As entertainment commissioning pushes forward, there are certain types of formats faring better than others. Notably, ones that allow for social distancing and safety measures to be easily implemented without changing the DNA or core format beats are in good stead. There are also examples of shows that by their very nature are essentially COVID-proof; be it in how or where they\u2019re shot, these series are set up in a manner that makes them ideal for the new production protocols.<\/p>\n
Gogglebox<\/em>, for example, watches a returning cast of diverse families and friends as they comment freely on the best and worst television of the past week\u2014all from the comfort of their couches. \u201cGogglebox<\/em> has been a blessing for broadcasters and audiences around the world during this pandemic,\u201d says Nick Smith, executive VP of formats at all3media international. \u201cIt\u2019s one of very few entertainment programs that has been able to continue production without a notable difference to viewer experience.\u201d<\/p>\n It has also been able to reflect the mood of a nation\u2014and pretty much the world. \u201cWe\u2019ve all been sitting at home watching television, and the fast-production-turnaround nature of the show has meant a cast can discuss the changes to their lives that the coronavirus has brought forth,\u201d Smith adds. \u201cWith Gogglebox<\/em>, we\u2019re quite used to our emotions being thrown all over the place; we\u2019re laughing hysterically one minute while welling up with tears the next, so it\u2019s quite natural for the cast to go from discussing a news report on the government\u2019s latest regulations to irregular parts of a contestant\u2019s anatomy in Naked Attraction<\/em>. Entertainment shows produced before COVID-19 with big audiences can feel out of kilter with the reality of life right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Married at First Sight: Couples Cam<\/em>, created and produced by Kinetic Content for Lifetime in the U.S., has a similar slice-of-life appeal, this one done with a self-shot production technique. A spin-off from the hit Married at First Sight<\/em>, the show follows the lives of nine fan-favorite couples from the original series, charting the highs, lows, humor and drama of the couples\u2019 everyday domestic lives. Self-shot by the couples themselves, they all have access to their own camera equipment\u2014using mounted cameras and diary cams\u2014and they communicate remotely with producers to capture pivotal moments of their daily lives. Red Arrow Studios International launched the format this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that Married at First Sight: Couples Cam<\/em> is entirely self-shot means it is perfect for this current COVID environment,\u201d says Nina Etsp\u00fcler, group creative director at Red Arrow Studios. \u201cThe cast does not interact with a production crew in person, so all participants\u2014both in front of and behind the camera\u2014feel perfectly safe; national and local safety guidelines are strictly adhered to at all times. On the post-production side, the editors and story producers are also working remotely to assemble the show, allowing everyone to continue working in isolation and safely.\u201d<\/p>\n The producers have found that the footage the couples capture on their own has a unique and raw quality, \u201cproviding an additional layer of emotion and at times vulnerability, which makes for compelling viewing,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Armoza Formats\u2019 Beat the Grid<\/em> game show makes use of CGI technology, and the production requires only a small studio and a minimal crew. \u201cWhen the pilot was shot for the format, we had only one cameraman in the studio and around seven cameras,\u201d explains Ori Dror, senior development executive in charge of game shows and co-development at Armoza Formats. \u201cAs the technology does most of the work to turn this into a shiny-floor-looking show, this format is an ideal fit for the current safety protocols and filming guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n Though the format was actually created before COVID-19, the show has proven to be a good fit for the current needs of the industry, says Dror. \u201cFirst of all, game shows are ideal for producing during this time as they are fun for the whole family to enjoy together and are cost-effective to produce. Beat the Grid<\/em> also provides an interactive element so viewers at home can play along, adding an element of connectivity to the viewing experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Global Agency\u2019s Home Quiz <\/em>taps into the \u201chome as a safe space\u201d notion, allowing contestants to win prize money from the comfortable confines of their houses. There\u2019s no costly studio or set d\u00e9cor\u2014and no in-studio audience\u2014and the host and players are all completely separate, making it a safe but also cost-effective proposition. \u201cContestants and the host don\u2019t even need to wear masks because everyone is in their safe zones,\u201d says Umay Ayaz, head of acquisitions at Global Agency. It also allows viewers to get a glimpse into other people\u2019s homes, giving it personal touches, and this can be even more appealing if celebrities are playing along.<\/p>\n Since no one is traveling to a studio, Home Quiz<\/em> players can be from various territories, giving the format the opportunity to have special editions by switching the contestants. \u201cIn one of the episodes, celebrities from the U.K., U.S. and Spain can play, and the award can be donated to the WHO [World Health Organization],\u201d Ayaz gives as an example of the format\u2019s flexibility. \u201cIt is not necessary to donate for COVID-19 in future episodes; it might be to UNICEF, Greenpeace, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith says that all3media international has seen lots of interest in the celebrity version of Gogglebox<\/em>, since FOX launched the show in the U.S. in May. \u201cThe celebrity version really speeds up the casting process,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt was cast and on the air within weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, he says, there are many positive discussions about bringing the Gogglebox<\/em> format into new territories. \u201cThe threat of a second wave of COVID-19 and social distancing and lockdown periods being enforced means commissioning a hit entertainment show that is proven to be producible through various countries’ pandemic regulations is a smart move.\u201d<\/p>\n Production on the show carried on through the pandemic and various lockdown regulations in the U.K., Australia, Finland and Poland, and a brand-new adaptation launched in the U.S. \u201cWe have made some changes to shooting protocol during this period, however,\u201d Smith explains. \u201cGenerally, members of the production crew are inside the cast\u2019s home during filming, so recently it\u2019s been produced remotely\u2014and the viewer would never know!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Formats that allow for social distancing and safety measures to be easily implemented without changing the DNA or core format beats are in good stead as entertainment commissioning pushes forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":7717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,69],"tags":[2107,103,2109,101,156,2073,2108,1327],"class_list":["post-7716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-features","category-top-stories","tag-all3media-internationa","tag-armoza-formats","tag-beat-the-grid","tag-global-agency","tag-gogglebox","tag-home-quiz","tag-married-at-first-sight-couples-cam","tag-red-arrow-studios-international","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n