Audience research- Sara and Craig's current followers

As part of my audience research I thought that it might be useful to visit the show team's facebook page, to see what kind of public interest that they mostly attract, the age, gender, ect of those who like and share their posts, as well as the comments that are uploaded. Since I follow the page myself being a member of the team, I was already aware that they have thousands of likes and comments and are extremely popular and well-known within the showing circuit. This certainly was something that I took into consideration when deciding to focus my documentary on them, as I knew that it would definitely that would be able to attract interest. 

When analysing exactly what type of audience that the Craig Elenor Equestrian Agency attracts, I found that it was quite diverse. In terms of age, I would say that they predominantly engage a more mature age group, ranging from about 30-40, however there is still a great deal of interest from many younger followers. 

With regards to the level and abilities of the riders and trainers engaging with the page, there is a wide range of variety; from the top producers, trainers, breeders and riders in the business, to those competing at local level, or simply enjoy finding out about Sara and Craig's success. However I would certainly say that as showing quite a niche area of competing with horses, those who would take an active interest in it would most likely have some sort of involvement within showing themselves or at least know someone who does. Nevertheless I feel to create a documentary on a show teams day to day running of their yard would hopefully attract the attention of anyone really that is involved with horses, not just those who compete in showing. 

When reading through some of the comments that were posted in response to the image shown above, I was given further insight into the specific audience profile that I will be targeting. This reiterated my initial estimation of the age group and level of profession within showing that my target audience would be of. I also found that a large proportion of the posts came from females, which again will be something that I will need to take into consideration when creating my production.

Treatment

Following the completion of my music magazine for my AS coursework last year, I realised that in order to remain active and engaged with the product that you are constructing it is of great importance that it is based on something that you are interested in and passionate about. Thus when I decided to create my own mini documentary I chose to focus it on showing, something that I have been involved in for years and that I knew I would enjoy planning and filming. I have never made a documentary type film before and have little experience with using the required software, therefore although it will be challenging it is a good opportunity to develop technical skills.



The purpose of my documentary will be to provide people with an insight into the running of a successful show pony producers yard. Since this is not an extremely high profile sport it will be aimed at a more niche audience than a documentary for example that is based on racing, that would not require someone to take an active interest in horses to be familiar with. Thus I will be targeting those who already have some sort of involvement in horses and riding. In order to better engage with this audience it will be quite complex in terms of terminology and detail used, as well as reference to well known competitions and horses that they would be familiar with. This hopefully will mean that my production will prove more interesting and relatable to those with some sort of knowledge of showing and horses.

I will aim to create quite a sophisticated product aimed at a slightly older audience. I feel as though this would be the most effective approach, since existing products that I am familiar with are all addressing a similar age group, with the purpose of informing and educating, something that a slightly younger audience may not fully appreciate.

The Model Agency

It follows the lives of the model agents at Premiere and also features a selection of their models. There is a sense of progression within the documentary as the first episode begins by introducing the new faces and launching them into their first New York fashion week, the following episodes then show the rest of the show season as it goes on. The audience can clearly see how hard all of the bookers work, which is furthered by the fact that it is predominantly shot within their head office in London. This is shown mainly through long shots, also giving a fly on the wall sense to the documentary, making it seem a more realistic depiction of the agents every day lives at work.

Moreover there are a series of interviews featured throughout with each of the agents and several models, enabling the audience to better relate to and understand each character. These are all shot as close ups against a white background, which makes them seem as though they are on the set of some sort of photo shot.

Another important feature which was also used within the racing documentary on Frankel and Henry, was the use of the text in the bottom corner of the interview shots, giving the persons name and job title. These are also sometimes used within the first shot of a character in the office, depending on when they are introduced to the audience. 

Textual Analysis- The Model Agency Channel4

I chose to review and analyse this particular documentary because it is not only of the lifestyle genre, but also focuses on the work that lies behind a running a successful business within a competitive industry, which I plan to do. Moreover an important aspect of what the bookers job entails is seeing potential in young models, which is also an important part of a producers job, being able to find young horses that will mature to win at the highest level. Another link between these two industries is how harsh they can be, in this instance if a model is not good enough or doing as well as the bookers had anticipated then they will have to let them go, whilst in showing this same notion applies. There is also a sense between the two businesses that it is does in fact revolve around making profit and creating and maintaing a highly regarded reputation.

Frankel's legend

As I felt that this particular documentary is very similar to what I hope to produce I payed close attention to the variety of shots that were used. Especially focussing on the filler shots between interviews and those to establish the mise-en-scene, as this was something that I struggled with during my preliminary task.

What I found makes this documentary most interesting was that it gives the audience the sense that they are almost gaining 'backstage' insight into the work and preparation that lies behind all of Sir Henry's success. This is achieved through a combination of shots of the general running of the yard, interviews with the staff, as well as some background information about Sir Henry's upbringing, personal life, as well as his journey to success.

Another feature of this documentary that added to its success was the clever use of props and location to establish the mise-en-scene. Every interview was in a particular setting with appropriate objects in the background in order to say something about that person and their role. Any interviews with stable staff were shot within a barn with hay bales and tack in the background, and often wearing coats, a more informal work-like setting than those filmed of Sir Henry in his living room, or important racing figures sat dressed smartly at a table. Moreover those of Henry would also usually have an array of trophies or pictures of notorious wins in the background, not only to capture what a highly regarded figure he is within racing, but also to perhaps show how much pride he takes in what he does, that he would want to display all of these things within his home.                              

The filler shots are what I will take the most inspiration from, not only due to that fact that their content fitted so well with the genre and tone of the production, but also in the great variety of ways in which they were captured.  One of my favourites was during the very opening of the documentary, which captured several horses legs as they galloped around a bend during a race. This was not only an interesting shot but also established the mise-en-scene.

There was also a real sense of progression throughout the story of the journey of both Frankel and Sir Henry's lives, which engaged the audience and also made it far more emotive. This is definitely something that I will incorporate into my mini documentary, as it establishes the characters that are featured, helping the audience to understand and relate to them.

NARRATIVE: There was also a real sense of progression throughout the story of the journey of both Frankel and Sir Henry's lives, which engaged the audience and also made it far more emotive. The start of the documentary first explored Henry’s childhood and upbringing around horses, and continued to follow his life story in chronological order all the way up to his death. This is definitely something that I will incorporate into my mini documentary, as it establishes the characters that are featured, helping the audience to understand and relate to them. It is mainly a story of hard work and dedication to your craft, as throughout his battle fighting cancer and the loss of his twin brother David, Sir Henry still continued to pursue his strong work ethic which was all rewarded following the arrival of the Frankel and his notorious unbeaten career.

AUDIENCE would say that this particular documentary would be aimed at quite a niche audience, probably being an older age category of people interested in horses. This is due to the fact that despite racing is something that appeals to large variations of audiences, this production is focussed on the training and hard work that goes on at home in order to prepare horses for events.

REPRESENTATION:  The lifestyle of a professional racing trainer is represented as extremely hard work and very much a full time job. Even through illness and trauma Sir Henry still managed to continue with his routine consisting of early starts, long hours and spending most of his day outside on his feet.

The Trainer & the Racehorse: Frankel's legend

As part of my research and planning I watched the channel4 documentary, The Trainer & the Racehorse: Frankel's legend. It tells the story of both Frankel and his trainer, Sir Henry Cecil's journeys to success. As I plan to do in my documentary, it explores more of the background and training of both the horses and trainer and great successes are mentioned more as highlights. It follows their process of gaining such fame and recognition, thus consists of quite a few interviews, clips from previous races, as well of stills of family pictures and previous images of Sir Henry riding when he was younger. Moreover something that I have considered after watching this documentary is to also incorporate interviews with those who run the yard day to day, and explore their relationships with the show pony trainers to give my audience a general sense of how their show team is run, something that was featured within this documentary.

Qualitative Reasearch

Although I have already established my own ideas as to the target audience that I wish to address, as part of my audience research I decided to interview a series of participants, both male and female of a variety of ages, to further enhance my investigations. All of those interviewed also already had a developed interest in either showing or at least riding themselves.

1: female-16

2:female-25

3:female-40

4:male-50

1. Do you currently watch any programmes or documentaries based on a particular trainer, rider or show team?

1: I wouldn't say that they are something that I would watch regularly, but if there was one on about a famous rider that I am particularly interested in, like Charlotte Dujardin, then I would definitely watch it. Also since I do showing myself, I would watch a documentary or programme based on that as well. 

3: I often will watch programmes or documentaries about famous yards, riders and teams, yes. I do ride myself and have my own horses an show them as well, so it is something that I am interested in. 

2: I very rarely will watch any horse based TV, on the occasion if something was something on that caught by eye, or people had been talking about then maybe, but no, not really.

4: Sometimes if the racing is on or a short programme on after about a famous horse then maybe, but on the whole I would not say that I currently watch any TV about horses.

2. Would you be interested in finding out about the day to day running or a successful show team?

3: I think that I would probably be interested in that, I show my horses regularly and I am quite 

familiar with most of the top producers, so I would be eager to find out about the running of their yards at home.

4: No I wouldn't say so really, I don't mind reading about them every now and then, but no I wouldn't want to watch a programme about a show team.

1: If it was quite a well known showing team then I think I would watch it, but I would rather find out about what they do at shows rather than at home.

2: I wouldn't say it would be something I would be interested in to be honest. 

3.  Do you currently read any magazines based on showing?

3: Yes, since I show myself I do like to keep up with the results at recent shows and read articles on different riders and producers. I would say the ones that I read most are 'Horse and Hound' and 'Showing Journal', which I subscribe to.

1: I quite like looking in 'Horse and Hound' if a big show has been on, like Badminton, but I wouldn't say that I read any horse magazines that often.

4: Again I quite like to read the odd article now and then, but I don't read them religiously, no.

Genre analysis

Lifestyle


Genre is the term used to categorize different media texts. My documentary will be predominantly lifestyle, in that it will follow the lives of two show pony producers. There are several generic conventions that are featured within lifestyle documentaries. There include location shots, background music and shots of props to establish the mise-en-scene, interview, as well as a voice over at certain points to further the audiences understanding of what it is that they are observing.

e.g. Channel4 Living with the Amish

Nature

My documentary will also come under the bracket of a nature documentary, in that the majority of my filming will be completed outdoors in very natural locations, as well as the horses playing a key role. Therefore I will also need to be aware of the common conventions of this genre as well, however only some of these will be included as a nature documentary takes a far more observational approach to the filming of landscapes and animals than I will be creating. The conventions of a typical nature documentary include; shots of animals, greenery, nature, mostly 'fly on the wall' shots and also a voice over that is usually prominent throughout offering information as to what the viewer is observing.

e.g. Channel4 Inside Nature's Giants

Investigative

An investigative documentary usually tackles a particular notion or issue and aims to investigate as much as it can about it, usually making a quite controversial production. There are different conventions associated with this genre of documentary including; hidden camera shots, voice overs, interviews, ect.

e.g. Channel4 Dispatches

Textual Analysis 1- The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 year olds.

Textual analysis - Lifestyle documentary

The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 year olds - Channel4 (LINK)

This particular lifestyle programme captures the dynamic 'secret life of 4, 5 and 6 years olds. Presented as a fly on the wall documentary consisting mainly of long shots, the audience is given the sense of observing children from a distance. The opening of the production begins with a variety of location shots of them playing and running about outside, whilst the upbeat and light-hearted nature of documentary is further enhanced by the active rhythm of the background music.

 In order to bring a more purposeful sense to the observations presented, the children's behaviour is documented and analysed by a series of scientists specialised in studying this field, as well as individual interviews with each child concerning a variety of scenarios that occur and a voiceover present throughout to explain the premise of what is going on. Moreover a selection of children from each episode are given a very brief feature into their life living at home with their parents and personality attributes, allowing their characters to be fully developed and explored by the audience providing a more insightful experience.

In addition to this, in order to further enhance the audiences interest, although a large proportion of the programme consists of merely observations of the children's interactions and behaviour, there is also an added element of tasks and challenges that the children are set in order to see how they cope when placed in different scenarios that mimic that which they may face later on in life. These consist of situations such as competitive games against one another as well as those that create the most controversy amongst them, the challenges that require them to avoid some sort of tempting object, like a chocolate cake or sweets, in order to win a prize at the end if they are proven successful. Not only does this element once again add a more interesting and purposeful sense to the series, but also gives rise to another opportunity for the scientists to give their own critical opinions of the reactions that they are observing and their own reasons as to why they might be occurring. These tempting situations are shot in such a way that the audience is able to almost feel the urges of the children to give into their urges to abandon the task. During this episode the children were told that if they were all able to remain in their seats whilst the teachers left the room, that they would all be rewarded with a prize upon their return. 

The scenario begins with another long, observational shot of all of the children sat in a neat row on their chairs, projecting the very orderly tone whilst the teacher is present. However once the teacher leaves the room a series of a variety of shots and a far more quickened pace reflects the chaos that erupts amongst the 4 year olds. Furthermore this proves increasingly engaging for the audience as the emotions and dynamics of the children become heightened whilst being portrayed by the shot sequences, enabling them to feel more involved in the situation that they are watching.