Production Research - Ashleigh

3. Top Gear 2002 • Top Gear in 2002 was a show presented on the BBC by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The show was centred around reviewing different motor vehicles.

4. Styles • The style was quite powerful to suit the strength of different motor vehicles in the show. However, depending on the type of vehicles tested, the style could be changed. For example, when showing the speed of a vehicle, the VT could be quite sleek whereas if it were to show the endurance of a vehicle, it would be quite rugged. • The presenters were often dressed up in smart casual apparel. The couches were also made of leather and the set was situated in a sort of warehouse meaning there was a lot of metal poles in different places, giving the set an aesthetic of a motor vehicle.

5. Comedy • Presenters: comedic value was brought through the banter of the three presenters (Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond), often belittling each other or they choices for example, their choice of motor vehicles in different VTs. • Guests: Guests were celebrities invited on each show to talk about cars and take part in a VT where they race a car around Top Gear’s track. They were put on a scoreboard for the fastest laps. Comedy was brought through watching the celebrities navigate their vehicles around the track as some often did not have a lot of experience. • The Stig: The Stig is the name of a character created on Top Gear. He was dressed in a white go-carting suit and a white helmet. The character never talked and his true identity was never revealed. Comedy was brought if there was ever an instance the character was wearing something different or the presenters would give him dialogue or comment on different actions that they would take.

6. Entertainment • Motor vehicles: the range of different motor vehicles that appeared on the show as extensive. In the studio they were put on podiums while the presenters would talk about them. In VT they would often be test-driven by the presenters or to go through different obstacles to show their power. • Stunts: In the VTs there would be huge stunts. For example, in one show they decided to re-create a barrel roll from the James Bond franchise. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVRmFQixqsc • Journeys: Sometimes the presenters would go on different journeys around the world which was released in segments, one segment per show. On these journeys they were given challenges which creates entertainment because of whether they would be able to complete these challenges or not.

7. Audience Engagement • Our show does not have a live studio audience but there is a degree of audience engagement which will be introduced in our VTs. • Top Gear is filmed in front of a live studio audience. In most magazine shows, the audience is often behind the camera and will only be focused on if they are interacted with or to show reactions. However, in Top Gear, the audience are always visible, being situated around wherever the presenters are in the studio; if they are on the centre panel or in a part of the set where a motor vehicle is situated.

8. What Roles a Floor Manager would have on Top Gear • All the audience should be situated safely: should not be in the way of presenters and not in harms way of motor vehicles on display etc. • Presenters should have any props that they need for example, pen needed to write celebrity lap times in the ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’ segment. • Make sure presenters and special guests are equipped with all the tech needed, for example microphones. • Direct the presenters as to when the VT will run. • Make sure the special guests are happy.