Communication Methods (1.2.2)

Introduction to communication methods:

There are a number of techniques a film maker can use to communicate with their audience; for one there is lighting. Whether it is in a film or part of a stage production lighting is one of the most dominant forms of artistic symbolism. It allows the film maker to create moods and atmospheres without having to blatantly point them out through dialogue or events. Often, when used in factual works such as the news, lighting is very obscure; When there is important information being delivered all lighting will be facing the people delivering it and there will be no specific colours present. When the music cuts in and becomes the most pronounced sound the lighting will cut down leaving only a brief back lighting. This is to represent the end of all dialogue. As a general method of communication it can be utilised as a way of telling your audience that something is over.

With a soap opera the lighting is very different; since the events of a soap opera are not necessarily filmed live there is a lot of room for creative control. For example, when two characters are arguing the lighting would be very limited and the colour in the scene would seem very drained and miserable. This is in place to make the audience feel like they want a change in mood. In making the audience feel this way you, as the creative control, are communicating and positively achieving the emotions and reactions you set out to find.

In terms of setting there is a clear difference; news programmes always have a central location which is the studio where the two main reporters deliver headlines. There will be cutaways to different locations from time to time however they are temporary settings and do not become reoccurring settings unless they are at the centre of a largely anticipated event. As a whole, news programmes stay within one central setting and this is done to tell the audience there is something important that needs to be heard therefore there can be no distractions such as attractive or, at the very least, interesting locations.

When considering soap operas there is a larger variety of settings, from a small village to a field in the countryside. Soap operas are fictional and so there is room for events to be created and lead characters to different settings. In doing so you are preserving the interest of the audience and allowing yourself to expand your story telling. Setting can have a great impact on the way the audience reads a scene and how you communicate with them. For example, a character is walking through an alleyway late at night and there is no one else around. They appear agitated and choose to call someone on their phone to pick them up. This instantly suggests a number of different outcomes to the audience and therefore leaves room for a surprise from the director or the writer(s). Overall, it is a very negative and tense atmosphere that is created in choosing such a setting and therefore plays a pivotal role in communicating with an audience through artistic methods.

With camerawork, again, there is a major difference. For one, with news programmes, the camera work is simple; The occasional panning shot to open up the scene, a series of zoom in shots and zoom out shots whilst reporters deliver information. A majority of the shots throughout are still shots focusing on one or two people. There is very little movement therefore the audience is told that camerawork is not the main focus and that what is being told is factual and to be acknowledged and taken seriously. This does not mean that communication is limited within factual media products, there is still a lot of communication between the creative controller and the audience however it is not as creative and will often try to pull their attention towards something which is easily acknowledged but not necessarily without persuasion.

In soap operas, camerawork is used a lot more creatively; There will be tracking shots on a regular basis and a lot of match on action. If a character was to open a door there would be a shot of the character approaching the door and reaching out to the handle. There would be an immediate follow up shot which would normally be a close up of the handle as the character’s hand touches it and the door is opened. With news programmes there is no match on action as all events which occur in the programme are real and do not need to be viewed in any other way. If there was juxtaposition used in a soap then the camerawork may consist of a panning shot where one character closer to the camera is sent out of frame and the contrasting aspect of the shot comes in frame and into focus. This is visual storytelling and is paramount when trying to communicate with an audience. Even if the audience are not following the series or fully interested they will still establish the seriousness of the scene and witness some form of a reaction even if only by a little.

With the narrative, again, you can see a clear difference between news programmes and soap operas. For one, news programmes are not fictional therefore narratives are not relevant.  With the news there will be a murder case discussed over one episode and then the next episode will follow up with different stories, some not as dark and distressing as others. This can apply to soaps as well which may have a man who thinks he has seen a ghost in one episode and then the next episode there is a new character moving into the central village or city of the series and setting up a shop. This is a way of keeping the audience interested; Not prolonging stories which may eventually come to a disappointing conclusion. Sometimes, the repetition of events can be used as a way of unsettling your audience and making them feel part of the events. This is where news programmes and soap operas differ as news programmes are not trying to provoke fear but to encourage caution. Whilst soap operas sometimes remind people of the reality of events and choices the news tells real life stories and wishes only for people to be cautious and feel aware of recent events. A narrative can reach out to specific audiences as it may consist of events which people can relate to. This is a way of communicating with your audiences and telling them that they are not alone in certain situations.

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Comparing a fictional piece & a factual piece:

 

ITV News- ( Source of screenshots: goo.gl/JzWlCA)

With the opening titles there is an instant change in the way the audience understands the nature of what they are watching. The creative team behind the title sequence have specifically chosen shots of wildlife and shots of the countryside to indicate that the programme is purely non-fiction and only focuses on actual events rather than that of scripted events. However, it is not presented in a negative light; the colours are bright and vivid thereby provoking an up beat mood towards the entirety of the show despite potentially negative stories to come.

Considering the setting, in this case the studio, the overall look is very modern and bright. This could be used to create a more comfortable atmosphere for the audience and make them feel at one with the environment they are paying attention to. It is much like that of modern interior designed kitchen suites; a lot of laminate wood and glass. This brings the world of news back down to Earth and reminds the audience that the people involved are just the same as everyone else and do not wish to cause any distress or offence within the public.

In terms of branding, the ITV logo appears in near enough every shot throughout the entire duration of the programme. This is a way of reminding the audience that the team behind the logo are of a high profession.  It also could be a way of associating ITV with positivity being that after a display of distressing images and stories we return to a shot of the logo and then we are brought away from the more upsetting stories. In the deepest of readings it is almost the safe haven for the audience, a sign to them that they are leaving behind the stories and returning to the network.

Rather than just the one, there are two main presenters in this news programme. This is often used to make the audience feel there will be more a variety of stories coming up on the programme rather than when there are late night news programmes with the one presenter who often focuses on stories of a certain mood and theme. (Murder/Crime/etc)

Considering what both presenters are wearing, there is a definite reoccurring theme consisting of formal dress; Suits, ties and dresses. This is often used as a way of informing the audience that the presenters are separating themselves from the public to bring forth important information. It also reminds the audience of the programme’s reputation and that, in general, everyone has made an effort to deliver important news to the public.  The way they act has an impact on the communication with the audience as well; they maintain their own tone of voice and do not attempt to alter it to add impact to the stories they deliver. This is to tell the audience that they are separating themselves from the stories and the people involved so as to avoid provoking anger or distress towards one of the chosen subjects in the show. The way they dress and act largely influences reassurance upon the audience and this is a very vital method of communication. Their body language seems very relaxed and down-to-Earth. Again, this is a way of communicating with the audience; they are not being strict with their movement, instead they are sitting sensibly but it does not appear forced or overly academic. This is telling the audience that they are addressing them on an equal level and are treating them as responsible people rather than being patronising and loosing the audience’s interest.

In terms of the introductory summaries the presenters both share a brief sentence or so regarding the musician Jeff Lynne and his visit to the studio. It is addressed directly to the camera thereby maintaining the attention of the audience and is spoke of in a lighter tone of voice as it is a more positive story to be covered. In discussing it this way the presenters are reassuring the audience that what they are about to hear is not likely to cause distress. It is also referred to in the past tense and delivered almost like two friends reminding each other of past events or memories. Again, it is putting the audience at ease and letting them know that the story being discussed is of a lighter tone.

When we are taken to the interview which was referenced moments ago we simply open with the celebrity and their name below. This is simple and does not confuse the audience; Being that the story has already been introduced it seems unnecessary to carry out a secondary introduction with paragraphs of text reminding people of what they already know. Again, it is addressing the audience on a reasonable level and getting straight to the main focus. In introducing the story a second time the presenters are allowing those of audiences who have recently began watching the programme to know what they should expect. Everything the presenters do has a purpose and is placed at points during the programme to keep reassuring the audience.

Considering the studio graphics there is a lot of minimalism; rather than having images placed all around the studio there is a panoramic shot of the city placed behind both presenters to make the programme feel local and remind people that the matters discussed are involving surrounding areas. Again, the impact on the audience is that their expectations are being rationalised; if they are particularly concerned about a certain story the simplest features such as the panoramic city shot in the background could put people at ease and not feel under pressure or as if they should be noticing something.

When the programme is brought to a close for advertisements the presenters begin to try and sell the second half of it. They will list different stories and events which are to come in the second half and often use a series of communication methods to make the audience want to return later. For one, they will change their tone of voice if the story coming up concerns something potentially shocking or distressing. They will also change their facial expression and body language so that those of sensitive viewers feel respected and do not think that either reporters are taking any of the matters lightly. For some, when the reporters act this way it makes them feel more obliged to continue watching as they feel they have to see what provokes the reactions.

As a final method of persuasion the reporters will add a more positive story into the line up of events they have already promised to the audience and then possibly cut away to a visual of the story just to build up the anticipation. They often then close by directly addressing the audience and asking, ‘Don’t go away’. This instantly provokes a reaction within the audience and makes them ask themselves whether or not they feel they want to continue watching. This shows that there is communication between the presenters and the audience; they know that through using specific words and phrases and even body language they can provoke certain reactions.

BBC Soap Opera-Doctors    (Source of images: goo.gl/a9NtxW)

Being that this is a constantly changing soap opera and often story lines only last for one episode the theme tune is never really altered to create a different mood and atmosphere. It remains an upbeat piece of music mainly consisting of string based instruments. In terms of the visuals there is a bright pink background which fades, in a gradient effect, to blue. Then there are several shots of the main characters running across the screen. This is almost in synchronisation with the beat of the theme tune. Being that the theme is very upbeat and light hearted I, personally, feel interested to keep watching and see whether this is a theme throughout the entirety of the programme or whether there are dramatic changes.

The opening titles are not the only time, in the programme, that music occurs. Often, there is music playing after the titles as credits on screen. The only time there are words involved is when the music used is from popular culture and in the charts. In using music from the charts the programme is reaching out to audiences of all ages to appeal, in some way, to more than just their target audience.

With the setting there is always one central location where all the characters reside and this is referred to as, ‘The Mill Health Centre’ which is based on a university campus. Very much like the news programme, a factual media product, it references real life problems and events and so it has to be based in a realistic environment very much like the health centre. Being that the title is, ‘Doctors’ you, as the audience, would expect the series to be based in a health centre and so for it to stay true to this idea shows how the programme uses different means to be spontaneous and unpredictable. It is one of the ways the programme keeps the audience interested.

As mentioned earlier the narrative is constantly changing; Though we have central reoccurring characters each episode introduces a new character and from there the main characters are brought into their lives and we follow the narrative from there. If you observe the narratives of the main characters you will find that it is linear and their lives are constantly travelling forward. Then there are the additional characters whose lives branch off somewhere else and often do not last for more than one episode. In choosing to follow each episode up in this way shows that the writers are trying to tell the audience that the series is trying to represent real life and how everyday offers something new. It is a way of bring forth the uniqueness of the series and making it known within the target audience.

In terms of meeting places there is the bar where most of the main characters go called, ‘The Icon’ which is a reoccurring location throughout the series. In choosing this as a secondary location in the series the writers are ultimately bringing the show down to Earth and confidently creating a sense of realism within the drama of each story line; Whenever there is a problem and a character cannot find answers we may find them in ‘The Icon’ and soon after they may uncover another aspect of the story line. It is rather exceptional the way the settings in soap operas can influence us, as the audience, to continue watching. Setting is always important, more so in soaps than in news programmes at times.

With the lighting there is not a constant change. Often, the lighting remains the same and more often than not it is the colours that change. With, ‘Doctors’ specifically the representation of mood and emotions is down to the acting rather than dramatic lighting changes. This is where soaps and the news differ; the news uses lighting as a key element of expressing moods and changes in discussion whereas soaps tend to rely on colour at the most and acting skills. Though there are not many lighting changes in this soap when they are used in most dramas the changes tend to symbolise specific emotions. For example, if the lighting was to change to and be darker this would often symbolise danger or fear. If the lighting was flickering between bright and dark this may symbolise insanity or anger. Lighting, in general with dramas, tends to symbolise the strongest of emotions and often those of emotions which are hidden.

When looking at the shot types used in, ‘Doctors’ there seems to be a lot of medium shots during conversations. This is often combined with the occasional close up to make sure that all emotions from each scene are present and the audience recognise them. Due to there hardly being any lighting changes representing emotions it is largely down to shot types. Therefore, for the most part, ‘Doctors’ use close ups and medium shots to keep the audience well-versed in the emotion of each episode.

Due to there being a lot of conversations in the series there are also a lot of shot reverse shots on a regular basis. For instance, when characters are discussing matters in the health centre or in the Icon there will be a lot of shot reverse shots between the two characters in conversation or, occasionally, there will be more people in the conversation therefore more shots.

In terms of the editing there is a pace which the editor sticks to for a majority of the programme. For the most part, they use simple shot reverse shots to keep the show lively but not confuse the audience and make them observe the scene(s) differently. Occasionally, they will edit shots so that certain shots of significance last longer on screen. These could be pull focus shots or a simple close up of a character as their emotional state gradually changes. The editor does this to tell the audience there is something more important on screen and potentially something which could completely change their perspective of the story line.

In comparison with the news programme there is a similarity; for one shot reverse shots are often used especially during interviews and are used to keep the programme lively however with soaps and dramas it is also used as a way of building tension and artistically representing situations and emotions. When building tension through the editing the editor will continue to use shot reverse shot however they will decrease the amount of screen time each shot gets before moving on to the secondary shot. For example, in one episode a man walks down an alleyway and sees a van pull up at the other side, A group of men step out and descend towards him slowly. The editor uses shot reverse shot and then a number of close ups to build up the tension and express, to the audience, what the character is feeling. When using fast cuts to build tension the editor is trying to bring forth the character’s inner feelings and thoughts. When agitated the character may begin brething faster and gazing at their surroundings for longer to try and find reassurance. This is the effect the fast cuts and overall editing have on the audience and it is very different to that of the news programme which is purely factual and therefore does not attempt to unnerve its audience.

For the ending, again, there is a clear difference between itself and the news programme. For one, when a news programme is trying to create a form of a cliffhanger they will tell the audience what is to come next, verbally, and not leave the final; moments of the programme in silence whereas with ‘Doctors’ there will be deliberate moments of silence to make way for a cliffhanger. Immediately after this the closing theme will begin to play along with a brief look at what is to come next time. Very much like the news programme it is blatantly revealing future events in the show to the audience however it is done visually and leaves the audience with more questions than answers. With news programmes future discussions and bulletins are often based on events the audience  may have already read about or heard of. It is simply elaborating and updating these events and does not use any verbal techniques to give impact to the audiences decision making.

Overall, both the news programme and the drama prove to have strong impacts on the audience and their communication with the people behind both media products. For one, they both manage to change the way the audience view the programme through camera movements. One example would be the shot reverse shot discussed above; When the presenters discuss less distressing events the shots seem quicker and upbeat and then when discussing such events the shots appear slower to try and bring the audience to a more composed level to properly understand what is being told to them. With ‘Doctors’ the shots seem quicker when a serious event is being shown or discussed. Since it is a drama there needs to be more expression of emotions, especially through artistic methods. For example, uses of colour, as opposed to lighting, and the changes which cause dramatic changes in observation. When we cut to a scene where there is a lot of red we, as the audience, expect the situation to involve either anger or danger. Only on occasions will the situation involve love unless there are other colours, similar, used such as pinks and light oranges. Normally with dramas there is a lot of lighting used however a number of soaps including ‘Doctors’ avoid relying on lighting as a majority of episodes are set during the day in a medical health centre. There are a number of similarities in differences however neither fall short of their objective in communicating with the audience therefore these methods are, though often opposing, prove successful.