The sub-genres of reality TV I will be focusing on are: Soap-opera style and Social experiment. I am focusing on these as they were the most popular answers from my focus group feedback, with the other option being 'hidden cameras' which was not as popular.
Soap-opera style
Overview: This sub-genre of reality TV tends to mimic the appearance and main structure seen in soap operas, hence the name. Shows in this sub-genre tend to include a group of close friends and their interactions, as well as changes in their relationships.
Conventions: Conventions of these shows include a cinematic feel, leading to them being accused of being scripted. They also usually include a grounded concept in order to aid the 'reality' of the show and scenes are set up so viewers can see conversations/ events occurring. Settings are usually quite luxurious or aesthetically pleasing, for example parties or rich houses, matching the glamorous style these shows include.
Examples of these shows and how they tend to the conventions: Examples of Soap-opera style reality TV shows include 'Made in Chelsea' and 'The Only way is Essex'. 'The Only way is Essex' includes wealthy people dressed up in expensive and 'trendy' clothes with makeup, adhering to the glamorous style conventionally seen, also mid-shot and medium long-shots are used to capture challenges and events the group are participating in.
In 'Made in Chelsea', a more cinematic feel is conveyed through the use of appealing lighting, as well as medium close-up shots with a shallow depth of field to blur the background and direct the audience's focus to the characters. In addition, to reinforce the focus on conversations/ events, scenes are made to feel more comfortable through the use of the rule of thirds, placing characters where the lines cross and usually only including the characters in the shots without many other props to direct the focus to the intended subject(s).
How will I adhere to these conventions or deviate from them: I will focus camera angles and scenes on conversations between the characters, as well as creating a cinematic feel for the show. However, I will try deviate away from the glamorous style, which are conventionally seen in shows of this sub-genre, but try to maintain an aesthetically pleasing style for some scenes and settings to enforce the realistic portrayal of the characters/ situations while making the visuals appealing.
Social experiment
Overview: This sub-genre focuses on setting rules and having people work with these rules, these rules are usually quite challenging and sometimes push people to emotional levels. Therefore, these scenes produce drama, conflict and 'transformation' which are used to entertain the audience
Conventions: Scenes have a large focus on peoples reactions to situations that arise from the rules set through the use of shot types such as medium closeups and closeups, also, contrary to the settings of soap-opera style shows, social experiment shows conventionally have generic settings to portray the idea that these experiments aren't staged and use real people in their realistic environment. In addition, to focus on the emotions and opinions of the people involved these shows tend to have one-on-one interviews with people involved or couples.
Furthermore, graphics are used to convey the challenge or problem the people face in the show, this may also be used to provide context on the experiment being carried out. These graphics also give the show a unique logo and theme around its cover in order to hook the target audience with visually impacting depictions. Multiple camera perspectives are usually shown to portray the body language of the people involved and in order to capture their environment, examples of these shots include long shots.
Examples of these shows and how they tend to the conventions: Wife Swap, a British TV series, is an example of a social experiment reality TV show that follows two families who swap wives with different values and must live by the social rules of the other wife temporarily. This show tends to the conventions seen in this sub-genre by using normal houses as settings and interviewing couples to present their opinions on the changes in environments, and to capture any 'transformations' in these opinions that have occurred due to their predicaments.
Faking It featured a concept in which people were taught new skill over a limited period of time and afterwards they would have to pass themselves off as an expert in the skill. The show adhered to the conventions by including graphics to introduce the show that flicked and changed, portraying the themes of manipulation and illusion the show is based from. Furthermore, the show uses multiple close-ups and medium close-ups to emphasise the psychological and physical effects that come with some of the intense learning process.
How will I adhere to these conventions or deviate from them:
I will use closeup/ medium closeup camera shots to emphasise reactions from my cast and to invoke emotion within the audience as well, also I will include one-on-one interviews with the characters to follow up on their reactions by providing context on their thought processes.
