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Broadcasters / ORF / Orf Am Schauplatz

ORF

Orf Am Schauplatz

Format

Observational reportage / social reportage

Length

45 min

Timeslot

Thursday 21:05 on ORF 2

Exposé length

2–4 pages

Editorial tone

Observational, close to people, unvarnished. Am Schauplatz shows Austrian reality without embellishment and without denunciation. The camera is silent observer, not commentator. Respectful toward protagonists, even when their world may be alien or disturbing. No sensationalism, but genuine interest. The films let people speak for themselves — voice-over is sparse and informative, never judgmental.

What this format covers

  • ●Poverty, housing crisis, homelessness in Austria
  • ●Migration and integration — personal stories
  • ●Rural Austria: structural change, depopulation, isolation
  • ●Working worlds: precarious employment, seasonal work, care work
  • ●Marginalized groups and subcultures of Austrian society
  • ●Generational conflicts and family realities
  • ●Justice system, prisons, rehabilitation

What this format does NOT want

  • ●Topics without Austrian connection
  • ●Historical documentaries
  • ●Science or technology formats
  • ●Political analysis or background reports (for that: Am Punkt)
  • ●Celebrity portraits or cultural formats
  • ●Topics without clearly identifiable protagonists
  • ●Sensationalist or voyeuristic approaches

Visual expectations

Observational camera, close to protagonists. Handheld in authentic situations. No staged scenes. Natural light, real environments. The images tell the story — apartments, workplaces, neighborhoods become characters. Long takes that leave room for silence. Reference: Direct Cinema, not TV magazine. Austrian landscapes and urban spaces as narrative backdrop.

Expected exposé structure

  1. Title (concrete, no wordplay)
  2. Logline (2–3 sentences: who, what situation, what's at stake)
  3. Expose body text: tell the protagonists' story
  4. Protagonist(s) with concrete biography and current life situation
  5. Location: where the film takes place, why this place matters
  6. Access: how contact was established, trust relationship
  7. Social relevance for Austria
  8. Author, production company, contact

Example productions

  • Am Schauplatz: Arm und abgehaengt
  • Am Schauplatz: Willkommen in Oesterreich (Migration)
  • Am Schauplatz: Leben am Rand — Obdachlos in Wien
  • Am Schauplatz: Bauernsterben — Wenn der Hof stirbt
  • Am Schauplatz: Pflege daheim — Zwischen Liebe und Erschoepfung
Protagonist-drivenEuropean perspective required

Editorial notes

Am Schauplatz has been one of ORF's most successful slots since 1995 and shaped the social reportage genre in Austria. Commissioning editor: Peter Resetarits (until 2022), then Ed Moschitz and team. External production companies can pitch but need proven protagonist access. Shoot typically over several weeks. Austrian connection is mandatory. The films often achieve surprisingly high ratings because they reach a broad audience with authentic stories.

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