Analysing the Competition - BARB

The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) is the organisation that organises the quantity of the audience and television ratings in the United Kingdom.

Gogglebox

Gogglebox is a British observational documentary which aired on Channel 4 in 2013 featuring British couples, families and friends sitting down every night and watching weekly British television programmes. It aired season 4 in September 2014 and plans to finish in December, it's recent episode plans to air on the 21st November at 9pm. When Gogglebox returned for Season 4, it had reached a viewing count of 2.7 million swiping aside the British television drama Edge of Heaven.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/10/tvratings-television

With Gogglebox the viewers aren't required to do much so they are technically just wasting hours of their life away watching documentaries, films and television programmes. In my documentary I will be doing an experiment where I place a camera in a teenager's room (with their permission) and see what they do in their spare time. I feel like Gogglebox is similar towards my documentary topic based on the experiment I will make based on the fact that teenagers also waste time by either staying in their room, watching television or social networking. 

I feel that my show would beat Googlebox because mine would relate more to my audience. I believe that teenagers procrastinate more and do not socialise properly anymore due to laptops, mobile phones and tablets so I want to interest my audience and add humour into my documentary like Gogglebox.

Based on my research, I would aim to broadcast my documentary on a Thursday roughly at 9pm because that is when the watershed is off allowing all of my content of my documentary to be shown. Gogglebox is also broadcast at 9pm because it contains strong language and explicit images based on the programmes the viewers are watching. 


Educating The East End

Educating the East End is a British documentary television programme broadcast on 

Channel 4 at . The eight-episode first series was first broadcast from 4 September 2014. It follows the everyday lives of the staff and students of Frederick Bremer School in East London which is a comprehensive secondary school. The first episode of educating the east end reached a viewing count of 2.2 million and a 101% share.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/05/educating-the-east-end-channel-4-frederick-bremer-walthamstow

"It beat Eddie Izzard radar drama Castles in the Sky on BBC2, which had 1.9 million viewers (9.5%) between 9pm and 10.30pm, and Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5, watched by 1.7 million viewers (7.7%) between 9pm and 10pm." - Quote from The Guardian

In this episode, we see a Year 9 class settling in with their new teacher, Mr Bisfam. Due to the fact that he is a new teacher, the students muck about and try to waste a lot of time in his lesson. One of the girls, Tawny, was the common on-screen student we see mucking about in his lessons by giggling, not doing work and just daydreaming. This is a common form of procrastination in order to stop themselves from doing any work. 

I feel like my show would beat Educating The East End because my show would focus more on procrastination and less on a school. My documentary would slightly relate to this programme because I will be setting up two cameras in each Study Room to see what the pupils do when they have either a compulsory and free period.

Based on my research, I would aim to broadcast my documentary on a Wednesday roughly at 9pm because that is when the watershed is off allowing all of my content of my documentary to be shown. Educating the East End is also broadcast at 9pm because it contains strong language based on the students.

World's Strictest Parents

World's Strictest Parents is a television reality series developed by TwentyTwenty Television with its original origin and broadcast in Britain by the BBC. The success of the program lead to many international versions being created including in the America and Australia.The concept is that two so-called "unruly" teenagers are sent to live abroad with a strict host family for a week in an attempt to change their attitudes and behaviours. During the week they receive an impact letter from their real parents with a list of issues they should try to resolve. 

http://www.twentytwenty.tv/news/The-Worlds-Strictest-Parents-Scoops-Factual-Entertainment-Award_380.aspx

This episode introduces us to Sevda and Andrew, two seventeen year olds that are not in education and do nothing with their lives except party and fight. I feel like this is relevant to my topic because all they do is procrastinate by doing completely nothing so I can relate my topic to their lives. 

I feel like my show would overrule World's Strictest Parents because my show would focus more on procrastination and less on how students would change their attitudes by living abroad. Although it would be a completely different setting to my documentary, it would seem quite similar based on the students and their ages because I am aiming my target audience at around 16+ and hope to interview students in my year which are between the ages of 17-18.

Based on my research, I would aim to broadcast my documentary on a Friday or Saturday roughly at 9pm because that is when the watershed is off allowing all of my content of my documentary to be shown and it isn't too late.

Legal and Ethical Constraints in Factual Television Production

• Filming in Public

If someone wishes to film on private property, they will need permission from the appropriate owner or council of where they are located. When filming in public, if a pedestrian or voxpopper wishes to be filmed, the editor must blur their face so their identity is hidden. To film in public establishments like shops or industries, the recorder must ask the owners permission to film and interview people if necessary.
" If you film an actor inside a store or restaurant, you need written permission to use the location and also to show the chain’s name or trademark. If you film outside a store or restaurant you do not need permission to show its name or trademark – however, if the location chosen is used to communicate a negative message in your film (for example, a film about ‘poisoned restaurant food’) you may risk legal proceedings." - Quote from British Film Commission.
http://www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk/crew-facilities/locations/filming-in-public-spaces/

How the constraint will impact on my documentary

Filming in public would not really affect my documentary because most of my filming will be made in my interviewer's homes and in the school. Even though I am filming in school where permission is granted, I will be filming in a secluded room to avoid any students being in the shots if they don't want too. When filming vox pops, I will make sure I avoid filming in front of schools and shops that do not grant me permission to film so I think filming in public will affect how I shoot my vox pops.

• Clearances and Permission (Copyright Law)

Copyright protection exists from the moment a work is created in a fixed, tangible form of expression. The copyright immediately becomes the property of the maker who created the work. Only the creator, or those taking their rights through the maker, can rightfully claim copyright. Copyright law originated in the United Kingdom from a concept of common law; the Statute of Anne 1709.
"The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used. The rights cover; broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public. In many cases, the creator will also have the right to be identified as the author and to object to distortions of his work. International conventions give protection in most countries, subject to national laws." - Quote from UK Copyright Law
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

How the constraint will impact on my documentary

This will affect my documentary as I will need permission to use a song for my background music. I will also use footage of procrastination in certain TV shows where my topic is seen or spoken about so I will need permission to use that footage from the owner to get their approval. Copyright law doesn't just affect the media, it also affects businesses so if I wanted to film outside a chained supermarket or shop, I would have to ask a person responsible for the brand if I am permitted to film inside or outside their territory.

• Media Privacy Law

The Media Privacy Law is ."It regulates the way agencies can collect, store and use information, and gives us rights of access to it. It also creates a complaints regime. Broadly speaking, agencies that come under the Act usually have to tell you when they’re collecting information about you, keep it secure, try to make sure it’s right, and only use or disclose it for the reasons it was collected." - Quote from Media Law Journal
http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/?page_id=274

How the constraint will impact on my documentary

This law will not affect my documentary because the facts and figures I will be using are true and not misleading. Before I had my interviews with my interviewee's, I will have a run through of what they are going to say and what I am going to ask them so they give accurate and honest answers on camera to use in my documentary. I will also have to make sure my voxpoppers will respond my my question in a sensible and responsible way. This will relate back the media privacy law because it isn't fact, it is opinion.

• Libel and defamation Law

The libel and defamation law allows people to take legal action if their identity is being misused or copied in someway or the other. Libel law protects individuals or organisations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their reputation. The Law protects individuals or organisations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their reputation. "Defamation is any published material that damages the reputation of an individual or an organisation. This covers material on the internet as well as radio and television broadcasts - so even drama and fiction can be defamatory if they damage someones reputation. You can only publish defamatory material if it comes within one of the recognised legal defences. If it doesn't, the publication will amount to libel and you may have to pay substantial damages. " - Quote from BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A1183394

How the constraint will impact on my documentary

This constraint will not make any impact or affect on my documentary because I am not using any information or images to be derogatory or display a false representation of a business in my documentary. I will make sure I portray all businesses and interviewers in my documentary correctly to avoid breaking the libel and defamation law and too avoid the result of legal action being taking into consideration.

• BBC editorial' guidelines

Privacy - It can be considered an offence when privacy isn't secured so Ofcom regulates the privacy by allowing anything of a certain nature to be shown after 9pm, anything from drugs, strong language and/or sexual nature.
Accuracy - This principle states that it must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation. This principle is to ensure everything it truthful and correct to use in the media.
Fairness/ Consent - The BBC guidelines state that we should be fair to all parties involved. BBC content should be based on respect, openness and straight dealing.  The ofcom broadcasting code also has the obligation to "avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes."

How the constraints will impact on my documentary

With the BBC guidelines, none will affect or compromise with my documentary, I will however make sure and be clear with all parties that all information stated should be accurate and truthful to avoid of legal action or disciplinary taking place. I will also make sure all parties are treating fairly and equally throughout my documentary.

• Ofcom

Protecting Under 18's - The 9pm watershed is highly effective in terms of protecting under 18's, meaning anything derogatory is cut from anything film or programme broadcasted from the early hours of the morning to 9pm the following night. It allows children to be same from witnessing or listening to anything relating to drugs, sex, death or strong language.
Human Rights - Everyone's human rights must be respected and protecting meaning anyone or everyone has a right to express themselves and their opinions of a topic without judgement or victimization from any other parties.
Harm and Offence - An important guideline to have as harm and offence portrayed on television or radio could influence or inspire people to follow and commit harm and offence either emotionally, physically or socially.


How the constraints will impact on my documentary

None of these Ofcom guidelines will affect my documentary because it will not be of a immoral and senseless nature. It will be a sensible and truthful topic about human procrastination. What I will focus on however will be the human rights guidelines because I want everyone in my documentary to speak freely about my topic without any cause of concern of argument because I am purely trying to get each parties opinion and facts.

5 key questions

What is procrastination?

The avoidance of doing a task which needs to be done - postponing until tomorrow what can be done today. Procrastination not only affects a person's work, but also commonly involves feelings such as guilt, inadequacy, self-disgust, stress and depression. Often we try to disguise our avoidance by being very busy doing things that may be interesting, and even useful, but don't contribute towards the main goal - even doing something we normally hate - rather than writing, for example, just before an essay deadline! 

So what is procrastination? Basically, procrastination is the act of putting off essential task until a later time, most of the time non essential tasks are done in lieu of the more critical ones. Although this procrastination definition seems pretty simple the effects of procrastination are not. Procrastination may be one of the biggest challenges you will have to overcome.


" When you begin to think about today's society, there is less and less time in the day, so it is very important that we manage our time efficiently and limit procrastination as much as possible. For some reason, we have an emotional reaction when we have to do something we don't want to do, don't enjoy doing, or are convinced we simply cannot do. Learning to acknowledge this reaction will not only make us aware that we may be procrastinating, but will also help us on our quest to stop procrastinating. " - Quote from Stop Procrastination Info

http://www.stopprocrastinatinginfo.com - This website has given me the basic understanding on procrastination and what effects it has on the brain and body. It shows a video of what it specifically is and gives detailed descriptions and examples of how people can overcome it. I also discovered some findings that were helpful to understand procrastination. 

Why do people procrastinate?

http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/selfhelp/leaflets/procrastination - From this website i found the main reasons why people procrastinate. The most common reasons were linked to anxiety or disorders, I will use some of these points in my documentary.

• poor time management, often associated with a distorted sense of the time available
• an inability to prioritise
• overload of tasks at a specific time
• anxiety about the task, so time is spent worrying rather than doing
• difficulty concentrating
• not knowing what is required
• feeling overwhelmed by the task(s)
• concern about failing or not meeting your own standards
• fear of success and its possible consequences
• perfectionism, often associated with unrealistic standards
• negative feelings - e.g. "I'm stupid", "nothing ever goes right for me"
• all-or-nothing thinking, where one setback is seen as a total catastrophe
• being bored by the task
• never having learned how to work or sort out problems while at school or living at home
• avoidance of things which are disliked or difficult.

Is procrastination linked to any disorders or anxiety?

Procrastination can be persistent and tremendously disruptive to everyday life. For these individuals, procrastination may be symptomatic of a psychological disorder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procrastination - This website has helped me significantly whilst discovering what procrastination is related too. Due to the findings, I can link my topic with different people including behavioural therapists and support groups based on how procrastination is linked and can influence anxiety and disorders like OCD, ADD and ADHD.

"Procrastination has been linked to a number of negative associations, such as depression, irrational behaviour, low self-esteem, anxiety, poor study habits,and neurological disorders such as ADHD. Others have found relationships with guilt and stress. Therefore, it is important for people whose procrastination has become chronic and is perceived to be debilitating, to seek out a trained therapist or psychiatrist to see if an underlying mental health issue may be present." - Quote from Wikipedia

With a distant deadline, procrastinators report significantly less stress and physical illness than do non-procrastinators. However, as the deadline approaches, this relationship is reversed; procrastinators report more stress, more symptoms of physical illness, and more medical visits. to the extent that, overall, procrastinators had suffered more stress and health problems.

How can procrastination effect a person?

It is very unhealthy to continue to put your body through this type of stress, not only is it unhealthy for you, it puts unnecessary strain on your relationships.

There have been studies that suggest that anxiety may compromise our immune systems, and therefore render it susceptible to infections diseases. When we are feeling anxious about things we tend to lose our ability to focus, therefore increasing the chances of use being involved in accidents.

http://www.stopprocrastinatinginfo.com/effects-of-procrastination.htm - This website has provided me with the information based on my question. 

Procrastination can negatively effect our personal lives. When a person decides not to deal with things and put them off, all they are doing is making more work for themselves in the long run. And the more work they have, the more stressed they will feel because of all the backlogged work they still have to do. This will lead to stress which can lead to health problems in the long run like:

• Pain of any kind
• Heart disease
• Digestive problems
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Weight problems
• Autoimmune diseases
• Skin conditions, such as eczema

It can also negatively affect your job.

The effects of procrastination can also be noticed at work. At our place of employment we have to work toward deadlines, these deadlines can help organize workload and help stay on task.

Putting off undesirable task can have serious implications. For example, you may be viewed as unreliable, incompetent, or just plain lazy. It is important that when we have a responsibility at work that we execute it to the best of our ability for the sake of our integrity and relationship with colleagues and co-workers.

How can we overcome procrastination?

Overcoming procrastination usually involves both better organisational and time-management skills as well as a clearer understanding of its personal or emotional meaning.

http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/selfhelp/leaflets/procrastination -  I find that this website provides great information and guidance on how to stop procrastination.

Below is a picture from the internet giving out 9 steps on how to overcome procrastination. I believe by making step by step guidance or table, people suffering from procrastination will get the motivation to do what they need to do.

" However, most times we know exactly what we are doing when we put off certain things. Whether you want to face it or not, you know when you are procrastinating and the fact you do it mostly on your own clock means you can justify doing it. If you think this isn’t you, just think about the time you just had to check your e-mail ten times before finishing that paper. If you have established that you may have a problem with procrastination take heed to the information that follows. " - Quote from Stop Procrastinating Info

There are also some quotes based on procrastination that are proven to motivate the sufferer. They have been put on the website above to inspire people and they are permitted to enter their own quote to make themselves seem inspiring for others.

1. "Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." ~William James
2. "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." ~Don Marquis
3. "Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday." ~Author Unknown
4. "Every duty which is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back." ~Charles Kingsley
5. "Until you value yourself, you will not value your time.
Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." ~ M. Scott Peck
6."Be wise today; 'tis madness to defer. Next day the fatal precedent will plead; thus on, til wisdom is pushed our of life." ~Edward Young
7. "If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it." ~Olin Miller
8. "There are a million ways to lose a work day, but not even a single way to get one back." ~Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
9. "It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in." ~Earl of Chesterfield

10. "The two rules of procrastination: 1) Do it today. 2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow." ~Author Unknown

Ideas and Feedback Video

My first idea was based on influences on horror films and are people capable of copying them and replicating the film itself. The group thought it was a good idea because it was different and extreme and gave me some tips on who to interview. Prinul said I should speak to a psychologist to understand the mind of killers and ask his opinion on whether horror films can influence violence. Ellie asked if there was any limitations within my topic and I said that I would find it difficult to find someone relevant to interview.

My second idea was based on why people believe in God. This topic was an easy but also a difficult topic to complete based on the followers of religion. The group also liked this idea because it was different and sounded quite interesting but they was skeptical on who'd i'd interview and if there would be any limitations. Prinul suggested that I should bring a non-believer in religion along for filming to see if over the period of the documentary their opinion or judgement changed on religion. Ellie asked if I had limitations and I said I wouldn't want to offend anyone by questioning religion.

My last idea would be based on procrastination. This was my best idea in my opinion because it was relatable for everyone watching and the group preferred it to my other ideas. When I briefed it to the group, I said I would place some camera's in each study room in school to see what the pupils get up to when they have no lessons. Thajeethan was curious as to how I would film it and I clarified I would film one day in the study room because it could seem quite boring and dragging if I was to film multiple days. Ellie also asked who'd I'd interview and told her I would interview people who have finished exams or people at college.

Rationale

            

Initial Ideas

IDEA 1

Documentary Topic:

Why do people believe in God?

Documentary Angle:

• Does God exist?
• Where is the proof?
• Is God just created to give people hope?
• Are people forced to believe in God because they fear hell and the afterlife?

Documentary Mode and Why? (consider where you will position the documentary in the key issues)

• Expository – Presenter will voice over knowledge regarding the topic and show evidence to back it up and proof it is the truth.

• Interactive – I will include myself in the documentary to give my opinion about the topic out.

• Observational – Film around the surroundings e.g. a church or watch what happens during a prayer.

Appeal to Target Audience? Any clear limitations?

As religion can be followed by persons of any age, it could be confused for young children so I would mainly focus on aiming my topic from 13-30’s. 

I would also aim to focus on Atheist’s as well as other religious groups because I would like to get an opinion from people who do not believe in religion. 

How much information will you assume your audience already know? Why?

I would assume my audience would know the basics about religion but we have all questioned whether god and religion existed due to scientific breakthroughs so I want to get an opinion from someone religious.

Key groups you hope to interview:

• Christian
• Priest
• Atheist
• Voxpopper
• Muslim

IDEA 2

Documentary Topic:

Could horror films influence real-life violence?

Documentary Angle:

• Are horror films an influence for children to commit crimes?

• Is there any evidence to proof that people are inspired to kill from horror films?

• Who are more capable of committing crimes based on watching horror films?

Documentary Mode and Why? (consider where you will position the documentary in the key issues)

• Expository- narrating the truth to the audience and guiding them through my documentary

• Interactive – presenter being a part of the documentary; interviewing and giving their own personal opinion.

Appeal to Target Audience? Any clear limitations?

I would focus my target audience on any age because violence is subjected to everyone and everyone should be aware of how it can affect people. The limitations I would have would possibly trying to find someone relevant to interview.

How much information will you assume your audience already know? Why?

I would assume my audience wouldn’t know much about this topic because it isn’t really spoken about by news reporters or a lot of documentaries because they do not want to affect or cause problems for upcoming films and the film world.

Key groups you hope to interview:

• Psychologist

• Media teacher

• Voxpopper (teenager and adult)

IDEA 3

Documentary Topic:

Procrastination

Documentary Angle:

• Why do people procrastinate?

• How procrastinating can negatively affect a person

• How people can get over procrastination

• Is procrastination linked between age groups or any disorders?

Documentary Mode and Why? (consider where you will position the documentary in the key issues)

• Performative – presenter will be speaking from experience and interviewing

• Expository – telling and advising the truth to the audience. Voicing over what is happening throughout the documentary

• Observational – presenter would film a person that usually procrastinates to see what happens and how it affects them.

Appeal to Target Audience? Any clear limitations?

My target audience would vary from early teenagers to adults because that’s when procrastination is an issue due to school or work related topics.

How much information will you assume your audience already know? Why?

I would assume my audience would be aware of procrastination because everybody has wasted time or found a way to avoid something so I want them to fully understand it and be able to grasp what it does the your mind and how you can beat it.

Key groups you hope to interview:

• Student

• Presenter

• Adult

• Psychologist