ITV : X Factor case study

ITV

• Launched 1955, oldest commercial network in UK
• Established in 1932 to provide competition to the BBC

Commercial Television 

• Commercial stations have an aim of providing popular shows which attract a large audience; resulting in higher prices when adverts are being sold.
• All commercial terrestrial stations are funded by advertising

Case study: X Factor

Textual analysis

Cinematography (shots, angles, movement):

• Close ups of singer and judges highlights importance 
• Close ups of audience to emphasis their reaction
• Long shots of her outfit links in with fashion conscious of target audience (uses and gratifications theory)
• Tracking shots 

Editing:

• Transitions; fades- show passing of time.
• Pace; Introduction(longer shots, tells story), talking to camera, audition (fastest pace, lots of cute and short duration of shots)

Mise-en scene

• Colour palette - dark, blues, purples. Dark from the singers perspective, emphasises emotions.
• Props - microphone and nothing else, focuses on her; no distractions, no where to hide, intimidating.
• Setting- large empty stage, tiered audience seated in darkness 
• Costume - Louisa: synergy with X Factor colour palatte (red), trying to appeal to target audience with ripped jeans, baggy t-shirt, bandana, jewellery. 
• Lighting- darkness of audience emphasises scale of arena 

Sound: 

• Non-diegetic; Music over voiceover reflects emotions and creates atmosphere. Uses previously mentioned song by Leona Lewis creates meaning
• Diegetic; her voice, judges voices, audience applause, soundtrack to song sung
• Parallel sounds used to reflect emotions

Vertical and horizontal integration

X Factor Job Roles

Camera man
Salary - £30,000
Job Role - Camera operators physically control camera equipment both in the studio and on location for film, television and video broadcasts and recordings. Most camera operators enter the profession as trainees, assistant camera operators or 'runners'.

Editor
Salary - £45,000
Job Role -  Your primary goal will be to cut different pieces of film together to tell a story. You'll assemble all of the footage that was used to shoot a particular episode of television. Many directors shoot TV shows out of order so the footage will come in different pieces.

Set designer 

Salary - £23,500 Annually 

Job Role - Designs the layout,  schemes and props for the set of the TV show. They also focus  proxemics between the audience, judges and performers.

Line producer

Salary - £40,000

Job Role - Involved in all of the business aspects of media production. They also forecast the likely budget and cost of production.

Television Floor Manager
Salary - £25,000 a year
Job role: Floor manager are the directors' men on the ground. They ensure presenters and guest meet their cues and the programme runs smoothly ... Floor managers ensure that audiences are seated and guests know where to go and what to do.

Set Artwork
Salary - £25,000 a year
Job role: The role of a creative artwork is a highly skilled and diverse one, with tasks ranging from curating and creating corporate designs, to touching up typography and restructuring image libraries.