12 Dec Georgina Blackwell – Critical Explication
Broadcast date:
15/11/2019
Word Count:
1088
Link:
For the subject of my critical explication I have chosen the YouTube Show that was broadcast on the November 15, 2019. I helped to produce a television package for this live show and was a sofa presenter.
Our live show is broadcast on YouTube with a laid-back yet professional style, we make sure to include both soft and hard news. This is due to our audience which is London Students and thus the aim of the show is to bring students news that will entertain and interest them.
This week’s show focused on the LGBTQ+ community which meant each individual group found a story that was related to this theme. This week we only had two VT packages and in the place of the other two we had an interview and a debate.
The reason I have chosen this live show is because, overall, I feel that it is one of the best and most smooth shows we have produced yet. However, there are still a number of issues within the show that can be discussed. Throughout this explication I will focus on two main areas: video production skills within my VT and the overall sofa presenting.
My group created a VT package on ‘Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest’. The reason we chose this story was because we knew an event would make for a really amazing VT as well as it being in our realm of creative industries. Considering we were filming an event, the angle is pretty explanatory however we focused on the opening night in particular, due to this we knew it would make a good video news story as there would be a lot going on.
We researched by exploring the website and contacting people from the event, this was also how we managed to get permission to film after getting into contact with Muffin Hicks, the head organiser.
Myself (the researcher/reporter) and the cameraman went down to the Rio Cinema in Dalston to attend the opening night of the festival.
The LGBTQ+ community is a touchy and personal subject for many thus when filming we made sure to check if people were comfortable with us filming them. Many people we spoke to identified as non-binary so we made sure to refer to them using the correct pronouns. When filming the Vox pops we made sure to not only speak to people that were attending the event, but to also speak to someone who had shared one of their films at the event in the past, as this would ensure for alternative perspectives.
Our package had many technical strengths, the shots were in focus and relevant to the package, the sound levels were clear throughout, the interview shot focused on the interviewee and the Vox Pops were pleasantly framed and filmed on alternating sides of the frame.
We were sure to have a very clear plan before we went out filming. The things we considered before going out were the following: that when filming it would be dark (solved by moving the transmitter and connecting the light), a general length of the voiceover so we’d make sure we’d have enough GV’s (general views), we connected the microphone (done by matching the frequency on the transmitter) as well as getting our questions ready for the interview.
Our VT was on event, which meant that our story was picture-heavy. This made our shots visually pleasing as we had a range of wide, mid and close-up shots. Regarding the editing of the VT, the cutaways matched what was being said, jump-cuts were avoided and some shots were made more satisfying by zooming in.
Our main issue was making our VT too much of a promotion, in the piece to camera at the end I talk about the event and say “To find out more visit fringefilmfest.com” which wouldn’t be said in a broadcast package. As this was the last part of filming, I think this mistake was due to rushing the ending, we didn’t properly plan out what to say in the piece to camera and thus we came up with something quickly. We should have planned this out better.
Another issue that we had was that you could see our microphone during the Vox Pops, we weren’t able to get the sound loud enough to be able to hold the microphone far enough away from the person’s mouth that you wouldn’t be able to see it in the shot. This simply requires more practice with the sound and possibly using the lavalier microphone.
On the day of the broadcast I was the sofa presenter, the sofa presenting always come in pairs which meant I got the opportunity to work alongside a fellow classmate.
Our main issue was that the other sofa presenter and I seemed to have very different vibes, with me being upbeat and him being relaxed, as well as myself stuttering often. This could have been very different if we were to practice more thoroughly through the script.
Something that my fellow sofa presenter was really great at was that he was very natural while I was speaking, looking at me, his notes and looking comfortable.
What we should have prepared for, which is likely to happen often in the real world, was cutting off people when they go on for too long. We were being made aware that both the interview and the debate needed to end however we both struggled to find a good moment to do this. This lead up to another issue where I spoke over the other sofa presenter at the end of the debate. Thus, next time when practicing the script, I will make sure to practice this.
An issue with our interview was that we needed to link our guest more to the story topic, in this case she was related to the VT on bullying and this meant we should have started with the question about bullying. Next time, when reviewing the script, I will make sure to take notice to this if we have a live guest. In addition to this, we should go out of our comfort zone and get an outside guest rather than someone from the class.
In conclusion, what became evident was the importance of planning. Thorough planning for the VT meant we produced a really great, broadcastable piece however all the issues with the sofa presenting came from a lack of planning and practice. Every week we learn new things that will help us along the road of improvement.
