What factual programmes do you watch?
The documentaries I enjoy watching are:
-Murder mysteries
-Benefits Britain
-Prison Life
-Catfish
-Murder mysteries
-Benefits Britain
-Prison Life
-Catfish
List of documentaries makers:
Louis Theroux is one of my favourite documentary makers, the reason I like his documentaries so much is because he has no fear to ask questions that everybody wants to know the answers to. He visits prisons, families, teenagers, etc. They're very simple, even the camera work is simple and its hand held, following behind Louis as he's not only the presenter but also the narrator.
Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos are two of my favourite documentary makers, even though I've only watched 'Making of a murder', the way they chose to do a documentary of an unknown scandal is what makes it so interesting. The music they used is intense and always keeps you on the edge but they also like to go back to scenes where the crime took place or show countless of police photos taken of the crime scenes, its sort of a way to embed it into the views head so you remember ever detail.
Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos are two of my favourite documentary makers, even though I've only watched 'Making of a murder', the way they chose to do a documentary of an unknown scandal is what makes it so interesting. The music they used is intense and always keeps you on the edge but they also like to go back to scenes where the crime took place or show countless of police photos taken of the crime scenes, its sort of a way to embed it into the views head so you remember ever detail.
What topics do you like to learn about?
There are two topics are enjoy watching, one being murderers. I find watching murder mysteries so interesting because I want to be able to understand what goes through their minds to make them a murder, it helps you learn how you can tell someone is starting to become a serial killer, as they start to have an interest in killing animals and then start to have fantasy of killing an actual person. The murder mysteries are always so chilling, usually because of the music when a very intense is coming up, it always makes it dark.
My second topic I enjoy watching is people's lifes, I'm always interested in how some people think, it could be an everyday life to them but seems so different to mine, I want to understand why people think the way they do, like why do some children decide at such a young age to change their gender or why people decide they rather not work for the rest of their lifes and live on benefits.
My second topic I enjoy watching is people's lifes, I'm always interested in how some people think, it could be an everyday life to them but seems so different to mine, I want to understand why people think the way they do, like why do some children decide at such a young age to change their gender or why people decide they rather not work for the rest of their lifes and live on benefits.
Do you think there are enough factual programmes on UK TV that represents British Youth as it really is?
I do think there are plenty of factual documentaries about British Youth but I don't feel like enough people know about them, they seem to be broadcasted on small channels, like BBC Three, ITV, etc. Even though they are small documentaries, when watching them it really helps understand that other people around the same age as you feels the same way or you realise that others lifes are so different to yours. I do think there needs to be a more main streamed documentary of British Youth, I don't think enough teenagers are learning or understanding that they're not alone, especially documentaries about Mental Health as I agree that it is becoming a bigger issue. A factual programme should really consist of multiple interviews, peoples actual intake in the teenage Youth and a number to help show how many people are going through the same things.
Are you represented fairly?
As a young adult in this new generation, I would agree that we are referred to as 'snowflakes', we seem to be quite a sensitive generation and we do like to complain a lot over things that sometimes people have no control over. But we are always fighting for what we think is right, if we didn't fight them such things as same sex marriage wouldn't be legalised or all races should be treated with respect. I do think we are treated unfairly in a certain way as we never are appreciated for what we fight for, instead older generations would think we are too sensitive because they were brought up in a different time, our sensitivity is what brings us together and I don't think older generations understand that, we like to help each other out and make sure everyone feels like they are treated fairly and if we think someone isn't we'll say something, unlike others who will stay quiet because they were always told that was the right thing to do. Overall I think we are extremely sensitive and we do get upset over the little things but by bringing issues into the light, we can help more of our generation out and future generations to come.
What topics do you think should be discussed?
I think these topics are what needs to be discussed:
-Brexit
-Suicide increase
-'Uncomfortable in your body'
-Differences in Generations
-Brexit
-Suicide increase
-'Uncomfortable in your body'
-Differences in Generations
What audience do you think should see them?
Overall I think young adults should watch all the topics, Brexit is our future, more young adults need to know more about what will happen, as not a lot of us were able to vote so even if it was something we didn't want, we've still to learn about how this will or will not change what happens next.
Suicide increase is also something a young adult should know about, there has always been a level of suicides but because mental health seems to be an issue that is becoming a problem for many teenagers, suicide can also be a huge part of mental health, young adults start to struggle with life and what is expected, causing depressing sometimes resulting in suicide. I feel more young adults need to learn that so many go through the same and that suicide is not the answer.
'Uncomfortable in your body' this is for lots of ages, young adults usually go through a stage in life when some don't think that they are in the right body and would even change their genders but a lot of times people aren't comfortable in their bodies because they feel they should look a certain way, by what the media says and how models are presented. People seem to always judge themselves on how they look.
Differences in generation is one for anyone, its to show that people's opinion will vary and that people nowadays are brought up different to others that there are different struggles that each generation had/ has to go through. It will help the generations understand their differences and get everyone's own opinion towards each other.
Suicide increase is also something a young adult should know about, there has always been a level of suicides but because mental health seems to be an issue that is becoming a problem for many teenagers, suicide can also be a huge part of mental health, young adults start to struggle with life and what is expected, causing depressing sometimes resulting in suicide. I feel more young adults need to learn that so many go through the same and that suicide is not the answer.
'Uncomfortable in your body' this is for lots of ages, young adults usually go through a stage in life when some don't think that they are in the right body and would even change their genders but a lot of times people aren't comfortable in their bodies because they feel they should look a certain way, by what the media says and how models are presented. People seem to always judge themselves on how they look.
Differences in generation is one for anyone, its to show that people's opinion will vary and that people nowadays are brought up different to others that there are different struggles that each generation had/ has to go through. It will help the generations understand their differences and get everyone's own opinion towards each other.
What TV channel do you think they should be aired on?
I know that a lot of documentaries are aired through BBC, that would be one channel but if we want young adults to watch the documentaries then they should be aired on medias that they use, I would say YouTube would be a good channel, more young adults on YouTube then regular TV these days but also Netflix, so it can always been there for people to watch and can be recommended to others.
Who should be the presenter?
The presenter doesn't need to be someone famous but could be someone who has/is going through the same thing. Someone who can connect with others, so if its a documentary about teenager anxiety then you'd want a presenter who is a teenager who'd understand how other teens feel or someone who could specialise teenage anxiety.
The UK's Young Reoffenders: Rule Britannia
This is a documentary of the lifes of young offenders living in Britain, these are young adults doing crime on their local streets.
The introduction to the video starts off with the British flag which has rips and is damaged out of respect, while the national anthem plays in the background. It then moves straight into an acted scene of a real crime that took place by a young offender which you then get to meet later on. The music turns dark and the hooded actor helps you as a viewer understand what kind of documentary this is without even seeing an actual face.
The beginning is dark, scenes of an ordinary town is turned into something much darker, where rebellious young adults fight, smoke and drink. If you just saw the normal houses they show and no gang violence you would never guess that its about young offenders, who live in a close community and discuss about their prison sentences like its nothing. The mix of ordinary and violence is done uses images and videos, to show that these young offenders create trouble on the ordinary quiet streets.
The language used is English but they actually put subtitles up in case of a miss communication, it is used because sometimes they use slang, which makes you feel different to these young adults, like they are speaking a whole new language to you.
Gangs, Guns and the Police
This documentary is about the life of violence in normal living areas, where young adults and many families are effected by gang crimes.
It starts off with videos of police break-ins and a narrator talking about three certain crimes that happened in the area, making it seem very threating and somewhere you'd never want to visit, this is used to make the viewer want to know more of these crimes and why the area is known for its gang violence.
The actual presenter presents while driving in her car to show that its too dangerous to go on the actual streets where these eventful deaths happened. Once again making the viewer feel on edge.
They use actors to act out the death of a man who was shot in a local pub, they recreated the scene so as a viewer you could see what happened without seeing any real violence. The way the interview with the mother of the man who was shot, seems quite natural at first but later is quite staged and the camera moves to different angles and there doesn't seem to be any real emotion towards the situation, as its kept quite serious so the point can be made about the violence of the area.
Generation Screwed
This documentary starts with a young women shouting into a microphone about what she believes is right, its a strong start and lets you know that this will be about young adults fighting for what they believe is right.
The narrator George Lamb starts talking, he already introduces facts about how young adults are coping and that many are now stuck in poverty because of overpriced housing. They show evidence of how the poor are treated unfairly to those of middleclass, how their living is unsafe and just like the Grenfell Tower (which is shown a lot throughout the beginning) shows that something needs to change.
The documentary is relatable in the sense that many young adults can now agree that housing prices are vey high and are finding it hard to move out of home but it also makes you feel sorry for those trying really hard but still not getting the results they deserve.
The narrator used is someone who can relate to the young adults interviewed and isn't someone who seems to be higher class, they've done this so a better understanding could be shared.
The camera work used seems quite natural, that way the viewer doesn't feel like its been rehearsed.
The narrator George Lamb starts talking, he already introduces facts about how young adults are coping and that many are now stuck in poverty because of overpriced housing. They show evidence of how the poor are treated unfairly to those of middleclass, how their living is unsafe and just like the Grenfell Tower (which is shown a lot throughout the beginning) shows that something needs to change.
The documentary is relatable in the sense that many young adults can now agree that housing prices are vey high and are finding it hard to move out of home but it also makes you feel sorry for those trying really hard but still not getting the results they deserve.
The narrator used is someone who can relate to the young adults interviewed and isn't someone who seems to be higher class, they've done this so a better understanding could be shared.
The camera work used seems quite natural, that way the viewer doesn't feel like its been rehearsed.
Research methods
Qualitative Research: Research that is personal, its from a range of different people and is about a specific topic or issue. Its a social research and is based on opinions and motivations. Its a non-numeric which means that its data that only uses words, more face to face.
Quantitative Research: This research is more about statistics then personal opinions of individuals. Its a quick way of getting data, so you would use surveys or questionnaires to collect the data needed.
Primary Research: This is new research, that can be collected by doing interviews or questionnaires, by using Primary research you'll be able to get new information that's fresh.
Secondary Research: This is also known as Desk Research, its old data that was founded by someone else, you can either find it on the internet, newspapers or old files. Its existing research.
Different ways to gather research
There are many ways of collecting research but here are a few that I think are useful ways of finding out what is needed:
1) Interviews: Its personal, depending on what you want to find out, you can ask about someones opinion and you can ask all questions that is needed.
2) Surveys/Questionnaires: Its quite a quick way of collecting information, you get loads of people to fill out a survey/questionnaire, and the you can get a better percentage of research, a more factual way of collecting research.
3) Focus groups: It's a group of random people, who will all share different opinions. Its a good way to get everyone together to ask the same questions but getting different answers for research.
4) Internet: I would say the internet should be a last resort to finding out research, even though it is other people's opinion and does give you research information, I feel its better to go and find primary research which is new and you know that its true because you've gotten the research yourself.
1) Interviews: Its personal, depending on what you want to find out, you can ask about someones opinion and you can ask all questions that is needed.
2) Surveys/Questionnaires: Its quite a quick way of collecting information, you get loads of people to fill out a survey/questionnaire, and the you can get a better percentage of research, a more factual way of collecting research.
3) Focus groups: It's a group of random people, who will all share different opinions. Its a good way to get everyone together to ask the same questions but getting different answers for research.
4) Internet: I would say the internet should be a last resort to finding out research, even though it is other people's opinion and does give you research information, I feel its better to go and find primary research which is new and you know that its true because you've gotten the research yourself.
Why are these research methods important for factual programming?
Each research method is important for factual programming, Qualitative is important because it gets more than one opinion and everyone can have similar views. Quantitative is also important because its more about statistics, its a quicker way to collect data. Primary is new and fresh information for the factual programming and Secondary is important because its information already collected and can have research from a wider audience that you might not be able to have for the program.
Codes and conventions of documentaries
The codes and conventions of a documentary is all the things needed for a documentary, making sure that its good. You need a narrator/presenter, someone who asks the questions in an interview or explains what is going on so the audience isn't lost. You need interviews, without any interviews the documentary will be boring and will have no other opinion, though a few documentaries don't need interviews, it really depends on what it's about. The interview also has it's own codes and conventions, for example making sure the interviewee's eye are on a certain point on the grid. The camera, its good to have more than one camera so you can have different positions, its best to keep one camera still so the audience don't become distracted as they cannot focus. The editing is also an important as this brings the whole documentary together, there are rules of editing and must be followed when doing it, so don't make it too distracting with having lots of text, colour or transitions but also making sure that it's not boring, by making it too simple, also needs to be smooth.
Greenwich Council . (2008). Codes and Conventions of Documentary. Available: https://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/codes-and-conventions-of-documentary. Last accessed 7th Oct 2018
Harvard Referencing
Matt Wells. (2004). Media casts youth in a constant bad light. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/12/pressandpublishing.broadcasting. Last accessed 25th Sept 2018.
Philip Tyler. (2014). Negative youth portrayal in the media. Available: https://www.shoutoutuk.org/2014/08/14/negative-youth-portrayal-media/. Last accessed 25th Sept 2018.