Analyse of the Television Genre; Investigative Documentary using ‘Crimewatch UK’ Essay Example

audio and visual elements was effective in communicating the key points and reasons regarding the investigation. This is commonly referred to as audio-visual. Presenting this information solely through spoken words would likely have failed to maintain viewers' attention, whereas a visually appealing graph was more engaging. Monday's show demonstrated this concept through well-executed interviews with a victim of an attack. The subsequent content was thoughtfully designed and highly effective.

During the victim's interview, the room was kept dark with minimal lighting to create a certain ambiance. As the victim's face could not be shown, various camera angles were used to show different parts of their body. These shots were quick and involved panning. Initially, the camera faced the victim for a few seconds while they spoke about their experience. However, as the interview progressed, the camera moved around the victim, capturing different body parts. A shot from behind the victim showing only their shoulders and hair stands out as one example from the interview.

According to my observation, the camera angle used in the interview was impressive because it portrayed the character's emotions, rather than just capturing the victim's face. It was intriguing that the interview did not reveal any interviewee or camera operator, which added to the victim's sense of isolation. The approach proved effective. However, there was an entirely different aspect to the interview that significantly differed from the victim's experience, which occurred when interviewing the expert. It was safe to show their face, unlike the victim's interview. The expert's interview took place with the presenter and expert seated near the side of the office set in the studio.

The scene was relaxed, taking pressure

off both the expert and presenter. It was a good scene because the expert and presenter were visible, indicating no secrets were being kept from viewers. Although the camera angle was generally fixed, the use of panning added variation. While reconstructions in the program could be confusing at times, they were informative about the incident or investigation. The reconstructions included actors playing different roles but maintained consistency with vehicle color and location to provide clarity for viewers who may be able to assist with solving the case.

The overall appearance and arrangement of the program consistently changed, from interviews to graphs, photos, and reconstructions. This tactic effectively kept the production engaging. The scenes were set in an office with 2-3 workstations and about 10 people collecting information from the audience's input. The presenters were often seen in different locations of the studio, providing a sense of variation and differentiation. Additionally, the contact details displayed across the bottom of the screen were heavily utilized. These details were strategically placed after each piece of information, such as an interview outside of the studio or following an overview provided by the presenters. Phone numbers and email addresses were included in these flashes of contact information.

The name of each interviewee is displayed at the bottom of every episode of the show, including this one, which is important for providing viewers with informative details. Camera techniques play a key role in the success of Crimewatch UK, thanks to numerous techniques and angles used in the studio, such as panning, medium shots, and dolly shots. Reconstructions in particular are effectively utilized to provide a clear image for the public and help jog

people's memories, especially if the scene took place in a street or shop.

Using simple shots, like a view from a CCTV tape, can trigger memories. However, the view from a person's perspective can be more effective for investigative purposes. In this week's episode of Crimewatch UK, a majority of the camera angles used were mid-shots of individuals or objects involved in the investigation. During an interview with a victim of a con man and his company, the camera focused on the victim while sitting on the controversial object (the bed) which was slightly blurred. The producers of the program acted similar to the press by chasing down the con man on foot, demonstrating the difficulty in obtaining all pertinent information.

Overall, my assessment is that Crimewatch UK provided an excellent model for the genre that we aim to thrive in with our own production. The program featured all of the necessary components, such as presenters (of course!), reconstructions, off-site investigations, and thorough control of mise-en-scene to ensure specific visual cues received proper emphasis.