Aims & Intentions

I am creating a documentary on Channel 5 about food and helping people. I will construct representations of individuals by how the show gives an insight into people who aren't usually shown in the media and who have habits that are considered strange. Also, through the doctor it gives an educational part of the show where people learn how things are dangerous, and how they can receive help. It is a shocking documentary which is targeted at a target audience of 18-35 year old 'millennials'. This is because the show inscribes people of this age so it appeals to this audience, and also other similar shows such as 'Freaky eaters' and 'embarrassing bodies' have been popular amongst my target demographic. More specifically, it is aimed slightly more at the younger side of that age bracket who aren't necessarily looking for something high-concept with an intelligent plot. However, it may also appeal to a wider audience because they want to find out more about these people as surveillance to find out more about things they don't know about as one of the uses and gratifications, however it is still aimed at 18-35 year old 'millennials'. It is also aimed at the main audience of Channel 5 in general. This show is a documentary and will therefore be filmed in the documentary style. Each episode has 4 separate parts, each focusing on a different individual and their habit, my sequence will be part 1, focusing on Dudley who only eats chips, crisps and cheese.It will have interview shots and also hand-held and tracking shots. This is a 'shockumentary' and will have a shock factor about people who have crazy eating habits that are strange and dangerous for their health, and how they will be battling to improve their diets. The tone will be light hearted and comedic to show a happy side of things as well as the aspect of danger. I will film at my own house and the surrounding local area to make the documentary feel realistic and relatable to the target audience.The sequence begins with Dr.Alan introducing the segment to the camera, and then there will be a short sequence of Dudley preparing food, and giving an interview to the camera explaining why he has this habit. There will then be a sequence showing Dudley's daily routine of buying chips from his local takeaway, with a variety of handheld, tracking, medium shots, long shots and close ups with playful, quirky music in the background to emphasise the abnormality of Dudley's habit. Dudley's friends and family also talk to the camera before Dr.Alan then introduces himself and begins to help Dudley, which will result in some conflict. Dudley is a quiet and dopey character, whereas Dr.Alan is a charismatic and loud. I aim to create a show that shines a light on people who are under-represented in the media and to give the audience an insight into their lives and also more knowledge on food and health due to the educational parts of the show. On the Channel 5 website, the Director of programming says: "We particularly like factual shows – Specialist Factual, Documentaries and Factual Entertainment. These can be poppy, tabloid type shows or serious pieces, there’s room for all tones and textures. But they need to have a good, grabby title. We are not really in the market for Comedy or Drama at the moment but that will hopefully change moving forward. We are also hoping to commission more Features and Lifestyle further down the line but it’s hard to get those kind of shows away at the moment." In terms of factual, Channel 5 is looking for: Broad, robust documentary series for 9pm, and a returnable 8pm series that reflects who we are and how we live, 10pm entertaining documentary series or one-offs. My show fits to this brief. There are likely to be shots in public and also in a home setting as these are typical of documentaries. Dudley's house will be the primary location. This show will be aired at 9pm on a Thursday evening.

To demonstrate convergence, the show will have a big feature in my magazine where the two main characters feature on the cover, and there is also a double page spread with photos of them and a Q and A article. This will help to advertise the show and help it to reach its target audience and also will help to make the star of the show (Dr.Alan) become a recognisable face to create a bigger brand identity for the show.