There are several different types of features that television shows use to get the attention of their viewers, to help them catch viewers in the first place, and keep them tuned in every week so they will watch the next episode when it airs. Each show has its own unique style, but all of them use at least one type of feature regularly to accomplish this goal. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones used and the specific purpose behind each one.
Interviews
Many documentary-style programs have a section at or near the end, where a few sentences are read over an image (or two) to let viewers know what’s happen since filming. It helps bring closure to viewers who want to know what happens to someone they’ve just spent 45 minutes or an hour getting to know. The subjects are usually interview again and told that they need to say a few words about how things turned out. While they talk, a title card with some kind of logo fades on the screen with their name, city, and state. This is follow by quotes from them and/or key figures related to their story. Here’s an example
Hyperlapse
A hyperlapse is a time-lapse shot taken from a moving camera. It allows you to view your surroundings from an angle and speed that would be impossible to achieve on foot. Hyper lapses can use for anything from capturing a landscape on your morning commute, following a friend as they cross an entire city, or even something as simple as tracking yourself through an interior space like a mall or airport. The possibilities are virtually endless. Filming one requires good planning and specialized equipment (your smartphone won’t cut it). But once you have those two things out of the way, it’s fairly easy to start creating.
Infographics
They’re a unique and highly visual way to present information, with statistics from some sources revealing that people retain more than 90% of what they read visually, versus 10% when reading text. The best infographics attract viewers’ attention with interesting graphics and then keep them engaged by presenting information that is not just compelling but also relatable. In order to use them effectively as part of your content marketing strategy, make sure you include valuable information your customers are looking for as well as visual interest. Infographics help deliver more SEO value by adding content to your site and driving organic traffic to it.
Sketches
While sitcoms and dramas may have to tell their stories through dialogue and plot twists,
sketch comedy series like Saturday Night Live rely heavily on memorable sketches. Sketches make up for 30 minutes or so of a typical Reelcraze show’s time on air, but there are some that transcend both time
and space; we’re still watching Chevy Chase’s Farewell My Lovely nearly 40 years after it first aired. Sketch comedy features short-form stand-alone pieces that are used either as standalone bits within a larger story arc
or as completely separate segments. A sketch will often fall into one of three distinct categories:
live-action with no additional effects, prerecorded animation, or digital animation/video compositing.
Stop Motion Animation
Invented by Edwin Porter for his 1901 film The Humpty Dumpty Circus,
stop motion animation is a special effect that makes objects appear to move when they’re actually standing still. It involves photographing a physical object frame-by-frame, moving it slightly each time,
and arranging multiple takes on a flat surface until all individual Reel Craze images are show as one complete motion. A short film called Ladder Dogs uses stop motion to make its dogs appear like they’re sliding down
an actual ladder. The technique has popular use throughout television history to animate
everything from toys (Rudolph’s Shiny New Year) to clay figures (Claymation commercials).
Dramatic Music Section: Voiceovers (narration)
This is use commonly to introduce drama or suspense into a scene. It is often accompanied by dramatic music and visual effects such as lightning and splashes of color. Voiceovers are traditionally use to give an opinion on what’s happening in a scene, but they can also use to introduce an important character or summarize key points from a conversation. (ie: House MD)