Realism
Realism is a way of making your audience believe that the production is as close to being real as it possibly can. It uses very simply video and editing techniques in attempt to make the programme, film etc. look like a real conversation or scene is taking place.
A good example of Realism programme is Eastenders;
The programme is about a Square in London named Albert Square and the people that live there. It is suppose to be everyday life events that happen in the Square that people, (the audience) can relate to. Obviously events are exagerrated in order to keep the audience interested however it is kept fairly simple and very close to actual reality. Eastenders and Soap Operas in general have very strict techniques they must abide by in order to represent real life and create a successful Soap. These techniques include Camera, Editing, Lighting and Sound.
Camera;
The main two camera shots used in Eastenders is the Medium Close-up shot and the Wide Shot. Over 100 years of filming, research has shown that these shots are the closest to representing a conversation. It also closely represents how we communicate with people as you look into people's eyes when you speak and your vision is naturally wide angle. Also, using these shots make it simple to figure out where the actors are in the scene. This then makes it a lot easier to relate to what is going on and allows you to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it for example.
An example of a Medium Close-up shot;
It shows the person who is talking on the right of the shot and leaves an empty space on the left. This enables the audience to enterpret where the character is in the scene and allows them to have a better understanding. The fact that she is the only person in shot draws the attention to her and lets the audience know that she is the most important thing in the shot.
An example of a Wide Shot;
It shows the two main people in the scene with one being on the far left and the other on the far right. The shot is effective because it lets the audience know where the people are in the room and it makes it easier to relate to their conversation. It also breaks up the scene by adding a shot of both characters rather than flicking from Medium Close-ups.
This is a clip from Eastenders. It is a great example of both the Wide-angle and Medium Close-up shots. It is constantly flicking from shot to shot however it looks very smooth and the continuety is good. The people in the background of the clip are still very dominant characters in he programme, however the way it is filmed lets the audience know that they are not involved in this particular scene.
Sound;
Eastenders use both diagetic and non-diagetic sounds when filming and recording an episode. Diagetic sounds are sounds that can be seen within the shot, and non-diagetic sound are sounds that are heard which are not in the shot. Realism programmes use these techniques to make the programme as realistic as possible.
An example of diagetic sounds;
This is a good example of a still shot taken from an episode. In this shot, you would obviously be able to hear both Masood and Zainab talking, but you would also be able to hear any background noise from the people in the background. You would also hear the opening of the ring box as it is an important part in this scene. You may also be able to hear drinks being poured, bottles clanking together etc. as you can see them in the shot.
This is a good example of non-diagetic sound. The still shows a scene outside a house on the street. it is a good example because they are right next to the street therefore you would be able to hear cars going by even though you can't see them. You may also be able to hear things like birds, car horns, sirens and other people talking that are out of shot.
Eastenders uses very basic editing techniques when putting an episode together. The editing itself may be basic, however the key is to make the continuity of each shot believable. As the programme is suppose to be real-life events of day-to-day life, things like props and actors have to look the same as the scene cuts from shot to shot. even though we as the audience knows that the programme is not real-life, the editors have to portray each scene as being as realistic as possible. This is why we don't see any arty cuts between scenes or any effects used during a shot. There are also no special effects or enhanced shots. This is because, again, the programme is meant to be real-life, and it is meant to look as though you are there looking at it through your eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt-K4sTDy3w
This is a scene of when Phil crashes his car. Note how the entire scene seems as though it is happening without any breaks and it feels like the scene was shot using one take. The scene flows well flicking from different shots. Even when the car is crashing there are no special effects or changed lighting etc. it is just simple shots that look effective.
Lighting;
The majority of scenes filmed in Eastenders are filmed outside, therefore the lighting would be very natural provided by the sun or a single, natural looking light. Scenes that are filmed indoors are lit by cieling lights, much like the lights you have in your home. This is done in attempt to make the shot look like the characters are sitting in their home, and it is done to make it look as natural as possible.
This is a shot filmed in the Queen Victoria. The lighting in the shot looks very natural and has that pub feeling about it. There is a slight bit of light which looks like the sun shining through a window. There is no major light reflections on any of the characters or any props in the background. The shot itself looks overall very natural and effective.
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