The only way is Essex

I have been a fan of the only way is Essex since the series started so I have decided to write about it this week. The only way is Essex is a reality TV series following the lives of around 10 boys and girls that live in Essex. It is shown on ITV2 Sunday and Wednesday when the series is aired. Although it states that is a reality TV show I do know and believe that most if not all of the show is scripted and each scene is set up to happen. The main characters of the show consisted of Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger, James Argent ‘Arg’, Amy, Sam, Lydia, Kirk, Joey and a few more. The first series aired 10^th October 2010 and was a huge hit straight away, because the first series was a hit the second series then started again 20^th march this year and has recently just finished. I personally find the show very amusing, I do not take it seriously and I believe that this is how most of its viewers feel also. Each episode there is an event that happens and there is some kind of drama. One of the main storylines that is going on at the moment is the marriage of Lauren and Mark, the big dilemma of will they or wont they get married.

The researcher for this show would have to get to know each character and make sure that they are interesting enough to go on the show. The girls of the show are very much known as being simple and the boys are seen as either very big headed or ‘dumb’. To fit the mould of being on the show each character that enters will have to be either of these. The researcher like on any other show would make sure that each of the individuals is at the right place and the right time for each scene. Also they would need to make sure that the director is informed if any changes happen.

Supersize Vs Superskinny

 

The documentary that I decided to watch last night was supersize Vs super skinny, this programme is shown on channel 4 weekly at 8.00pm. The documentary looks into two different individuals who are two extreme eaters.  One is extremely overweight and the other is very underweight, both them swap their diets to try and change their eating habits and to change their view on food. Each episode there are two different individuals with their own reasons for why they are the way they are, within the show there is normally some kind of ‘sob’ story to why they are like it and why they want to change.  The show is presented by Dr Christian Jesson who is also known to the world as being a health fanatic. At the end of each show the two extreme eaters are given six weeks to see if they can stick to the healthy diet. They then come back and each time they have suggested. I think this show is help to people who are maybe going through one of the situations that either of the individuals are going through. The show is also family orientated and I feel that parents would allow their children to watch the show because it shows the effect of what unhealthy eating can do. There are number of VTs shown in each episode to see the individuals home and to see what they eat each day.

Dr Christian is also known for presenting other documentaries series such as ‘embarrassing bodies’ and I believe that they would have the same researchers for each show. The researchers for each of these shows would have to get to know each of the individuals that are going to participate to see if they actually want to be helped. The researcher would have to make sure that the individual is the right person and would have to make sure that they are 100 per cent happy and if they need anything they would help them with it. They would make sure that both of the participants that are going to be shown on each episode are the complete opposite to the other; this is because they want to shock the audience at their first meeting. The researcher would also go back to the individual’s family home and see what life is like back home.

Katie: My beautiful friends

The documentary series that I felt the need to write about this week was, Katie piper: my beautiful friends, this is a series that has been shown for the past few weeks on channel 4 once a week at 10.00pm. Katie Piper is a beautiful young woman, rebuilding her life after surviving a brutal attack in 2008, where acid was thrown over her face. Before the accident Katie piper was a TV presenter and a model, but the attack was committed by her x boyfriend who is now sentenced to jail. Katie was blinded in one eye and now has a permanent disfigured face.

The show sets out to help other burn victims or any other people that have disfigurement in some way and fighting for normality. Katie is on an extraordinary journey to use her personal horrific experience to help others rebuild their lives and confidence. The researcher for this very touching show would have to make sure that all the contributors are happy with everything that is going to be shown, and the researcher would have to make sure that everything that is shown Katie is happy with because this show is a huge representation of Katie and what she has been through. I do feel that most of the research about the other contributors would be done by Katie because she wanted to have emotional connection with them so that they would trust her. The show shows the journeys that each of these people has been through and it shows the process of how Katie is trying to help them. It also shows that maybe the people are more worried of what people think of them that the people themselves.

Katie also has a charity that she is running and the show is also publicity for this charity, the charity is called the Katie piper foundation and it is to help all burn victims out there.

This Morning

Another programme that I am deciding to write about is the day time magazine show This Morning, I have watched this show many times and I enjoy watching it each time. This Morning is broadcast on ITV1 weekdays 10:30 until 12:30 and varies at the weekends. It has a large amount of viewers and it covers a number of topics such as serious and emotional subjects such as rape, but its balanced out with entertainment subjects such as Dancing on ice and soap guests. It is a very relaxed show and the presenters make the interviewees very comfortable, the presenters are Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield.

The researcher for this show would have to do a tremendous amount, this is because of the number and variety of topics that are discussed throughout each show. For example if a serious subject was discussed such as a rape victim to be interviewed on the show, the researcher would have to make sure that everything that is discussed is allowed to be discussed and to make sure that the guest is completely aware of everything that is going to happen. The researcher has to make sure that every guest would be able get to the studio when they are needed there. There are also a number of VT-s that are shown throughout the show and this can be interviews that have been undertaken outside of the studio, the researcher would then have to make sure that everyone and everything including equipment could get to that location. Again as said in my earlier post the researcher can have a creative out take on the show, is in charge of resources and also has to have a number of meetings with the crew members such as director and producer. 

I will continue to watch this show and feel that when I am watching I am active viewing. 

Apprentice

One television programme that I decided to watch this week was the apprentice which is a reality TV show, the show is for businessmen or women who want to start there own business, they are put through a number of tasks to see who is the best business person and who makes the right decisions. The winner of this show wins a sufficient amount of money and get to work for Lord Alan Sugar. I already know that this show is fake and some parts are scripted, I know that the final decision is not made when you think it is and I know that both of the final contestants are filmed being told that they have won. I generally do not watch this show but I decided to see what I thought of it.

Referring to the researcher I know that every TV they have to do a lot but specificly referring to the apprentice the researcher would have to do things including; sort location, the filming is usually shot in and around London but for some task the contestants have to go out of the country, for this the researcher would have to make sure that the film crew can go and where they can fit. The researcher works closely with the producer so they also have a creative out take on the programme, they have a lot of meetings with the crew including producer, writers and director so they can give any ideas that they feel are relevant. The researcher also would have to do simple things for example any resources that the show may need which could be equipment that the contestants or Lord Alan Sugar, the researcher would have to look up these things and find them. These are just a number of things I felt I should have mentioned.


Overall I found the show personally very fake but everyone has there own opinion.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

The TV program that i watched this week was My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, which is a series of documentary's around the lives of gypsys and there beliefs and culture.There would have to be a sufficent about of research to be done for this program to be made. The researcher would have to look into locations where gypsys live and make sure that it is possible to shoot on there, also look into the individual people that was going to film. The researcher would have to made sure that they got permission from every single person to be filmed and to make sure that they know the rough background and beliefs of them. They also would have to sort out every interview that had been undertook, one over main thing that the researcher would have to do is make sure that everything that he or she had done had been written up and given to the director. They would also have to have thought creatively and come up with ideas that maybe the director didn't.

Personally I feel that this show is very revealing of the gypsy's lives and I find that my opinion has definitely changed and the stereotype that was created before this documentary has differed. One view that I have about the children on the show is that they are exploited and that there lives are planned out before they are old enough to realise and the women on the show have no choose in what they do. Overall as a viewer my opinion would be different but as a researcher the show works very well.