Broadcast: Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets (Research)

Broadcast: I chose Broadcast as my second brief and have decided to research into 'Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets'. This is a lifestyle television programme that has a sole focus on gardening and may give me an idea of what an audience expects from a lifestyle programme. I have selected a small exert from the programme to focus my analysis on.

Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets

Location

This episode of the programme series focuses on the gardens at 'Stowe'. The filming is located in these gardens which are of beautiful plants, flowers and bushes. The scenery is breathtaking and the programme starts off with a VLS of the Stowe House and its fabulous surroundings.

Camera Shots and Angles

The audience is introduced to the setting at the beginning of the programme by using a VLS of the House and gardens. When the audience is introduced to the presenter the camera transitions to a 'high angle shot'. CU camera shots of flowers allow the audience to pay attention to detail and express the beauty that can be found in the gardens. Also a ECU of the programme name, which is cleverly printed on the cover of a book lying in a greenhouse, is used. When the presenter is talking to the audience (in diegetic dialogue) the camera shot is sometimes a MLS. This is used to focus on what the presenter has to say, but also allow the gardens to be featured in the scene as well. However the camera shot may also be a VLS. This is often used when the setting changes so that the audience can see the wonder of the new setting and see the presenter as well as listening to him. When organisms in the nature are featured, such as the swans, the camera shot is a MLS, which suggests that nature was not disturbed in the production.

Lighting

As the programme is set in the outside world, the lighting is natural. However the weather conditions have been carefully selected when filming so that the lighting is bright. This shows a bright sky which creates a light and colourful look on all of the natural surroundings, whereas if it was filmed on a stormy day the gardens would look dull. It is also filmed in the Spring/Summer time when the flowers are in full bloom and the sun is out which creates a bright lighting.

Costume

The Presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, wears a smart/casual attire of black jeans and a blue shirt. This shows that he has dressed comfy and smartly for the show, suggesting it is an important programme but also takes the main focus off of him and into the surrounding gardens. He wears a belt and a watch.

Audience

The target audience is people with a passion for gardening and heritage. This is because the title of the programme clearly shows that the programme's sole focus is tips on gardening, as does the setting. Also there are aspects of English Heritage in that the programme is filmed in traditional English gardens, with Stowe House which was built in the 17th century. 'Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets' can be enjoyed by females and males alike. This is because females appreciate the beauty of flowers and gardens and may want to see Alan Titchmarsh's secrets to that beauty. The male presenter may attract men to the programme because it add masculinity to the idea of gardening. However males were traditionally the gender which were employed gardeners for large establishments in previous centuries, which suggests that males may be as equally attracted to the idea of learning the secrets of gardening as females. As a quite formal language is used with references to historical themes, the target category may be B and above. This is because those in the higher categories identify with a formal register more than those in a lower category and find the notion of historical themes more interesting.

Sound

There is a range of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds that are applied to the programme. There is non-diegetic music which is played louder at the start of the programme in the establishing scene and then fades to a quieter background noise when the presenter begins to talk. It becomes louder each time the presenter stops talking and allows the audience to focus on the scenery. The music is light and instrumental. Also Alan Titchmarsh's dialogue is sometimes non-diegetic and sometimes diegetic- often when the camera focus is on him as a CU. Diegetic sounds of nature can also be heard such as birdsong.

Evaluation
As I have planned to film some of my broadcast piece outside, with the same conditions as this show, I think that the sounds which have been applied to 'Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Secrets' will create the same effect on my piece as it has done in his. For example I could find a piece of tranquil music which may be similar to that used on this show and apply it to mine. I can also incorporate the idea of fading the music when the presenter is talking. Furthermore the research I have done into the camera shots used on the programme is beneficial because it allows me to see how different angles are used to convey different things to the audience. I think that I will use these shots as a basis in the planning of how I camera shots in my broadcast piece. However, as the content of this programme is specific and focused on gardening the audience is niche. This means that the audience is solely meant for this type of hobby and programme, therefore I cannot generalise the audience demographics and apply similar to my programme as the focus is entirely different.