The+Homecoming+-+Group+1B

Matt Neale and Liam Newman

Introduction to Reality Television-

Annette Hill argues that it can be placed in the older genre of Popular Factual. To do this, staged events may be added to the plot, even of a documentary Subjects in Reality Television are aware that they are being watched. This is actually made the focal of some shows (e.g. Big Brother with its camera’s and slogan: Big Brother is watching you) With reality television, the audience is usually an active participant, who are encouraged to take part within the action. Examples: Big Brother, I’m a Celebrity..... Reality television usually follows a set format so that investors know that it will be profitable and popular. The sort of popular factual shows which are most appealing to investors would be shows which have a dramatic element to them, which can hook the audience. (e.g. Wife Swap) What is the Homecoming? (and looking at the aspects of how it might be reality television) -

The two main aspects within reality television 1) STAGED EVENTS – For example, the scene where she conveniently discovers her half brother is a bit staged, and this can be seen as a way for the documentary to address its audience in an emotionally poignant way (Kilborn 2003: 154) If this is a staged event, then it displays an element common with reality television. Attempting to stimulate real life events. Factual programming with entertainment based television. 2) AWARE PARTICIPANTS – As previously mentioned, subjects in reality television are being observed, but are aware that they are being filmed. This is Based on Vertov’s idea of observational documentaries, a true observational documentary features characters who are unaware that they are being filmed. The Homecoming contains a participant who is 1) aware that they are being filmed and 2) actively discusses whats happening with the film crew.

3) NON-PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND UNSCRIPTED DIALOGUE - The main character Rachel obviously is not an actor, but her emotional performance adds to the films dramatic effect. For example, the very first shot of her is hertearing up whilst looking at pictures of her childhood. She is a socially expressive actor. Other than this however, we don’t think that The Homecoming has enough elements to justify calling it a reality television show. Channel 4, the original broadcaster, has separate categories for Reality television and documentaries. The Homecoming is placed in the documentary category. Film theorist Bill Nichols suggested four main modes of documentary. These were expository, observational, participatory and reflexive. Film theorist Stella Bruzzi later added a fifth, performative.

The Homecoming has elements much more similar to that of an Expository Documentary.

There is more of a need for the in-depth exploration of documentaries (such as Nichols’ use of modes) in the 21st century, as TV channels have taken much more of an interest in producing documentaries. This is evident through the BBC’s reform of its documentary production structure which portrays the heightened interests in different styles of documentary in the past few years. Can be stated as being a Factual show, within the documentaries and contemporary factual strand, then the leisure sub-genre and the relationships sub-sub-genre.

1) Voiceover which addresses audience directly 2) Voice of authority – This commentator drives the narrative forward and foreshadows the events to come (e.g. the scene in the pub where the voiceover says “The landlord knows that Rachel might be coming today and has some unexpected news for her.” 3) Editing – The film shows archive photographs to link in with the Rachel trying to remember her past and rediscover the fellow care home children. 4) Various forms of footage – Interviews (between Rachel and various characters), a couple of talking heads, montages of old photographs, long and establishing shots (Rachel walking down the street)