TV IS DEAD?

PROGRAMME 3: HOW TO MAKE GREAT TV SHOWS

ACTIVITIES

Guidance

These activities support a variety of individual, paired and group work and can be chosen and adapted to suit the needs of the students involved.

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Before viewing

Organise students into small groups and ask them to discuss the following:

1. Jot down the first five TV programme titles that come into your mind. Compare your lists. Are there overlaps? Now consider how good you think each programme title is. What does the title suggest about the programme content? Who might be attracted to watch these programmes, and why? At what time of day do you think these programmes would be aired and on what channel? Why?
2. Bring in a selection of teen magazines that you read. How much content is devoted to television? Look at direct references as well as articles about TV celebrities. What are the benefits of this coverage for the magazine industry and for the television industry? Is there any difference between magazines aimed at males and those aimed at females?
3. Nowadays, many programmes are about the lives of real people. List as many of this type of programme as you are able. What do you think is their appeal?
4. It is often the case that a certain topic seems to be particularly popular in the schedules. Discuss what topics seem to appeal at the moment and list as many programmes as you can that deal with each topic. How different is the content of the programmes on the same topic?
5. Have you ever made a video or short film and, if so, have you shared it with others? How? How does it compare in quality to programmes broadcast on television?

Programme-related activities

To view 4Learning video clips you will need Windows Media Player for PC or Mac, which is free to download from Microsoft:
www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/
player/download/download.aspx

The video clips may contain a few seconds of extra material at the beginning and end, so we have included opening and closing descriptions to help identify the intended scene.

Jeopardy
Clip: 09:21 – 10:08

• In (Dominique Walker): 'We use the word "jeopardy" a lot in television.'
• Out (narrator): '…to help finance their African adventure.'

Consider to what extent you believe the following programmes have this characteristic. How much do you think it contributes to the success of the programme?

• No Going Back
• The Apprentice
• You Are What You Eat
• Jamie's School Dinners
• I'm A Celebrity – Get Me out of Here
• The Antiques Roadshow
• The Weakest Link
• Countdown
• Ready Steady Cook
• Strictly Come Dancing.

Great Access

Look at section on Big Brother again. Now summarise the kind of programme it is, who the likely target audience is, and the main factors that make it successful.

Imagine that you are part of a production/development team at Endemol, the company that makes the programme. Draft out a short proposal for the next series that you think would persuade the broadcaster, Channel 4, to agree to commission it.

Of the moment

Look at the section where Betty TV pitch the idea for a programme about STIs. What do you think of the idea? How do you think they would develop the idea in order to 'deliver'? What would be some of the challenges and changes necessary?

After viewing

What topics do you think could, in six months time, be engaging for viewers? Why? Choose one topic and, as a group, brainstorm ideas for programmes around this topic. Now choose one programme and draft a proposal, no longer than one A4 page, aimed at a commissioning editor. Use the following headings (or use the downloadable worksheet):

Proposal for department at Channel 4:

• Title
• Two-line summary of main idea
• Schedule slot
• Target audience
• Programme length
• Format (approximately 300 words)
• Access to participants (real or imaginary)
• Presenter.

Now decide who is going to lead the pitch and pitch your idea to another group. Be prepared to answer questions, should they seek clarification on any point.