On the 6th May 2008 I started two days of work experience for ITV Wales, working specifically for “Wales This Week”, concentrating on editing.

We went straight into the editing room where I met Peter and kath who I would spending the morning with, they were at the “tidying stage” with a documentary focusing on a teenager with ADHD. They showed me what material they had so far as Peter got straight to work on Avid Media Composer which included a highly technical multicoloured keyboard that Peter moved his fingers around so fast I could barely follow them.

The documentary had yet to have its voice over added and I learned that this wasn’t completed till the day it went out on air when the sound level were also improved. At first I was a little taken aback by this, I filmed my documentary to a strict script, researching each interviewee before approaching them so I was to gather the information I was expecting – I soon realised that obviously ITV Wales do not have time to do all this research and just “go for it”. While watching the clips through Kath wrote a script over the top of a blank in the timeline, compiling with the information already being discussed and writing in the exact times such as,

“3.09 – 3.17 voice over gap”.

This way nothing could be said out of place I suppose.

There is a piece in this documentary where Stacey, the protagonist, has recorded a teacher being rude to her on her mobile camera, the dialogue is used in our piece, however, we spend at least 20 minutes trying to work out the exact words so we can add subtitles for the audience, this takes a while but we “cannot risk getting sued over a mistype” Peter tells me.

Another legal problem we come across is Stacey’s Mum wishes Stacey to be referred to as “Stacey Roberts”, the surname of her husband although Stacey’s actual surname is Izzard. It becomes apparent they spend a lot of their day checking the legal information; otherwise this documentary could be pulled on the day of the viewing. Kath phones her legal representatives and confirms we have to use Izzard, against Stacey’s Mother’s wishes.

Peter the editor, Kath the journalist and Bruce the executive producer are debating whether to include the protagonist revealing she wants to be a hairdresser – personally I feel this is a nice clip as it shows she has goals and isn’t just a “waster”. In the end however they decide against it, as soon as Bruce leaves the room Peter and Kath launch into a conversation about how interfering he is. I feel this is very unprofessional, especially in front of a work experience student and as far as I’m aware that’s the job description of an “Executive Producer”.

While on the subject of filming I learn that 5 – 10 tapes are used for each ten minute documentary, I spot seven tapes named “Asperges” the topic of last nights ten minute programme aired on ITV Wales, I am shocked that they edit all this material down to just ten minutes and can’t help thinking how much time this must take.

Kath leaves to finish tidying up the script and is replaced by Dave, who has come to produce the editing of a new 10 minute documentary based on “Coral Fishing”. Dave is very responsive and talks me through everything he is doing, a strong saying he appears to live on is “a picture can tell a thousand words” and explains to me “If someone is doing something in the camera frame then they are “saying” it and that leaves us free to get more information through voice over into the ten minute piece”.

They have already created a “heads bin” for the Coral Fishing theme, meaning that have already captured all clips and decided which parts they wish to use. They explain to me that in 1987 and then again in 1995 they followed this story so they start searching through old clips they could possibly use to show how long this sport has gone on for, however, Wales this Week needs to be current and so Dave explains to me they can’t have too much archive as it will look like a history programme. I find it very interesting looking through all these old tapes and just thinking how although people are aware of this situation no one seems to have done anything about it and now it’s at breaking point.

At the moment the documentary is still in a rough draft and is just one bulk of interview clips. The difference between my approach to documentary making and Wales this Week’s approach is I play “presenter”, which I greatly enjoy! Because I had researched my documentary personally I wanted to tell the story, although a lot of work is put into these documentaries with top of the range equipment and employee I do feel it’s missing a personal touch.

I can’t help thinking what a cushy job “Helen Callaghan” the presenter has, all she does is turn up on a Monday morning, record the links and tattles off home again – I am offended she doesn’t have any say in the investigative parts or more she obviously doesn’t want a say in this extremely interesting trade.

Over the course of the next few hours I learn many interesting facts about Coral fishing such as, they don’t use a Mare’s tail hair for the nets just stallions because mares wee on theirs making it weaker! Another fact is no one will use a white stallion’s hair due to superstition.

As the documentary comes together more Dave starts forming the script, talking over where the blank space reserved for the voice over, he quickly scribbles his ideas down, he explains the first minute has to really capture the audience cause that’s when they make the decision whether to watch it or not. I also learn that the whole piece needs balance or it won’t be allowed to be aired. If one party says something then the other party has to say their part too.

Soon enough time has crept up on me and my first day at ITV is over, Dave reminds me of one last fact before we embark on our separate journey’s home,

“You can sense the stories through the pictures. Most of the piece is finding good views to use to create and enhance the story.”

When we arrive the following morning we jump straight back into the editing room, no recapping, just getting directly back onto it. Each programme has to be 11.20 overall, however they save 15-30 seconds for Helen’s studio links, this morning the finished programme reaches about 10.44 and they decide they need at least 20 seconds cut off. We spend time discussing strengths and weaknesses of two parts which we are unable to decide which one should be cut. The parts in question contradict each other so its vital one goes; one is a man of 87 saying,

“I think this will be my last season. At 87 I don’t even know if I’ll make it to next season.”

The next cut in question is the same man,

“I will try and keep coral fishing going as long as I can.”

The first clip is important because it makes the audience think “when he dies who will carry on this tradition?” the second however gives hope and makes you “Aww”. I felt that the first clip was more valuable as I think it is typical of an elderly person to say that and because it makes the audience “tick”. Eventually we decided to keep the first clip and cut the second.

Bruce arrives to have a look at it with “fresh eyes”; because we have been watching it all yesterday and all morning there is something we may have missed so new eyes is vital just to be sure the story makes sense. Bruce realises it isn’t in the script where “Coral Fishing” takes place, a silly mistake!

Next I move on to work on the Ferret for the rest of the day, friendly worker Greg introduces me to everyone and then gives me a couple of numbers to call. These people have left messages telling us about “dirty dealings” that they have been victims of.

The first phone call I make I speak to quite the character – an aging biker man with a death-wish against a main Vauxhall car dealer. I ask him the details of his victim status and he tells me the very long version of his son being sold a dodgy car, the worries with this piece is will the son actually speak? Another serious factor in this is that they get so many “dodgy car deals” they have to be really good to put them into the show and although this man certainly has spirit I’m not sure the story does.

After the call I researched this car dealer on line and sent the information in an email to the producers for them to see if they think it’s useful.

The next call is from a man whose father has been caught out by a dubious double glazing company, after hearing how his father gave a cheque of £500 and then heard nothing from them I give him the “consumer direct” number so they can give him some free legal advice. Again, double glazing stories are very common and so I leave it again to the producers. I tried to find the double glazing company, Alpha Window Systems, online but no luck – according to Google they don’t exist!

Marvin, head of the Ferret, talks me through the up and coming series and what stories they have so far. I learn that the most problematic objects are BT, Sofas, Conservatories and cars, BT shocks me – I thought they were fairly reliable!

I have spent two days in ITV Wales and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it has to be said I do not agree with the way they film their documentaries, I feel irritation at the fact that all the presenter does is look pretty. This is not a company I would like to work for, I like to jump head first in a sewer of research and find out all the dirty secrets for myself.