Having analysed all of the extracts I now have a much clearer idea of how to apply the conventions into my piece. Through analysing the aspects of camera, editing, Mise En Scene and dialogue I now have a much clearer idea of how I will construct my documentary.
The dialogue I will use will be put across through a mixture of talking head, shot as a medium shot as well as a voice over along side establishing, panning shots of the landscape and relevant footage filmed for other purposes that will be useful for my production. This dialogue will be informative, educated so as it appeals to the target audience of educated middle aged men, yet at the same time accessible by others outside of the target audience. It will also be factual and unbiased as I wish to present an even opinion in my extract and let the evidence sway the audience one way or the other.
For any interviews I conduct I will use a medium shot so the audience feel as if they are in the room as well, not observing from afar. I shall also edit the interview to keep it interesting and relevant as well as to iron out any stammers, speech impediments or mistakes. So the audience do not grow bored of just watching a person talk directly into a camera I will accompany the interview with establishing shots (much like the voice over) and footage shot for other purposes that coincides with what’s being spoken, i.e if the method of a big cats hunting is described I will include a clip of this taking place to act a visual aid for the audience.
As regards to editing I will mostly used fast cuts to keep continuity and a subtle fade effect alongside each cut so that the transition from clip to clip is smooth and not abrupt and noticeable.
As for location and Mise En Scene I will film the talking head and establishing scenes on the Chase so that the audience can relate to the area around them and not a man in an office wearing a suit. In choosing my attire I intend to wear clothes that the audience associate with the outdoors, i.e hiking trousers, boots and a lightweight jacket to conform to the audience’s expectations of what an explorer should look like. For any interviews I intend to film in a location that conforms to their expectations, i.e an office for the lecturer and the forest base for the forestry commission.
I intend to sue the track “Underdog” by Kasabian in my piece as it is a quiet track that is upbeat, but at the same time not distracting from the dialogue. This is a contemporary piece of music that will appeal to younger generations of viewers yet is still accessible by older viewers.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Essay on Supersize Me - 3rd December 2009
This is an essay i wrote on the documentary Super Size Me
Documentary Analysis: “Supersize Me”
Unlike traditional documentaries where the audience are subjected too a smartly dressed academic reeling facts to them about ancient wars and bible conspiracies, “Supersize Me” takes a different angle. As a documentary “Supersize Me” embarks on what has commonly become known as a documentary quest. What is meant by this is that the documentary takes a somewhat charismatic presenter (Morgan Spurlock) and has him or her pursue a theory or a goal. Documentaries that adopt a similar approach are “Jamie’s Ministry of food” where celebrity chef Jamie Oliver embarks on a “quest” to change the eating habits of Rotherham, or programs by fashion “guru” Gok Wan that seek to empower women and get them to feel good about their bodies. Unlike traditional documentaries, the narrative aspects of these “quest” documentaries are seasoned with an air of drama and suspense (used to keep the audience interested). Often narrative stunts such as time boundaries (i.e. 24 hours to convert a garden) and general “hiccups” with the creation of the documentary (such as problems with health or physical well being) are thrown into the mix. Super Size me uses these narrative tools very effectively. The general theme of the documentary is to investigate the damage to ones health eating fast food non stop can do. In this the producers hoped to increase public awareness of the issue and dissuade them from fast food outlets. So unlike a traditional documentary, where the aim is to awe the audience with facts and figures, about military tactics or climate change, Supersize Me and other documentaries of this new “quest documentary” sub genre, seek to involve the audience in their “quest”. As a viewer, you feel almost a part of the production. You are made to empathise with the presenter and their goal. In the case of Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock incurs some health issues as a result of his “MCbinge”. As an audience we sympathise with him and his cause, adding to the overall power that the documentary has in influencing our opinion.
The audience of this documentary and others like it are awed by a sense of inspiration and sensationalism. The audience often take on board the ideals portrayed by the documentary and act upon them. In the case of supersize me audiences would endeavour not to eat at fast food chains and eat more healthily. Often audiences relate to the presenter as he or she is represented not as a glamorous celebrity, above us in social class and life style but an “ordinary human being” to coin a meaningless phrase for what is an ordinary human being. Therefore the representation of the presenter is that of a down to earth person who is discovering things along with the audience and therefore the audience begin to feel almost a part of the production and thus relate positively too it.
However this documentary and other like it are based around a “pseudo quest”. By this we mean that although the production has the feel of an ongoing, ever discovering journey by the presenter and the audience in relation to him or her, it is in fact railroading toward a pre defined conclusion. In the case of super size me, the outcome is o course obvious. Why would an institution back a documentary that in the end discovered that MC Donald’s food in fact did not cause any health concerns, or in Michel Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 that George W Bush did in fact win a legitimate victory in the presidential elections and was a good leader. That would not sell and institutions fund documentaries for profit. So although these quest documentaries have the feel of an ongoing journey of discovery, they are in fact institutionalised and scripted toward a pre arranged conclusion, one that is sensational and one that will sell.
To summarise, Supersize Me is a documentary that (like many other recent documentaries) challenges the documentary stereotype, and uses a mixture of entertaining performance and informative statistics and facts to inform and entertain its audience. The narrative of the piece adopts a “quest” type of structure, where the presenter and the documentary takes us on a journey of discovery to bring about a result, in the case of Supersize Me, exposing the damage that fast food does to people however this result is often the desired outcome of the documentary producers and the documentary as a production is subtly scripted toward this set of ideals aiming to bring about this school of thought in the audiences mind.
Documentary Analysis: “Supersize Me”
Unlike traditional documentaries where the audience are subjected too a smartly dressed academic reeling facts to them about ancient wars and bible conspiracies, “Supersize Me” takes a different angle. As a documentary “Supersize Me” embarks on what has commonly become known as a documentary quest. What is meant by this is that the documentary takes a somewhat charismatic presenter (Morgan Spurlock) and has him or her pursue a theory or a goal. Documentaries that adopt a similar approach are “Jamie’s Ministry of food” where celebrity chef Jamie Oliver embarks on a “quest” to change the eating habits of Rotherham, or programs by fashion “guru” Gok Wan that seek to empower women and get them to feel good about their bodies. Unlike traditional documentaries, the narrative aspects of these “quest” documentaries are seasoned with an air of drama and suspense (used to keep the audience interested). Often narrative stunts such as time boundaries (i.e. 24 hours to convert a garden) and general “hiccups” with the creation of the documentary (such as problems with health or physical well being) are thrown into the mix. Super Size me uses these narrative tools very effectively. The general theme of the documentary is to investigate the damage to ones health eating fast food non stop can do. In this the producers hoped to increase public awareness of the issue and dissuade them from fast food outlets. So unlike a traditional documentary, where the aim is to awe the audience with facts and figures, about military tactics or climate change, Supersize Me and other documentaries of this new “quest documentary” sub genre, seek to involve the audience in their “quest”. As a viewer, you feel almost a part of the production. You are made to empathise with the presenter and their goal. In the case of Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock incurs some health issues as a result of his “MCbinge”. As an audience we sympathise with him and his cause, adding to the overall power that the documentary has in influencing our opinion.
The audience of this documentary and others like it are awed by a sense of inspiration and sensationalism. The audience often take on board the ideals portrayed by the documentary and act upon them. In the case of supersize me audiences would endeavour not to eat at fast food chains and eat more healthily. Often audiences relate to the presenter as he or she is represented not as a glamorous celebrity, above us in social class and life style but an “ordinary human being” to coin a meaningless phrase for what is an ordinary human being. Therefore the representation of the presenter is that of a down to earth person who is discovering things along with the audience and therefore the audience begin to feel almost a part of the production and thus relate positively too it.
However this documentary and other like it are based around a “pseudo quest”. By this we mean that although the production has the feel of an ongoing, ever discovering journey by the presenter and the audience in relation to him or her, it is in fact railroading toward a pre defined conclusion. In the case of super size me, the outcome is o course obvious. Why would an institution back a documentary that in the end discovered that MC Donald’s food in fact did not cause any health concerns, or in Michel Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 that George W Bush did in fact win a legitimate victory in the presidential elections and was a good leader. That would not sell and institutions fund documentaries for profit. So although these quest documentaries have the feel of an ongoing journey of discovery, they are in fact institutionalised and scripted toward a pre arranged conclusion, one that is sensational and one that will sell.
To summarise, Supersize Me is a documentary that (like many other recent documentaries) challenges the documentary stereotype, and uses a mixture of entertaining performance and informative statistics and facts to inform and entertain its audience. The narrative of the piece adopts a “quest” type of structure, where the presenter and the documentary takes us on a journey of discovery to bring about a result, in the case of Supersize Me, exposing the damage that fast food does to people however this result is often the desired outcome of the documentary producers and the documentary as a production is subtly scripted toward this set of ideals aiming to bring about this school of thought in the audiences mind.
Documentary Analysis - Panorama, Scientology and Me - 3rd December 2009
Finally I decide to analyse a more hard hitting investigative piece in order to differentiate between how the conventions of documentaries are applied in each type of TV based investigate documentary.
The documentary I chose to analyse was one from the BBC’s Panorama series, a series of hard hitting investigative documentaries that are marketed as “revealing” and hit out against controversial subjects to attract viewers. The documentary I chose to analyse was “Scientology and Me” the documentary that digs deep into the mysterious world of the church of scientology investigating claims of corruption and ill being. I chose this episode as much like the beast of Cannock Chase, Scientology is an oddity, looked upon by people as strange and mysterious, much like rumours of the Cannock Chase panther.
Documentary Conventions used
Interviews – are used to give the audience a sympathetic view of the Mothers loss. This interview is used to further stain the image of Scientology by presenting the negative effects it has. Also the decision to exclude the second interview due to the return of the daughter is effective in creating conspiracy suspicions within the audience.
Talking Head – is used in conjunction with medium shots to convey information to the audience along with voice over’s much like the other examples.
Footage shot for other purposes is used such as interview with a deceased person that could not be filmed live.
Camera
Throughout the extract the voice over’s are coupled with establishing shots as well as tracking shots of the car driving too and from locations. Medium shots of the talking head conform to the generic conventions of the genre. Over the shoulder shots are used in both interviews to emphasise the presence of the narrator as the investigator.
Editing
Mostly quick cuts to keep continuity and match the dialogue of voice over’s so the change in clip is appropriate to the dialogue being spoken.
Wipes are featured in and out of the title sequence, a characteristic of the program.
Mise En Scene
The narrator wears a suit so as to emphasise his status as an academic and an educated individual to promote the idea of a reasoned unbiased documentary.
Dialogue
Is like most of the previous examples questioning to extract information as well as informative to convey that information to the audience. The language used is not sophisticated to the point of unclearness, yet is educated to appeal to the intellect of the target audience.
Sound and music
Voice over’s are backed with quiet instrumental music as an accompaniment, so as not to distract the audience with lyrics.
The title sequence features the generic Panorama theme music, which audiences associate with the program.
The documentary I chose to analyse was one from the BBC’s Panorama series, a series of hard hitting investigative documentaries that are marketed as “revealing” and hit out against controversial subjects to attract viewers. The documentary I chose to analyse was “Scientology and Me” the documentary that digs deep into the mysterious world of the church of scientology investigating claims of corruption and ill being. I chose this episode as much like the beast of Cannock Chase, Scientology is an oddity, looked upon by people as strange and mysterious, much like rumours of the Cannock Chase panther.
Documentary Conventions used
Interviews – are used to give the audience a sympathetic view of the Mothers loss. This interview is used to further stain the image of Scientology by presenting the negative effects it has. Also the decision to exclude the second interview due to the return of the daughter is effective in creating conspiracy suspicions within the audience.
Talking Head – is used in conjunction with medium shots to convey information to the audience along with voice over’s much like the other examples.
Footage shot for other purposes is used such as interview with a deceased person that could not be filmed live.
Camera
Throughout the extract the voice over’s are coupled with establishing shots as well as tracking shots of the car driving too and from locations. Medium shots of the talking head conform to the generic conventions of the genre. Over the shoulder shots are used in both interviews to emphasise the presence of the narrator as the investigator.
Editing
Mostly quick cuts to keep continuity and match the dialogue of voice over’s so the change in clip is appropriate to the dialogue being spoken.
Wipes are featured in and out of the title sequence, a characteristic of the program.
Mise En Scene
The narrator wears a suit so as to emphasise his status as an academic and an educated individual to promote the idea of a reasoned unbiased documentary.
Dialogue
Is like most of the previous examples questioning to extract information as well as informative to convey that information to the audience. The language used is not sophisticated to the point of unclearness, yet is educated to appeal to the intellect of the target audience.
Sound and music
Voice over’s are backed with quiet instrumental music as an accompaniment, so as not to distract the audience with lyrics.
The title sequence features the generic Panorama theme music, which audiences associate with the program.
Documentary Analysis - Louis Theroux's Guru's - 3rd December 2009
I then went on to view and analyse a BBC documentary to observe the ways in which television documentaries use the conventions of the documentary genre. The first television documentary I analysed was Louis Theroux’s Guru’s taken from his Weird Weekends series where he investigates and documents groups of people that have a passion for weird things (as the name suggests)
I will analyse this too see how the conventions of documentaries are used in television productions as well as to observe how a documentary can be made less sincere yet at the same time informative, educational and entertaining.
Documentary Conventions used
Interviews – Interviews are used throughout this documentary to acquire information and a professional opinion. A type of interview is conducted during the spiritual session combined with the use of fly on the wall filming.
Voice over – a voice over is used to present information about India and the guru’s on top of fly on the wall footage of the market place and them walking through it
Talking head- is also used as a means of presenting information to the audience and coincides with the ongoing interview with the guide. This is done so audiences feel a part of the investigation as well as so the presenter can convey information to the audience.
Camera
Throughout the extract, establishing shots and tracking shots of the market, the beach and the guide’s home are combined with a voice over to act as a visual aid for the information being conveyed.
During the ritual close up shots and medium shots are combined with quick cuts to give a sense of confusion within the audience mimicking the thoughts and feelings of the presenter, as well as give an insight into what happens at these ceremonies.
During scenes of the talking head and the ongoing interview, medium shots are used so the audience feels a part of the conversation, and a part of the investigation.
Editing
Predominantly quick cuts are used for the purpose of continuity and to display different angles and views during the ritual.
At the end of the day, the clip of the setting sun over the sea fades to black giving the impression of the day ending.
During the title sequence, wipes and computer graphics are used in combination with clips from previous episodes to emphasis the fact of it being a program from a series.
Mise En Scene
The attire of the presenter is very ordinary to promote the notion that he is an ordinary person and a visitor to this way of life just like the audience. Had he been wearing the outfit of a guru, the questions asked for the purpose of his (and the audiences) discovery of their way of life would not seem as relevant as the audience would assume he knew. His attire is also different to the guru’s and spirituality seekers to highlight the fact that he, like us an audience, is an outsider to this group.
Dialogue
The dialogue of the piece is both informative and investigative. On the informative side, the presenter relays background and contextual information to the audience through the use of voice over’s and language that is sophisticated, yet not to hierarchy that audiences cannot understand. On the investigative side, questions that form in the minds of the audience are asked, with nothing not being explained. This helps the audiences understand leaving them informed, fulfilling the purpose of the documentary.
Sound and music
Background music is once again featured alongside establishing shots and voice over’s to add to the overall viewing experience. Traditional Indian music is featured as it relates to the location and theme, as well as not being inharmonious and distracting viewers from the dialogue.
During the title sequence a piece of music is used as a generic backing for the title sequence that reminds audiences of the fact it is a series.
I will analyse this too see how the conventions of documentaries are used in television productions as well as to observe how a documentary can be made less sincere yet at the same time informative, educational and entertaining.
Documentary Conventions used
Interviews – Interviews are used throughout this documentary to acquire information and a professional opinion. A type of interview is conducted during the spiritual session combined with the use of fly on the wall filming.
Voice over – a voice over is used to present information about India and the guru’s on top of fly on the wall footage of the market place and them walking through it
Talking head- is also used as a means of presenting information to the audience and coincides with the ongoing interview with the guide. This is done so audiences feel a part of the investigation as well as so the presenter can convey information to the audience.
Camera
Throughout the extract, establishing shots and tracking shots of the market, the beach and the guide’s home are combined with a voice over to act as a visual aid for the information being conveyed.
During the ritual close up shots and medium shots are combined with quick cuts to give a sense of confusion within the audience mimicking the thoughts and feelings of the presenter, as well as give an insight into what happens at these ceremonies.
During scenes of the talking head and the ongoing interview, medium shots are used so the audience feels a part of the conversation, and a part of the investigation.
Editing
Predominantly quick cuts are used for the purpose of continuity and to display different angles and views during the ritual.
At the end of the day, the clip of the setting sun over the sea fades to black giving the impression of the day ending.
During the title sequence, wipes and computer graphics are used in combination with clips from previous episodes to emphasis the fact of it being a program from a series.
Mise En Scene
The attire of the presenter is very ordinary to promote the notion that he is an ordinary person and a visitor to this way of life just like the audience. Had he been wearing the outfit of a guru, the questions asked for the purpose of his (and the audiences) discovery of their way of life would not seem as relevant as the audience would assume he knew. His attire is also different to the guru’s and spirituality seekers to highlight the fact that he, like us an audience, is an outsider to this group.
Dialogue
The dialogue of the piece is both informative and investigative. On the informative side, the presenter relays background and contextual information to the audience through the use of voice over’s and language that is sophisticated, yet not to hierarchy that audiences cannot understand. On the investigative side, questions that form in the minds of the audience are asked, with nothing not being explained. This helps the audiences understand leaving them informed, fulfilling the purpose of the documentary.
Sound and music
Background music is once again featured alongside establishing shots and voice over’s to add to the overall viewing experience. Traditional Indian music is featured as it relates to the location and theme, as well as not being inharmonious and distracting viewers from the dialogue.
During the title sequence a piece of music is used as a generic backing for the title sequence that reminds audiences of the fact it is a series.
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.
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.
Documentary Analysis - Super Size Me - 3rd December 2009
The first documentary introduction I analysed was “Supersize Me” a large scale investigative documentary that was funded and produced by film companies and distributed via cinema and eventually DVD. (It has since appeared on television)
I will analyse this in order to gain an insight into the forms and conventions of the investigative documentary genre that feature in high budget projects.
Documentary conventions used
Voice over –
to give information on top of establishing footage and titles
Interview and use of the expert –
to gain an expert perspective from doctors on the subject that the audience can trust
Fly on the wall filming –
of obese people walking, that would have been the same had the camera not been there
Talking head – to convey information to the audience
Camera
The majority of camera shots featured are medium shots of the presenter and interviewees. Fixed medium shots enable the audience to focus primarily on the person speaking in the footage as opposed to what’s happening in the background.
As well as medium shots, long shots and establishing shots are also used for the footage that showcases the voice over. In this panning shots and tracking shots are used to coincide with the themes presented in the voice over, i.e. panning shots of fast food outlets or over weight people.
Editing
Most of the editing is quick cuts between extracts of the three interviews taking place. As the three interviews are of a similar theme, the quick cutting between extracts of all three is useful to swiftly present their information in an almost montage fashion, enabling the audience to hear each of there view points almost simultaneously.
Throughout the title sequence photos are presented with a “scrap book” editing technique where they enter the screen almost like they are thrown onto the footage from above. Alongside this a digital map is used to show MC Donald’s’ world wide business empire as well as the growing obesity figures in America over the last twenty years. The use of digital maps here coincide with the voice over dialogue and give a visual representation of what’s being said to help the audience consume the information being spoken.
Mise En Scene
The general Mise En Scene of the extract is typical of the audience’s expectations. In the varying medical practices the audience are presented with the typical Mise En Scene expected of a doctor’s office, folders, computers and medical records. This is used to give what is being said a more professional, legitimate reception from the audience as they automatically feel more trusting toward their expectations of a medical professional. The attire of the doctors is also as expected from the audience’s representations and expectations of doctors with them wearing white laboratory coats.
Elsewhere the Mise En Scene is typical of a documentary filmed in New York with the busy streets, establishing shots of sky scrapers and taxi’s as well as bug fast food outlets. Also the attire of the presenter is very ordinary reinforcing the notion alongside the dialect that he is an ordinary person that the audience can relate with.
Dialogue
The dialogue in this extract is used to give an introduction to themes of the documentary. The tone of voice and content of language is not overpowering and is accessible by all. The words spoken have a certain air of authority within the audience as it is littered with facts and figures that invoke acceptability within the audience.
Throughout the interviews the professional language expected from doctors is featured to give what they say a sense of professionalism and authority in the minds of the audience.
Sound and music
The backing music used is quiet and non lyrical so as not to draw attention away from the dialogue. During the later title sequence music that is associated with the themes (fat bottomed girls – queen) is used.
I will analyse this in order to gain an insight into the forms and conventions of the investigative documentary genre that feature in high budget projects.
Documentary conventions used
Voice over –
to give information on top of establishing footage and titles
Interview and use of the expert –
to gain an expert perspective from doctors on the subject that the audience can trust
Fly on the wall filming –
of obese people walking, that would have been the same had the camera not been there
Talking head – to convey information to the audience
Camera
The majority of camera shots featured are medium shots of the presenter and interviewees. Fixed medium shots enable the audience to focus primarily on the person speaking in the footage as opposed to what’s happening in the background.
As well as medium shots, long shots and establishing shots are also used for the footage that showcases the voice over. In this panning shots and tracking shots are used to coincide with the themes presented in the voice over, i.e. panning shots of fast food outlets or over weight people.
Editing
Most of the editing is quick cuts between extracts of the three interviews taking place. As the three interviews are of a similar theme, the quick cutting between extracts of all three is useful to swiftly present their information in an almost montage fashion, enabling the audience to hear each of there view points almost simultaneously.
Throughout the title sequence photos are presented with a “scrap book” editing technique where they enter the screen almost like they are thrown onto the footage from above. Alongside this a digital map is used to show MC Donald’s’ world wide business empire as well as the growing obesity figures in America over the last twenty years. The use of digital maps here coincide with the voice over dialogue and give a visual representation of what’s being said to help the audience consume the information being spoken.
Mise En Scene
The general Mise En Scene of the extract is typical of the audience’s expectations. In the varying medical practices the audience are presented with the typical Mise En Scene expected of a doctor’s office, folders, computers and medical records. This is used to give what is being said a more professional, legitimate reception from the audience as they automatically feel more trusting toward their expectations of a medical professional. The attire of the doctors is also as expected from the audience’s representations and expectations of doctors with them wearing white laboratory coats.
Elsewhere the Mise En Scene is typical of a documentary filmed in New York with the busy streets, establishing shots of sky scrapers and taxi’s as well as bug fast food outlets. Also the attire of the presenter is very ordinary reinforcing the notion alongside the dialect that he is an ordinary person that the audience can relate with.
Dialogue
The dialogue in this extract is used to give an introduction to themes of the documentary. The tone of voice and content of language is not overpowering and is accessible by all. The words spoken have a certain air of authority within the audience as it is littered with facts and figures that invoke acceptability within the audience.
Throughout the interviews the professional language expected from doctors is featured to give what they say a sense of professionalism and authority in the minds of the audience.
Sound and music
The backing music used is quiet and non lyrical so as not to draw attention away from the dialogue. During the later title sequence music that is associated with the themes (fat bottomed girls – queen) is used.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Audience Consumption of Documentaries - 28th November
With advances in the internet and the introduction of web 2.0, the means for people to interact with the internet, it has become possible for audience’s to both view documentaries and any other film online as well as upload their own productions. This has made way for all manner of amateur documentaries to be broadcast online where everyone can view them for free. Operating the same principle many broadcasters such as Channel 4 and the BBC have developed an online database of television programs to be watched at the leisure of audiences. The BBC iplayer and Channel 4’s on demand service enable viewers to access an online database of programs from the previous week. This grants documentaries alongside other genres a wider audience as viewers who may have missed a program in the week can view it online for free.
This alongside the more traditional ways of consuming visual broadcast media such as films and television via the television, in cinema’s or on DVD and VHS has given all genres including documentaries a much a wider reception from audiences whether they seek a hand held camera view of life in Ethiopia or whether they have missed the latest Panorama.
Despite all the advances in online viewing of media, television is still the most accessible and therefore popular method for audiences to consume documentaries. The rise in free view, sky and other providers of digital television has increased the number of specialist channels for reality TV, Historical documentaries, nature programs and most other genres. This has inevitably increased the number of documentaries being produced and consumed.
Below I have taken a typical weekday in a programs listings magazine (the Radio Times) and have highlighted when documentaries are broadcast both on terrestrial television and on digital channels to investigate whether there are any patterns in when and on what channels documentaries and more specifically investigative documentaries are broadcast.
Page 107
As we can see from the morning schedules for terrestrial television, documentaries feature very little with two traditional documentaries and a number of reality and home improvement programs. This is due to the audience of day time TV predominantly being mothers looking after kids at home as with the stereotypical family it is often the man who is out at work at this time. Therefore broadcasters aim their programs more toward an audience of women and children at this time.
Pages 108 and 109
The evening gives way to more documentaries with the majority of investigative more educated documentaries such as Andrew Marr’s The Making of Modern Britain. Over all five channels documentaries are featured, however as we can see it is predominantly the BBC that broadcast more investigative, educated pieces.
Pages 110 and 111
As we move onto the digital channels we can immediately see an increase in the number of documentaries even on the general digital channels as opposed to the more specialist channels on the next page. Once again the BBC channels feature more documentaries with BBC4 featuring three educated and investigative documentaries for more mature audiences, as BBC3is aimed mainly at teenagers. More 4 also feature a number of documental programs but are less investigative for example Grand Designs.
112 and 113
Once again as we move onto the more specialist digital channels we can see the rapid increase in the amount of documentaries broadcast. As these channels are split into categories, i.e. the History channel or the Natural geographic channel, it is self evident which channels will broadcast which type of documentary. However only a few investigative documentaries are featured in these channels as they predominantly broadcast programs specific to their genre.
Having analysed the days listings I have become aware of the patterns in the broadcasting of documentaries. They are predominately featured in an evening on digital television as terrestrial channels broadcast a variety of programs more appealing to the majority of people. In the digital channels documentaries are split between channels that showcase pieces of that specific genre i.e. Good Food featuring food based documentaries. BBC4 however broadcasts a number of investigative pieces aimed at a more mature and educated audience and it is for this channel that I shall create my piece.
I chose BBC4 as it is also linked to the BBC online database, iplayer, unlike most of the other digital channels increasing my perspective audience numbers.
I will now go on to watch and analyse a number of extracts from existing documentaries to gain further understanding on how the conventions I have researched are applied to professional pieces of all scales of production.
This alongside the more traditional ways of consuming visual broadcast media such as films and television via the television, in cinema’s or on DVD and VHS has given all genres including documentaries a much a wider reception from audiences whether they seek a hand held camera view of life in Ethiopia or whether they have missed the latest Panorama.
Despite all the advances in online viewing of media, television is still the most accessible and therefore popular method for audiences to consume documentaries. The rise in free view, sky and other providers of digital television has increased the number of specialist channels for reality TV, Historical documentaries, nature programs and most other genres. This has inevitably increased the number of documentaries being produced and consumed.
Below I have taken a typical weekday in a programs listings magazine (the Radio Times) and have highlighted when documentaries are broadcast both on terrestrial television and on digital channels to investigate whether there are any patterns in when and on what channels documentaries and more specifically investigative documentaries are broadcast.
Page 107
As we can see from the morning schedules for terrestrial television, documentaries feature very little with two traditional documentaries and a number of reality and home improvement programs. This is due to the audience of day time TV predominantly being mothers looking after kids at home as with the stereotypical family it is often the man who is out at work at this time. Therefore broadcasters aim their programs more toward an audience of women and children at this time.
Pages 108 and 109
The evening gives way to more documentaries with the majority of investigative more educated documentaries such as Andrew Marr’s The Making of Modern Britain. Over all five channels documentaries are featured, however as we can see it is predominantly the BBC that broadcast more investigative, educated pieces.
Pages 110 and 111
As we move onto the digital channels we can immediately see an increase in the number of documentaries even on the general digital channels as opposed to the more specialist channels on the next page. Once again the BBC channels feature more documentaries with BBC4 featuring three educated and investigative documentaries for more mature audiences, as BBC3is aimed mainly at teenagers. More 4 also feature a number of documental programs but are less investigative for example Grand Designs.
112 and 113
Once again as we move onto the more specialist digital channels we can see the rapid increase in the amount of documentaries broadcast. As these channels are split into categories, i.e. the History channel or the Natural geographic channel, it is self evident which channels will broadcast which type of documentary. However only a few investigative documentaries are featured in these channels as they predominantly broadcast programs specific to their genre.
Having analysed the days listings I have become aware of the patterns in the broadcasting of documentaries. They are predominately featured in an evening on digital television as terrestrial channels broadcast a variety of programs more appealing to the majority of people. In the digital channels documentaries are split between channels that showcase pieces of that specific genre i.e. Good Food featuring food based documentaries. BBC4 however broadcasts a number of investigative pieces aimed at a more mature and educated audience and it is for this channel that I shall create my piece.
I chose BBC4 as it is also linked to the BBC online database, iplayer, unlike most of the other digital channels increasing my perspective audience numbers.
I will now go on to watch and analyse a number of extracts from existing documentaries to gain further understanding on how the conventions I have researched are applied to professional pieces of all scales of production.
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