Episode 2 Points of View

Threats to boycott the TV licence if there is not more ethnic diversity on TV.

And who exactly is to blame for us

not being able to hear what is being said in some dramas -

the actors or sound engineers?

Both sides put their case.

Welcome to Points Of View.

Good afternoon.

For some time now, campaigners have been saying that British TV

doesn't properly reflect

our racially diverse society.

But this week, the campaign to get better race representation

on screen stepped up a gear, with a call for people to stop paying

their TV licence fee if the BBC doesn't tackle the issue quickly.

Listen, if you want to get involved with the campaign to improve

diversity in broadcast media, hooray!

Comedian and actor Lenny Henry has loaned his voice to

the campaign, which is calling on the culture minister Ed Vaizey

to force TV channels to make changes to their staff make-up.

Putting the case for more diversity on screen is Simone Pennant.

My name's Simone and I'm from London.

And I represent 60,000 programme makers

from black and Asian backgrounds working in TV.

I myself have worked in TV for over 15 years

and the issue of diversity has been going on for all that time.

One of the biggest frustrations that a lot of my members talk about

is the way that their communities are often portrayed on screen.

Most feel at best that these portrayals are one-dimensional and even bland.

And they feel that part of the reason is the lack of opportunities

to actually make decisions and get behind making these programmes.

What Lenny Henry is proposing is a real tangible way

to make a change and make sure that what we're watching on TV

is reflective and better for all of us.

He is asking not only for ring-fenced money for programming,

but also more opportunities

and more jobs for people from diverse backgrounds working in the industry.

At the end of the summer, the BBC and government officials will be

meeting together to discuss this very issue and we feel

if no tangible solution is laid out on the table,

we'll have no alternative but to ask members to boycott the licence fee.

We appreciate that this might be against the law

but after years and years of discussing the same issue,

we feel that there is no choice.

So we asked the BBC for their view on this and they gave us a statement.

We are really keen to hear what you think of this. Please do get in touch.

The beautiful West Wales countryside providing a fabulous backdrop

for BBC Four's new series Hinterland.

The bilingual drama proving a highly successful cultural exchange.

Hywel Maybury?

TRANSLATION FROM WELSH:

BBC Four's done it again. Hinterland.

Atmospheric drama,

great storyline, wonderful scenery.

BBC at its best.

Why not on BBC One? Is it because of the subtitles?

The cinematography used in Hinterland's first episode was beautiful.

The shooting of each scene

incorporated a great use of lighting, framing

and the colour schemes were superb.

This, along with an amazing combination of acting and camerawork,

made for a fantastic, enjoyable TV show

that I would thoroughly recommend to others.

Two versions of the same drama were recorded -

one completely in Welsh, which aired only in Wales,

and this bilingual version - which meant more chances to watch -

and some can't get enough of it.

Staying with drama,

and the fallout from the sound fiasco on Jamaica Inn rumbles on.

Lots of you still getting in touch to air your frustrations over not

being able to understand parts of the dialogue in this period drama.

And many people pointing out that Jamaica Inn is not alone.

Over the past few months,

the sound quality

on the BBC has not been as good as it used to be.

I feel that...

the actors don't really pronounce their words properly

and enunciate properly.

And that makes you think that maybe you are going slightly deaf,

but it just seems to be too...

frequent for it just to be me.

This has been an issue for a number of years

and I need someone

to listen and do something about it.

I don't want to drone on about the licence fee

but there is an issue here.

I want the BBC to listen when people say that they can't hear

these good programmes, which are costing a great deal of money.

Last week, we were told the BBC is investigating what went wrong.

Was it the fault of the actors or the sound recordists?

Well, we asked two industry professionals

from both sides of the debate what they thought.

On this occasion, I felt that the sound technicians were being

unfairly blamed for what was, to me, a creative decision.

Me and this girl, we understand each other.

You get her something to eat.

Initially, all the excitement over Jamaica Inn

was focused by the BBC and others as a technical sound issue.

That did concern me because, in my opinion -

my professional opinion - it wasn't a technical sound issue.

I eventually spoke to colleagues and discussed it with them

and we came to the conclusion that what

we were hearing is what was faithfully recorded.

And so it wasn't a technical sound issue -

it really was a creative issue.

A creative decision.

So the actors are at fault? Does RADA agree?

I'd say there was a combination of factors.

I mean, lots of people like to talk about mumbling actors

and they blame that. Maybe that's part of it.

Maybe that was an artistic choice by the director,

maybe it was an artistic choice by the actor.

Maybe there's an issue with the mix, the level of sound effects,

music compared to the dialogue.

INDISTINCT SPEECH IN BACKGROUND DROWNS DIALOGUE

Actors mumbling is a performance issue. That's...

And whatever is performed in front of camera, as a sound department,

that's what we're going to record.

Ultimately, I think an actor has to be aware of the audience.

They're there to tell a story, help tell a story,

and, you know, the dialogue is key to that

and making sure the dialogue is understood is key.

It's as much about, you know, pronunciation and articulation

and those factors.

You like my new trinket, do you?

I think it's great the BBC are carrying out an investigation. I think it's fantastic,

and RADA would welcome the opportunity to be part of that.

If it comes to the right conclusions and they're enacted, then it means

the audience is going to have a far better experience at home.

Come on, Mary! Come on!

I know there's good in you. There must be!

We're told the BBC are still looking into the whole issue

and they will have more to say on this next week.

We and all of you who got in touch, I'm sure,

look forward to hearing that.

Next, it is more of a problem of hearing too much

and some of you complaining that coverage of

the Snooker World Championship is being ruined by overeager commentary.

DENNIS TAYLOR: He was in bed early, that's for sure.

He did all the right things.

But it's amazing, Willie.

Sometimes you stay up a bit later and maybe just have a glass of wine

and you... I remember Ray Reardon saying that.

He came out and said he went to bed early

and said he couldn't pot a ball next night.

This was at the World Championships. Said to David Vine,

"Had a few gin and tonics, couldn't miss a ball." Amazing!

-TED LOWE:

-This frame is now heading for a very thrilling climax.

Whispering Ted Lowe proving

sometimes some things are best left unsaid.

As quietly as possible, please. Thank you.

Providing a rare point of view this week, Generation War.

A Second World War drama series

telling the story from the German perspective.

TRANSLATION FROM GERMAN:

This has been a thought-provoking and, often times,

uncomfortable look at normal Germans

and the changes to their moral compasses brought about by Nazism

and the events of World War II.

It's been unflinching in its portrayal of Nazi atrocities

against the Jews and ethnic Germans, the role played in these atrocities by normal Germans

and the personal struggles they have coming to terms with their actions.

Tough, but thought-provoking, drama in Generation War.

If you were looking for something with a lighter touch this week,

surely Happy Valley would have delivered.

Wouldn't it?

I'm Catherine, by the way. I'm 47, I'm divorced.

I live with my sister, who's a recovering heroin addict.

I've two grown-up children - one dead, one who doesn't speak to me -

and a grandson, so...

Why?

-Why doesn't he speak to you?

-It's complicated. Let's talk about you.

Sarah Lancashire stars as a Yorkshire cop

with plenty of troubles of her own in this not-so-happy valley.

Brilliantly written

and captivating from the start,

with another superb performance from Sarah Lancashire.

Great dialogue in Happy Valley.

But it's the quality of the music in the BBC Young Musician 2014

that's got you talking.

From Elliott Gaston-Ross's percussion winning performance to

Friday night's woodwind final winner Sophie Westbrooke on the recorder.

All agree the series is a real treat.

I've really enjoyed watching BBC Young Musician Of The Year this year.

I watch it most years and it's fascinating to see

the repertoire that the musicians pick to play.

It's often very challenging for me, as an amateur musician,

and it's really good to broaden my horizons and listen to new pieces.

Thanks, Callum, for getting in touch.

And if you'd like to have your views aired, here are the details...

The number is charged as a local-rate call from any landline.

You can join the message boarders. Always lively there.

Or you can e-mail us. Here's the address...

And get us on Twitter, too. That's...

Lots of new followers here. Are you part of the conversation?

# Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum... #

Finally, the last in the series and, it's thought,

the last for some time of the sitcom Rev.

'Here I am surrounded by the people who believe in me.

'I'm going to miss them all, Lord.'

You've been singing its praises all series.

None more so than Methodist lay preacher Julie Stiddard.

Now, due to a technical error,

we broadcast Mrs Stiddard's comment out of context last week.

Apologies for that. So here it is now in all its glory.

I would like to record my appreciation to the writers

of the Easter programme of Rev.

They captured the whole message of Easter in a wonderful way,

which would have been recognised by Christians,

and certainly made the Easter message very real for me.

In fact, the whole series has been a delight.

And we say hallelujah to that. Goodbye.