C AND C PRODUCTION

 

When creating a popular reality show it is important to use codes and conventions of the most popular reality shows on TV from the past 15 years and also borrowing C+C's from doc and mockumentaries 

as I wanted to create a hybrid-genre show combining certain mockumentary features but using real non-scripted footage making it a reality show. The reality shows I prominently used were Love Island, Big Brother and Educating Yorkshire and also borrowed conventions from The Office (mockumentary and Brent-Esque characters) and Drive to Survive which uses real footage and interviews to create narratives and storylines even if they're slightly exaggerated or manipulated.

Controversial characters- Controversial characters with outlandish statements and opinions are crucial in creating a modern TV-Hit as it creates clips for social media and are used heavily in the marketing campaign to increase hype and popularity hence me including one character's controversial 'Nelson Mandela' quote in my video on my website. 

Interviews- A crucial part of both reality shows and documentaries therefore had to be a fundamental part of the opening of the series... made popular by 'Big Brother' but used in all the shows I was inspired by.

Cold-Opens- Less of a reality-show feature but inspired by The Office which always opens with a quote from an interview with one of the 'stars' and the naturalistic 'pre-action' interaction between crew and star is common in many documentaries including Drive to Survive which is popular with the same target audience as my show.

 

Fast-Paced- Due to comedy being a crucial part of the show, it was important to me to make the show fast-paced (borderline Sitcom-like...The Office US) as this also emphasises the slowing of pace for comedic effect. As my production was an opening 3 minute sequence it's even more important to keep the pace up as I liked the Love Island convention of a short action-packed montage of the best bits at the beginning of each episode as it keeps the audience waiting for those moments throughout the episode and clearly works as it has been the highest viewed UK reality show for the past 6 years.

High energy music- Another Love Island convention... Where they layer topical music under the action and helps to keep the pace up.

Free hand camera movement- A very important Code and Convention I chose to utilise as it increases the 'realness' of the peace and makes it feel like a reality show rather than a high production documentary and that is why all the 'scenes'/moments are one shot as it is important we capture real moments rather than a 'slick well-rehearsed multi-shot scene).

Direct address- A convention heavily inspired by The Office (David Brent) in which certain characters (in our case students) can't 'ignore' the camera and have an urge to acknowledge the camera with a 'wink' at the end of the 3 minutes or the character who turns around to the camera when he gets sent out of the classroom... happens twice in the 3 minute montage I produced. 

The Title Sequence- The most iconic reality show title sequence is I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! so I borrowed ideas from that... an introduction to the stars the audience will meet throughout the series and the perfect synchronisation of the visual goings-on and the music (School's Out) as each Video, Word and Picture arrives and leaves the screen perfectly in time with the beat of the music... much like the falling letters in the I'm a Celeb title sequence.

School-Based Reality Show- The 'Educating' series which spends a year in the most difficult schools in the country is very popular on Channel 4 but because it is popular and has already been done it was crucial to combine it with the Mockumentary genre with a focus on comedy to differentiate it from its competition as it is different from anything else on TV.