X-Factor

Coverage of Action

The recording is simultaneous through the whole show as it is live. There are approximately 7 cameras used. There are different camera angles used. There are medium shots of the people’s faces to show there facial expression/ emotions and body language. There are 2 shots to show someone’s remark and another person’s reaction to that. There are also sometimes audience shots to show the reaction from them.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

The show starts off with the com-pair introducing the host - Dermot O’Leary. Then Dermot O'Leary clearly introduces the show and lets the audience know what is going on e.g. He says what the theme is on that week. Then the first contestant is brought onto stage to perform, feedback is given to them and the number to call to keep them in is put on the screen. This is so the audience knows what number to call for there favorite performance. This process happens for all the contestants. Then at the end of the show Dermot O'Leary informs the audience of what the result show will consist of e.g. who will perform and how the elimination will work. 

Visual Style

The X-Factor shows a lot of previously shot footage in the form of VT. They show A VT of all the contestants before they perform. This different form of broadcasting makes watching it more interesting. They also show other forms of previously shot footage. There are a few visual elements, one is when the contestants are performing and there name & number to call comes up on the screen in the colours red and white. And also when the host talks to the audience, the background of the stage is red and white with the 'X-Factor' logo.

Maintaining Viewers Interest

The producers don’t want the viewers to lose interest so they use a variety of shot types and angles and they make the programme fast passed so that the viewers don’t get bored and switch off. Also another reason why people continue watching is because of the talent on the show and people want to see how the contestants do. They make the audience want to

see how the contestants progress by using VT and music to gain emotion from them.

Constraints of Location

The constraints of location X Factor have to deal with are that because this location isn’t especially for X- Factor, it is also used for other things. So this means that the X-factor setting and staging needs to be set up and taken down every week. It takes long to set up everything and also the amount of cameras makes it even longer to set up. Producers overcome these issues by getting the construction crew to arrive early to set up everything. In pre-production the producers draw up a floor plan so that the construction crew know where all the cameras and everything else needs to be. There are a few live editing options, with shot type from the different cameras. And they can choose a variety of transitions to use such as fade in/out.