Scripted reality

Scripted reality or structured reality as it is also known, is a television series that has real people in that are not playing characters, that live real lives. Cameras and film crews follows the stars of the show around, filming there day to day lives, however some of the scenes and situations are set up for the enjoyment of the viewers. Examples of this genre is the only way is Essex, made in Chelsea, the Osborne's, keeping up with the kardashians, Geordie shore.

History of scripted realityReality television began in 1948 with Alan Funt's TV series

Candid Camera. The genre became phenomenon around 1999–2000 with the success of such television series as Big Brother and Survivor programs. Now in 2012 scripted reality is much more common and there are many different shows being made such as ‘The only way is Essex’ and ‘Made in Chelsea’. Yet it is common in this day and age that reality is more scripted than real, and the stars are more likely to be put in artificial situations. The Osborne's and the kardashians are they orignal scripted reality shows. This genre started off in America and has become worldwide.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iCpl_zDxyw

Conventions of stereotypical scripted reality storylines

Fights

Love triangles

Bitch fights

glamour Fake boobs and features

Objects of desire

Group rivalries

Love rat

friendships

Gossip

humour

Drama

Cathartic storylinesStorylines that viewers can relate to that happen in everyday life

These story lines are all very realistic to people lives, especially young people who are the target audiences. However because the only way is Essex and made in chelsea are very popular amongst younger people, older people start to become intrigued in the shows are they become a nations talking point. Scripted reality shows as usually aimed at girls rather than boys as the shows are more about vanity wealth and gossip which is not stereotypically interesting for boys. These storylines things that happen in many people lives everyday, however the storylines are very dramatic, also meaning that the audience becomes hooked as the shows are left on cliff hangers. This means that the audiences engage more in the show and meaning they look forward to watching the show which also creates a bigger audience and people then start to talk about the show. Storylinea re sometimes humourised to make the show seem funnier making it seem less real.

Falling out Love affairs

backstabbingMake-ups

• This example shows a storyline of a typical badboy in the show. This example also shows an argument in the scene.

• This scene would of been set up however it may not have been scripted.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnFWFFemtRE

Conventions of the scripted reality

Lighting around the face to illuminate beauty.

Empty tables around to make sure all focus is on the characters.

Makes the locations seem posh and exclusive

Set up scenes to make the lives seem interesting and to make a situation

Trailers like a fantasy so demonstrate the glamour of their lives

Show emphasises objects of desire making the audience want what the stars have

When filming a scripted reality TV show, the main stars of the show aim to go about their daily lives, with added dramas and problems of every day lives. However circumstances are set up to make their lives seem more interesting, making the audience want to know what's going on in the lives on the stars. Typically the stars of scripted reality TV have a regional stigma attached to them. For example the only way is Essex has a regional stigma attached of people from Essex being ‘typically’ stupid, wearing lots of fake tan, big hair, tacky glamour, strong Essex accent. However the stars of Made in Chelsea are perceived as a more classier, intelligent group of people as well as being more wealthier than the stars of the only way is essex.

Big hair

Fake boobs

Fake tan

Tacky jewellery More

natural look

Meant to be more intelligent

No obvious fakeness

Stereotypes of scripted reality stars

• One of the main stereotypes of a Scripted reality character is the accent from where the show is located, one of the main features of most scripted reality shows include where about the show is set. The accent and status and class defies what kind of area the stars are from. For example in Made in Chelsea; the fact that it is set in Chelsea means that already the audience will understand that the stars will be from very rich families and will be very wealthy.

Orange/fake tan

Tacky suit

Smug

Styled hair

Looks more intelligent

classier

wealthier

Media languages in scripted reality shows

• Lighting- is a key part of scripted reality to set the mood. If there was a sad scene shot on the program there would be low key lighting on the other hand there would be high key lighting if the scene being shot was happy. Using ‘TOWIE’ as another example of use of lighting, the starts on the show are mainly shot with high key lighting to make their appearance seem more attractive.

• Sound- diegetic and non-diegetic sound is constantly used in scripted reality. Either being the non- diegetic opening tune which relates the audience to that particular show or the diegetic sound of the stars as they don’t have a script just a role to play. Using ‘Made in Chelsea’ as an example the non- diegetic sound used is to open the show and used within the show which is normally on-trend music to set the mood and used in-between or over scenes. Diegetic sound is the actors speaking, and on made in Chelsea this is in a strong, posh Chelsea accent. This shows the stars class and links with this posh and wealthy stereotype.

Close up shots are used frequently in TOWIE. In this scene there is about to be a fight and it has jump cuts to each star to build tension.

The shots get closer and closer to show the fight is escalating, to add on to the tension of the scene and show that something is about to happen and add to the drama.

Then the scene quickly cuts to an establishing shot of the drink being thrown to show the fight has come to a end.