TASK 3: FACTUAL TELEVISION ANALYSIS

 

Devices on which television can be watched and listened

• Cellular device
• Portable tablet device
• Television
• Laptop
• Computer

 

Devices which I watch/own/have access to watch television

• Cellular Device – worst sound quality – least capability for surround sound and panning
• Portable tablet device - worst sound quality – least capability for surround sound and panning
• Television – best sound quality – most capability for surround and panning
• Laptop - best sound quality – most capability for surround and panning

 

Possible effects on mood and meaning

• Cellular Device – It changes the mood, I cannot fully enjoy a programme because it’s playing from a small device although the sound quality on my phone is really good. I always connect stereo headphones to get better sound quality.
• Portable tablet device – It has the same effect as my phone would the screen is small so some genres are not as enjoyable as they would be if I was watching them on television for example horrors. I also connect a portable speaker to my tablet to make for a better sound quality.
• Television – My television is fitted with surround sound and is HD. Therefore it amplifies the mood and meaning of some genres because the picture is clear and both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are audible.
• Laptop – My laptop has a large screen, which is good for watching films, and television programmes and it’s also fitted with substandard speakers. However I prefer to watch animation and comedy programmes on it because other genres will not give me a good feel of the programme.

 

Examples of television programmes that fit:

(TOP GEAR) Series 16 Episode 5.

Top Gear is a documentary recorded before a live studio audience reviewing cars released over the years and yet to be released. It can be found on BBC iPlayer, it features clips of the cars being tested on different terrains by either of the presenters, races between cars and various modes of transportation, interviews of different celebrities and clips of them driving around the Top Gear track. It is filmed on a dormant airfield.

 

Studio audio recording

The Studio recording contains a live studio audience and segments if the programme such as the news, where they talk about cars that have some out across the globe and other that are yet to come out. In this segment the hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are communicating with the audience and updating then. They have televisions fitted around the studio to show the audience pictures and clips of the cars they are talking about. At times they will interact with the audience to get an opinion. Most times they have the cars in the studio and they talk about them inside the studio if they have not been permitted to take the car for a test drive by the manufactures. I think that the studio recording gives the audience a first hand and exclusive feel of a professional non biased opinion of certain vehicles. The way which the presenters go about the show gives it a comedic feel, Top Gear is known for being a witty programme. Interaction with the studio audience gives it the reality programme feel and lightens the mood.

 

Location audio recording

Some of the Top Gear episodes are filmed in different locations within or outside the country. For example every race or test drive, which they film outside the studio is pre-recorded before the programme and then shown to the live studio audience. In this particular episode majority of the location footage was shot in England where the three were test driving a snow plough that they built. Other footage filmed includes the cars driven on the road and on the track by Jeremy Clarkson and The Stig respectively. Background music which is played during the location sequences sets the mood for the audience. Heavy, loud aggressive music is played while driving sports cars, like the audi and BMW which were test driven in this episode. It also shows the audience how the cars favour on different terrains.

 

Interview

The main interview conducted in the programme is the special guest star in the reasonably priced car. In the episode I choose the star in the reasonably priced car that they picked was an American actress named Amber Heard. As a formality Jeremy, the main host of the show asks the star about their career, any on-going projects they have and the recent ones they have done and what is yet to come; in form of open and closed questions. Then so as not to stray away from the concept of the programme he asks them about the cars that they own, like and dislike or would like to own. Finally to close the interview he talks about the lap that they did around the Top Gear track before showing it to the live studio audience. After the lap is shown he talks to the star about it before hanging it up on the board. We see all these traits in his interview with Amber. The interview isn’t pre-recorded it is filmed in front of the live studio audience. I feel that the producers include this segment in the programme to appeal to a variety of people that are keen on the different celebrities. It helps broaden the alternative audience of the programme.

 

Voiceover

The voiceovers in the episode are carried out by all three presenters. The first voiceover appears in the opening sequence it is always done by Jeremy Clarkson. It introduces the viewers to the show. Other voiceovers are carried out during the location audio recordings. All of them are done separately and then edited into the picture. This is like a guide to the audience explaining what is going on during the segment. The voiceovers are not so long so as to distract the audience from the programme. Everything that is pre-recoded is also shown to live studio audience as well as broadcasted on television.