Documentaries
Purpose – to inform, to document i.e report with evidence something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage or reconstructions.
They are mediated to an audience. Mediation means going through the process to make it easier to understand and entertaining.
Types of documentaries
1. Fully narrated – off screen voice over is used to make sense of teh visuals and anchor their meaning.
2. Fly on the wall – origins in cinema, camera is observing real life as it happens. The subjects are unaware of the camera.
3. Mixed – Using a combination of interview, observation and narration and to also advance the narrative.
4. Self reflection – when the subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak directly to the film maker.
5. Docudrama – Reinactment of events as they are supposed to have happened.
6. Docusoap – Usally occupation based where the characters are real people and there is a story line to follow e.g. Airline.
Construction of reality
· Edited
· The boring bits are cut out
· Camera work, one view
Gate keeping
· Selecting archive footage
· What you want in your documentary.
Narrative structure
It can either be open or closed.
Open narrative structure – Unanswered questions remaining, opens with a question as a premise. Raises evidence, gives evidence and then allows audience to make up their mind.
Closed narrative structure – When all questions are answered. Tells a story where there is a beginning, middle and end.
Single strand Vs Multi strand
Single strand – one narrative / theme to follow. Doesn’t confuse the audience.
Multi strand – More than one narrative strand, e.g. soap/docusoap
Linear Vs Non linear
Linear- when narrative is structured to follow chronological order.
Non linear – Time is disrupted e.g. flashbacks and flashforwards.
· A circular narrative- ends how it begins, exposition of the argument and leave the audience to make up their mind.
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Documentary Analysis - Meatloaf
Type of documentary – mixed. Factual with lots of archive footage.
Themes – music and fame. Meatloaf’s marketing campaign to re-enter the world of music.
Narrative structure – single strand, closed and non linear.
Camera Work
· High angle of fans at premiere and celebrities.
· Establishing shot to establish location.
· POV shot of crowd screaming making the audience feel like the celebrity.
· Panning is used.
· Mid shot of interviewee, image or video of meatloaf in the background.
· Extreme close-ups of C.D artwork.
· Pans across text.
· Hand held cameras used to make the audience feel like they are there.
Mise-en-scene
· Premiere/awards ceremony
· Interview with meatloaf image in background.
· Man wearing suit – shows authority and importance.
· Gothic scenery for the music video.
· Man being interviewed in messy office with phone ringing in the background.
Sound
· Screaming of the fans
· Voice over is non diagetic
· Meatloaf’s music is constantly playing in the background.
· Dramatic music is played when talking about the bad aspects of Meatloaf’s life.
Editing
· Cuts – fast moving pace at awards on the red carpet.
· Fade in/from black.
· Dissolving is used on interviews.
· Fast cuts from promotion team to video production to create a real sense of time.
· Shot reverse shot.
Archive Material
· Old photos
· Meatloaf’s video
· Behind the scenes
· Concert footage
· Awards ceremony
· Logos
Graphics
· Flash of celebrities in magazines for opening sequence.
· Man dissolves into video and image of Meatloaf.
· Information text at the bottom of the screen.
· Fade in and out of black.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Documentary Analysis
Title of Documentary – “The devil made me do it”
Type of documentary – Mixed. Included interviews, actuality footage, archive material, Manson videos , TV programmes etc.
Themes – Crime, religion, good Vs evil, power of the media e.g. can music influence the behaviour of young people?
Narrative structure – Linear, open and single strand.
Camera Work –
· Still camera and hand held camera used for actuality footage.
· Close up of person being interviewed usually placed to the left or right of the frame.
· POV shots used to make the audience feel part of the action.
· Manson is always filmed in low angle to signify power and status, half his face in the shadow, half his face in the light to connote “good Vs evil”
· Lots of religious iconography shots.
· Slow pan across the town in both daylight and night time to show how quiet and deserted the town is.
· End of programme there is a shot of busy streets, teenagers drinking to show a contrast from the town talked about in the above point.
· Tracking camera is also used to follow police man.
Mise-en-scene
· Set in Italy – small town.
· Police station, particularly the investigators desk.
· In a church, to signify religion.
· At a Manson concert
· Press conference
· In interviews the mise-en-scene reflected life or occupation.
· Young teenagers on bed smoking.
Sound
· Voice over is male, young and with no accent.
· Some times the sound of the footage is played.
· Music is religious hymns to fit in with theme, Marilyn Mansons music is also played.
· Sinister music is played in the scenes of reconstruction to add tension.
· Heart beat play in the background, gradually building up to match the pace of the programme.
· The voice over for the girls is in English yet has an Italian accent, moreover the age and gender also match the girls.
Editing
· Cuts from shot to shot.
· Montage works as a teaser at the beginning.
· Fade to and from black which signals end of scene.
· Editing creates the pace, at the beginning of the show it is slow and at the end it fastens up.
· Slow motion used at Marilyn Manson’s concert, feels as if audience are there.
· Juxta positioning –opposite sound (religious music) to imagery (Goths swearing).
Archive Material
· Manson’s concert.
· Manson’s videos
· Press conference
· Shot of photo albums and diaries
Graphics
· At the concert , flashy images to make us feel like we are there.
· Date on the bottom of the screen to show the audience what order the events are in.
· Subtitles are placed over Manson’s song to show lyrics.
· Name, job or relevance to story across screen during interview.
· Title of programme is in religious and satanic writing.
........................................................................................................................................................................
Documentary Analysis
Title of documentary – “That thing”
Type of documentary – Mixed
Theme of documentary – representation of women, feminism and popular culture
Narrative structure – Closed, single strand and non linear
Interviews are filmed in either, close ups, medium close ups or extreme close-ups. The inventor of the game is put in a computer screen for effect.
Handheld camera is used for men at computers, POV shot and tracking forward in fast motion.
Mise-en-scene
· chromo key , which is when the interviewee is sat in front of a black back ground and the image is edited on.
· Backgrounds all the way through were extracts from the film.
· Back projection of film and game
· Front projection OVER interviewee
Sound
· Music from the game used.
· Towards the end, “Ray of light” by Madonna is played as the documentary talks about her.
· Dance music played to fit in with the pop culture theme.
· Voice over is Standard English, male and young. Sounds like someone who would actually play the game.
Editing
· Cutting
· Fast motion
· Montage editing
Archive material
· Footage from game
· Websites
· Film
· Interview of Angelina Jolie which has been filmed by someone else.
· Nike advert
Graphics – Writing is Sans Serif, white, no capitals and name and relation to “that thing” place in right hand corner of screen.
......................................................................................................................................................................
Code and conventions of documentaries
· Has to have a theme, usually a central topic
· Interviewee has to be positioned to the left/right of screen
· Eye level is 1/3 the way down the screen
· Medium , close up or extreme close ups used for interviews
· Handheld cameras used for archive footage
· Binary opposition – two different point of views
· Background relates to subject
· Edit interviewees name and relation /link to topic
· Most have a voice over which usually appeals to target audience
· Music in background which matches genre
· Various camera angles and movement to keep the interest of the audience
· Stationary camera used for interviews usually
· Establishing shot used at beginning of documentary
· Pan and zoom are used when filming still images
· POV shot sometimes used to position audience in the action
· Behind interviewees is either relevant to the subject or anchors interviewees job/ relevance to subject
· Archive material from a variety of sources e.g. films, TV, newspapers, magazines, websites, music videos and still photographs.
· Graphics used to translate when necessary
· Credits scroll up screen and all archive footage is credited
· Could either be open/closed, linear/non-linear and are ALWAYS single strand so the audience don’t get confused
· Voiceover is used to link everything together
· Voiceover is usually standard English, age and relevance to audience or subject and emotionless
· All questions are edited out
· Music used is relevant to topic
· Interviews have no background noise
· Editing creates pace
· Cut is the most common techniques used
· No editing effects used unless necessary or relevant. This is so the audience don’t get distracted
· Dissolve is sometimes used
· Cutaways are used frequently and they are relevant to what is being talked about.
· Fade to/from black and are sometimes used to convey the passage of time or to show the end of a chapter
........................................................................................................................................................................
To further my research I analysed two documentaries in my own time. I chose "The last Nazis" and "Underage and pregnant".
My own analysis of “The Last Nazis” shown on BBC2
Type of documentary – mixed
Subject - Jewish Nazi hunter searches for the last living Nazis who escaped capture and fights for them to be brought to justice.
Narrative structure - Open , non linear and single strand
Camera work –
· Opening sequence is panning across the countryside, as if travelling in a vehicle.
· Extreme close ups of man getting ready but not revealing his face, creating a sense of importance and tension.
· Mid/close ups of interviewees , positioned to either the left or right of the screen and with their eye level 1/3 of the way down.
· Handheld camera used when following the main man around, to make the audience feel apart and keep up with him.
Editing –
· Cuts most frequently used.
· Fade to and from black to show end of phrase or chapter.
Archive material –
· Old footage of concentration camps.
· Old footage of Nazis marching the streets.
· Photos of Jewish people suffering.
· Footage of Hitler giving speeches.
· Old photos of the Nazis being searched for.
Mise-en-scene -
· Nazi hunters home
· Old concentration camp sufferers interviewed in their own homes
· In the car whilst interviewing Nazi hunter
· Police office
Graphics –
· Name and relevance on the left/right of the screen. Opposite side to interviewee.
Sound –
· Dramatic music
· Sadistic music for emotional clips of concentration camps
· Male voice over , middle aged and emotionless
My own analysis of “Underage and Pregnant”
Type – Mixed
Subject matter - Teenage pregnancies and how the young girls, boys and families cope.
Narrative structure – Closed, non-linear and single strand.
Camera work –
· Opening shots of urban town, to establish location.
· Handheld camera used at all times even during interviews, more real to the audience.
· Mid shots of boy and girl on couch playing with baby.
· POV shot looking into the cot at baby.
· Long shot of boy and girl holding hands in school uniform walking through school gates towards the camera.
Editing –
· Cut, most commonly used.
· Montage of family and photos
Archive material –
· There was no archive footage used in this documentary as there really wasn’t any need for it.
Mise-en-scene –
· Typical girly bedroom, for the interview with teenage mother.
· Girl interviewed in school uniform to remind the audience how old she is.
· Interviewed couple on the couch in a typical middle class home setting.
· Other places filmed included, babies bedroom and the school playground and classroom.
Graphics –
· “Underage and Pregnant” in teenage scribbling as if a pupil was doodling on a school folder.
· There were no graphics to tell us who the interviewee was or there relevance as the voiceover introduces them before they speak.
Sound –
· Voice over is Natalie Cassidy a well known celebrity and appeals to the audience as her voice is familiar.
· Upbeat music in the background , fits in with the age of the teenage mothers
· Sound of baby crying in the background during interviews.
Purpose – to inform, to document i.e report with evidence something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage or reconstructions.
They are mediated to an audience. Mediation means going through the process to make it easier to understand and entertaining.
Types of documentaries
1. Fully narrated – off screen voice over is used to make sense of teh visuals and anchor their meaning.
2. Fly on the wall – origins in cinema, camera is observing real life as it happens. The subjects are unaware of the camera.
3. Mixed – Using a combination of interview, observation and narration and to also advance the narrative.
4. Self reflection – when the subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak directly to the film maker.
5. Docudrama – Reinactment of events as they are supposed to have happened.
6. Docusoap – Usally occupation based where the characters are real people and there is a story line to follow e.g. Airline.
Construction of reality
· Edited
· The boring bits are cut out
· Camera work, one view
Gate keeping
· Selecting archive footage
· What you want in your documentary.
Narrative structure
It can either be open or closed.
Open narrative structure – Unanswered questions remaining, opens with a question as a premise. Raises evidence, gives evidence and then allows audience to make up their mind.
Closed narrative structure – When all questions are answered. Tells a story where there is a beginning, middle and end.
Single strand Vs Multi strand
Single strand – one narrative / theme to follow. Doesn’t confuse the audience.
Multi strand – More than one narrative strand, e.g. soap/docusoap
Linear Vs Non linear
Linear- when narrative is structured to follow chronological order.
Non linear – Time is disrupted e.g. flashbacks and flashforwards.
· A circular narrative- ends how it begins, exposition of the argument and leave the audience to make up their mind.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Documentary Analysis - Meatloaf
Type of documentary – mixed. Factual with lots of archive footage.
Themes – music and fame. Meatloaf’s marketing campaign to re-enter the world of music.
Narrative structure – single strand, closed and non linear.
Camera Work
· High angle of fans at premiere and celebrities.
· Establishing shot to establish location.
· POV shot of crowd screaming making the audience feel like the celebrity.
· Panning is used.
· Mid shot of interviewee, image or video of meatloaf in the background.
· Extreme close-ups of C.D artwork.
· Pans across text.
· Hand held cameras used to make the audience feel like they are there.
Mise-en-scene
· Premiere/awards ceremony
· Interview with meatloaf image in background.
· Man wearing suit – shows authority and importance.
· Gothic scenery for the music video.
· Man being interviewed in messy office with phone ringing in the background.
Sound
· Screaming of the fans
· Voice over is non diagetic
· Meatloaf’s music is constantly playing in the background.
· Dramatic music is played when talking about the bad aspects of Meatloaf’s life.
Editing
· Cuts – fast moving pace at awards on the red carpet.
· Fade in/from black.
· Dissolving is used on interviews.
· Fast cuts from promotion team to video production to create a real sense of time.
· Shot reverse shot.
Archive Material
· Old photos
· Meatloaf’s video
· Behind the scenes
· Concert footage
· Awards ceremony
· Logos
Graphics
· Flash of celebrities in magazines for opening sequence.
· Man dissolves into video and image of Meatloaf.
· Information text at the bottom of the screen.
· Fade in and out of black.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Documentary Analysis
Title of Documentary – “The devil made me do it”
Type of documentary – Mixed. Included interviews, actuality footage, archive material, Manson videos , TV programmes etc.
Themes – Crime, religion, good Vs evil, power of the media e.g. can music influence the behaviour of young people?
Narrative structure – Linear, open and single strand.
Camera Work –
· Still camera and hand held camera used for actuality footage.
· Close up of person being interviewed usually placed to the left or right of the frame.
· POV shots used to make the audience feel part of the action.
· Manson is always filmed in low angle to signify power and status, half his face in the shadow, half his face in the light to connote “good Vs evil”
· Lots of religious iconography shots.
· Slow pan across the town in both daylight and night time to show how quiet and deserted the town is.
· End of programme there is a shot of busy streets, teenagers drinking to show a contrast from the town talked about in the above point.
· Tracking camera is also used to follow police man.
Mise-en-scene
· Set in Italy – small town.
· Police station, particularly the investigators desk.
· In a church, to signify religion.
· At a Manson concert
· Press conference
· In interviews the mise-en-scene reflected life or occupation.
· Young teenagers on bed smoking.
Sound
· Voice over is male, young and with no accent.
· Some times the sound of the footage is played.
· Music is religious hymns to fit in with theme, Marilyn Mansons music is also played.
· Sinister music is played in the scenes of reconstruction to add tension.
· Heart beat play in the background, gradually building up to match the pace of the programme.
· The voice over for the girls is in English yet has an Italian accent, moreover the age and gender also match the girls.
Editing
· Cuts from shot to shot.
· Montage works as a teaser at the beginning.
· Fade to and from black which signals end of scene.
· Editing creates the pace, at the beginning of the show it is slow and at the end it fastens up.
· Slow motion used at Marilyn Manson’s concert, feels as if audience are there.
· Juxta positioning –opposite sound (religious music) to imagery (Goths swearing).
Archive Material
· Manson’s concert.
· Manson’s videos
· Press conference
· Shot of photo albums and diaries
Graphics
· At the concert , flashy images to make us feel like we are there.
· Date on the bottom of the screen to show the audience what order the events are in.
· Subtitles are placed over Manson’s song to show lyrics.
· Name, job or relevance to story across screen during interview.
· Title of programme is in religious and satanic writing.
........................................................................................................................................................................
Documentary Analysis
Title of documentary – “That thing”
Type of documentary – Mixed
Theme of documentary – representation of women, feminism and popular culture
Narrative structure – Closed, single strand and non linear
Interviews are filmed in either, close ups, medium close ups or extreme close-ups. The inventor of the game is put in a computer screen for effect.
Handheld camera is used for men at computers, POV shot and tracking forward in fast motion.
Mise-en-scene
· chromo key , which is when the interviewee is sat in front of a black back ground and the image is edited on.
· Backgrounds all the way through were extracts from the film.
· Back projection of film and game
· Front projection OVER interviewee
Sound
· Music from the game used.
· Towards the end, “Ray of light” by Madonna is played as the documentary talks about her.
· Dance music played to fit in with the pop culture theme.
· Voice over is Standard English, male and young. Sounds like someone who would actually play the game.
Editing
· Cutting
· Fast motion
· Montage editing
Archive material
· Footage from game
· Websites
· Film
· Interview of Angelina Jolie which has been filmed by someone else.
· Nike advert
Graphics – Writing is Sans Serif, white, no capitals and name and relation to “that thing” place in right hand corner of screen.
......................................................................................................................................................................
Code and conventions of documentaries
· Has to have a theme, usually a central topic
· Interviewee has to be positioned to the left/right of screen
· Eye level is 1/3 the way down the screen
· Medium , close up or extreme close ups used for interviews
· Handheld cameras used for archive footage
· Binary opposition – two different point of views
· Background relates to subject
· Edit interviewees name and relation /link to topic
· Most have a voice over which usually appeals to target audience
· Music in background which matches genre
· Various camera angles and movement to keep the interest of the audience
· Stationary camera used for interviews usually
· Establishing shot used at beginning of documentary
· Pan and zoom are used when filming still images
· POV shot sometimes used to position audience in the action
· Behind interviewees is either relevant to the subject or anchors interviewees job/ relevance to subject
· Archive material from a variety of sources e.g. films, TV, newspapers, magazines, websites, music videos and still photographs.
· Graphics used to translate when necessary
· Credits scroll up screen and all archive footage is credited
· Could either be open/closed, linear/non-linear and are ALWAYS single strand so the audience don’t get confused
· Voiceover is used to link everything together
· Voiceover is usually standard English, age and relevance to audience or subject and emotionless
· All questions are edited out
· Music used is relevant to topic
· Interviews have no background noise
· Editing creates pace
· Cut is the most common techniques used
· No editing effects used unless necessary or relevant. This is so the audience don’t get distracted
· Dissolve is sometimes used
· Cutaways are used frequently and they are relevant to what is being talked about.
· Fade to/from black and are sometimes used to convey the passage of time or to show the end of a chapter
........................................................................................................................................................................
To further my research I analysed two documentaries in my own time. I chose "The last Nazis" and "Underage and pregnant".
My own analysis of “The Last Nazis” shown on BBC2
Type of documentary – mixed
Subject - Jewish Nazi hunter searches for the last living Nazis who escaped capture and fights for them to be brought to justice.
Narrative structure - Open , non linear and single strand
Camera work –
· Opening sequence is panning across the countryside, as if travelling in a vehicle.
· Extreme close ups of man getting ready but not revealing his face, creating a sense of importance and tension.
· Mid/close ups of interviewees , positioned to either the left or right of the screen and with their eye level 1/3 of the way down.
· Handheld camera used when following the main man around, to make the audience feel apart and keep up with him.
Editing –
· Cuts most frequently used.
· Fade to and from black to show end of phrase or chapter.
Archive material –
· Old footage of concentration camps.
· Old footage of Nazis marching the streets.
· Photos of Jewish people suffering.
· Footage of Hitler giving speeches.
· Old photos of the Nazis being searched for.
Mise-en-scene -
· Nazi hunters home
· Old concentration camp sufferers interviewed in their own homes
· In the car whilst interviewing Nazi hunter
· Police office
Graphics –
· Name and relevance on the left/right of the screen. Opposite side to interviewee.
Sound –
· Dramatic music
· Sadistic music for emotional clips of concentration camps
· Male voice over , middle aged and emotionless
My own analysis of “Underage and Pregnant”
Type – Mixed
Subject matter - Teenage pregnancies and how the young girls, boys and families cope.
Narrative structure – Closed, non-linear and single strand.
Camera work –
· Opening shots of urban town, to establish location.
· Handheld camera used at all times even during interviews, more real to the audience.
· Mid shots of boy and girl on couch playing with baby.
· POV shot looking into the cot at baby.
· Long shot of boy and girl holding hands in school uniform walking through school gates towards the camera.
Editing –
· Cut, most commonly used.
· Montage of family and photos
Archive material –
· There was no archive footage used in this documentary as there really wasn’t any need for it.
Mise-en-scene –
· Typical girly bedroom, for the interview with teenage mother.
· Girl interviewed in school uniform to remind the audience how old she is.
· Interviewed couple on the couch in a typical middle class home setting.
· Other places filmed included, babies bedroom and the school playground and classroom.
Graphics –
· “Underage and Pregnant” in teenage scribbling as if a pupil was doodling on a school folder.
· There were no graphics to tell us who the interviewee was or there relevance as the voiceover introduces them before they speak.
Sound –
· Voice over is Natalie Cassidy a well known celebrity and appeals to the audience as her voice is familiar.
· Upbeat music in the background , fits in with the age of the teenage mothers
· Sound of baby crying in the background during interviews.
