Behind the scenes

“And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.”

Christiane Amanpour

It’s amazing how much influence television has on our daily lives now, isn’t it?

Did you know the first electronic TV was invented in 1927? It was invented by Philo Taylor Farnsworth who was only 21 years old at the time. I think when I was 21 all I was doing was watching TV.

How amazing is it that this invention has been able to bring people so much closer. Whether its gathering around the TV together to watch who gets a rose at the end of the latest Bachelor episode or tearing up watching the news and watching helplessly as Australia burns.

Those responsible for delivering news and entertainment have such a great responsibility as they can reach such a large audience. However, being able to captivate an audience is an art in itself that should not be underappreciated.

Each film and and television show that is created undergoes a lengthy process that tests both creativity and persistence. Deciding on a topic for your message is as crucial as doing the research to deliver the most accurate message possible. It’s not wonder that there’s so many more crew members than the actual cast for many programs and movies. The development takes all kinds of minds and skills to accomplish a project successfully.

One aspect that I haven’t been able to not notice since our lecture last week is the actual filming techniques and types of shots used. It seems so subtle, as the camera angles change and go from close up to wide shot, but is done in such a way that many don’t even notice. It’s incredible how something as seemingly simple as using different types of shots can elevate or possibly even ruin the experience of watching something.

This form of media has come such a long way since the introduction of film. Using new techniques and methods has made watching TV and movies such an enjoyable experience that many people rely on it as a way to wind down and relax. It’s a wonderful thing to have the ability to express a variety of topics from something as mind numbing as reality TV to something as beautiful and thought out as Planet Earth.

Being able to communicate with others has never been easier and film has become one of the most important forms of doing so.