Documentary Analysis - Ethiopian tribes in the Omo valley - 3rd December 2009

Next I looked at a piece from the complete opposite end of production. “Ethiopian tribes in the Omo Valley” is an amateur documentary produced and funded by one man travelling in Ethiopia documenting life there for the Ethiopian people. This documentary is distributed solely on YouTube as there is no funding for distribution elsewhere. I analysed this piece in order to see how the conventions of documentaries are applied to an amateur production.



Documentary Conventions used

Talking Head – to convey information to the viewer, this is shaky as he is pointing the camera at himself as there is no camera operator.

Interview – with the African chieftain, conforming to the conventions of an interview except the content of dialogue as they share no common language.

Actuality – footage of the villagers going about their everyday lives the same as if the camera had not been there

Camera

As stated before the filming is all done by hand using a domestic camera. This renders all the footage shaky as he is not using a tripod. Establishing shots of the village as well as panning and tracking shots of the coach journey are used as a backing to the text dialogue and to set the scene.

Close up shots and medium shots are used in the interview to give the audience a close look at the interviewees.

Editing

Not many cuts are featured as it all filmed including the transitions from shot to shot as well as zooms. What little editing there is has been produced on a domestic software package with an over emphatic blur from one scene whereas the majority feature quick cuts to and from footage, text and images.

Mise En Scene

The attire of the presenter is representational of the audiences pre conceived impressions of an “explorer” or traveller. He wears clothes suitable for the hot climate of Africa that are also practical for exploration as opposed to a suit that would look out of place.

Dialogue

The interview is in coherent as both parties share no common language. However it does create a representation of the lives of Ethiopian tribes (the purpose of the documentary). The talking head dialogue is used to explain the conditions of the villagers and give meaning to the footage.
No voice over is featured; however text is used alongside footage and images to explain them.
Sound and Music

Photos and establishing shots are accompanied by traditional African music to adhere to the expectations of the audience.