact it has on their work.

I will describe the main issues, and explain how I aim to recognize these issues while working on my documentary, and how I will overcome them.

Privacy

The 'Phone hacking scandal' involving News of the World

Privacy is expected to be treated fairly and accordingly for those involved with Factual Programming. Interviewees should be treated fairly, and should also be made aware of the style of format, and the purpose of your film. Interviewees' privacy should be respected.

When filming in public areas, you are only likely to need to obtain the consent from the main contributors to the film, such as interviewees, who's words are caught on camera. Generally you will not need to obtain the consent of people walking by, or in the background.

However, when filming in private areas, people expect their privacy. This goes for interviewees homes, or even hospital wards. You must obtain the consent of the legal owner of the property before continuing.  

When it comes to my own Factual, I will fully respect all interviewees equally. I will not use their thoughts and opinions against them, and when in editing, I will avoid cutting up separate interviews too much, as mixing and cutting out words may misrepresent the views of the interviewee. I must remain impartial throughout my filming experience, making sure I treat interviewees equal and fairly.

Bias

News which has been given a biased viewpoint is no longer news. It is a news story which is being told from only one point of view. The term Bias in factual programming means to take one side of a story and to represent it; ignoring all other sides. This can lead to complaints and even loss of audience. When working on a factual programme, you should try to give the each side of the argument that you are covering (If there is one). 

This convention can be a very dangerous tool in the media. It can influence parties and individuals by what they see.  

This obstacle will be tackled in my film by making sure I have all the sides of the story. Even though it is a piece which describes how my chosen subject isn't as bad as it is portrayed, I will include the views and opinions of those on the opposite side of the party.

Accuracy and Balance

As a filmmaker, your documentary should always accurately reflect reality. The film must be truthful, accurate and fair. Check all the facts that are being told in the film; evidence of their truth must be shown.

For example, if your film has a reconstruction of a factual event, you should label it as such so that viewers are not misled. Also, if anything in your film is set up or faked, it is important that viewers are told this, so as not to mislead them.

This would be important for News programs, as they must use the information they are given in the right way, so that the viewers receive the correct information they need. An example would be a report on the war, they would need to make sure the information they receive is 100% accurate.

When it comes to factual film making, balance is a good way to represent the opposing subjects to yours. Both sides of the argument must be balanced, one of the sides cant be shown as 'better' than the other.

My documentary will have a lot of facts inside, meaning I must check all of them to be sure of the truth. References will be made for all. For example, statistics I show will have to be shown with the dates that they were made on. My factual piece covers stories of those who have internet friendships, showing the positive side of the subject, so I must cover balance by having the opinions of those who feel concerned about the internet, detailing the risks and warnings, and how to avoid them best.

A one-sided, opinion heavy
documentary example.

Opinion

An opinion is a view or judgement about something. In factual programming, opinions are very useful if you want to get the views of a wide group of people. Opinions should be used as fact in your documentary.


Opinions will be used greatly for my factual piece. Both sides of my subject will contain the opinion of those who have internet friendships and those who are concerned and distrustful of them.

Impartiality

Being impartial means to treat all contributors equally. A film should be fair, and not only to the people who appear in the film (interviewees) but also anyone that is referred to. It would also mean not to take favoritism to one subject, meaning not taking any sides, and to try have a mutual standoff. To show impartiality, the filmmaker would need to try and not show his views on the subject. And to show the interviewees with their own perspective on the topic.

I will show all contributors of my film in the same light. Even if I cover one side of the story more, I will not darken the other side by making them seem wrong on the subject. I should make sure they have a good amount of time on screen, and many opinions shown about their side.

This small video example shows the BBC, and how their partiality over Gaza.

Objectivity and Subjectivity

Subjective information based on personal opinions and points of view. It is often considered as badly suited for scenarios like Factual Programming. Objective information is fact based, measurable and observable.

If unbalanced opinions are presented as facts, they act as propaganda or persuasion. For example, a documentary idea might be about how teens are the prime cause of trouble in the --- area. This is presented as an objective fact though clearly a subjective opinion. The news avoid being subjective in order to avoid controversy. Being subjective would be to put across a one sided view.

Being objective means being able to put an argument across via documentary and present it without being biased or partial, though it should give the audience a chance to make up their own minds on the subject being discussed.

For my factual to be Objective based, I must include facts about my subject, such as statistics, and make sure I don't fully display my personal opinion onto the film.

Representation

In general, representation is the way a subject is being portrayed. In factual programming, this can be the interviewee, and how they are shown in the filming (and also editing) process. 

It would be quite easy to sway the audience into having a view on an interviewee simply by how they are represented in the documentary. For example, if a documentary was about a man in prison, and the producer mainly showed the man in a sympathetic attitude, possibly including his thoughts and how he is a 'victim' the audience would be swayed feel sorry for him. Negative representation is also shown in documentaries: victimizing individuals or groups, possibly by stereotyping.