Apprentice Analysis

The editing and production for a number of TV shows came up in conversation during an early seminar. Chris talked about how there was a large gap in time between food being ready and the judges eating it on 'Masterchef'', and it was surprising to learn that much of it is done with a single roaming camera due to the amount of coverage there is. The other TV show that was mentioned was 'The Apprentice'. Now in its 10th series, the editing structure for the show is very solid and formulaic, with little variation from week to week. As a frequent viewer of the show, I analysed the structure and techniques used in the first episode of the latest series.

1. Opening sequence - Introduce Lord Sugar and his background. Footage and sound-bytes of candidates from pre-interviews conveying their arrogance. Music and sound-bytes to add to drama, conveying seriousness and difficulty of the process.
2. Lord Sugar's back-story - history of show and explaining prize. Montage of footage from tasks in upcoming weeks. Rapid-cut 'You're fired' sequence - titles end opening sequence. 
3. Candidates being introduced in board room - reading through their CVs.
4. Montage of candidates afterwards meeting each other - sound-bytes from interview are used to provide context about each person. Choosing team names. Light and whimsical music in homes contrasts with serious tone in boardroom. Voice-over provides information about day and time throughout, end day with wide shot and fade to black. 
5.  'Day 2' voice-over, shots of sunrise over location. Shots of candidates getting ready. Travelling to task location. Voice-over explains what they have to do.
6. Shots of discussing strategy. Cutaways to Nick and Karen outside explaining the issues they're having. (Lots of foreshadowing of later issues here)
7. Fast music and quick cutting between teams and sub-teams as task starts, adds to chaos. Slow-paced when cutting to someone who's trying to sell with nobody around, juxtaposed with fast running between locations for further effect.
8. Cutting between teams to compress time and to establish sense of urgency and competition. Crucially editing makes them feel neck-and-neck so viewer can't predict outcome before end of the show. Sometimes deliberately leads you to a wrong conclusion.
9. Voice-over repeatedly referencing time and how long they have left to emphasize this. V.O. also keeps track of what they're doing at each location as it could easily get confusing. Fade to black at the end of sequence 'Next up, the boardroom'.
10. Boardroom sequence.
11. Juxtaposition between team winning having a treat and those who've lost in the cafe. Almost comically sad music, washed-out grey image contrasted with energetic music, fast cutting and colorful location of other team. Cutting between sipping coffee out of a plastic cut and champagne out of a glass.
12. Boardroom sequence - candidate fired. Taxi ride home. Shots back at the house. Montage of next week's task.