Gravity:
Type of documentary:- Poetic Documentary
Themes:- There was no narrator telling the audience what was happening so we had to make up our own conclusion about what is happening and shown in the documentary.
Your/audience responses:- The music was loud and distracting from what we are watching on screen but I think the way the documentary is presented is such a calm way makes us watch and really think about what we see and what is really happening.
Structure/Narrative:-There wasn't a narrative, the documentary was just full of music and video. It wasn't shown in a way of most documentaries were as there was one main fact in the whole film but the visuals shown makes us feel like we are being told facts about gravity because of the way its structured.
Mise en scene:- The shots they use of people on swings and people who are skateboarding show some things that question gravity which explains the documentary title 'Gravity'. One shot is used to show someone falling to the ground but in the background posters can be seen showing steps of an exercise that people do that could also question gravity.
Camera:- Normal shots like medium shot and long shot were used to show the place where the video is shot to help out the audience but then extreme close up and close up was used to show detail in some shots. More technical camera shots were also used like depth of field and shallow focus to encourage the audience to focus on a certain thing.
Editing:- A lot of cut away shots are used to show different things that question gravity, these are things like aeroplanes, skateboarding and swings ect. Also as shown in the photo below editing of the camera footage is used to show different angles of whats being shown. Quite a lot of the footage shown is shown is two parts, the first is normal speed and then the second is slowed down, this is to give the audience something to think about because it makes the audience question what their seeing normally and what really is happening, which is why its broken down slowly for them. Most of the film is shown in black and white because the director must have wanted the footage to be focused on and for it to be simple.
Sound:- Poetic non digetic music in the background all the way through. The music is quite spiritual, this is to make the audience watching calm. Also some digetic sound is used in the shot of the apple dropping, a thud from it falling can be heard. 1/3 of the way into the documentary the spiritual music is dimmed down and is changed to some upbeat drumming and guitar music. This is done to make the speed of the documentary seem as through its speeding up.
Archive material:- All the footage shown is original.
Graphics:- The title is shown in slow motion so the audience is able to read it. Also the way each letter is shown is that its timed to the music so every major loud part of the music one letter is shown at the same time. There is also crediting at the end of the documentary, the showing of the credits is used quite technical, they appear through just one simple line on the screen. In the middle the documentary some graphics of facts is shown, this is because a documentary is factual and some facts need to be told to the audience.
Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special:
Type of documentary:- Self reflective documentary, its a documentary that's its trying to be factual but the narrator gets involved and draws attention to themselves.
Themes:- Its a factual comical documentary that's showing the audience the time line of the Simpsons since it started.
Your/Audiences responses:- The way the documentary is presented itself makes people interested because it isn't a conventional documentary because the fact's are there but they are presented in an interesting and comical way that excites the audience.
Structure/Narrative:- The documentary is almost shown in a timeline sort of way, starting from how the Simpsons started, to where is come and where it is now. It gives the audience a insight of how the Simpsons was first created and what is involved in making the programme. It shows a different side of the programme not just the animation side.
Mise en scene:- Mise en scene in this documentary is used in a very interesting way because as the interviews go on a pattern is seen, the interviews of the people like the voices of the characters have their cartoon character in the background in a big cut out. Its to reinforce and remind the audience who the person is. Its almost to show their other side of who they are, their animated side.
Camera:- Tilt up angle is used to show the person is powerful, close up shots are also used to show details of the person/thing that the camera is focused on. The conventional way of interviewing is used too, medium shot with the interviewee's eye's 3/4 of the way up with the interviewee staring of into a blank space at the opposite side. Two shots are also used when people are being interviewed too, its to show that they are equals and they both have the same power status.
Editing:- A long montage is shown at the start, it consists of clips of the Simpsons, what happens in the documentary, clips of interviews is used too, its to let the audience know whats going to be in the documentary. The montage is fast passed, this is to show how the time goes on and the audience get a quick grasp of what they'll be watching.
Sound:- The theme tune of the Simpsons is used throughout the documentary whether its loud over the top of clips of the Simpsons or quite behind the interviews and narrator. Its to keep the audience knowing what it is their watching.
Archive Material:- Old and new clips of the Simpsons as well as adverts ect. All owned by the Simpsons themselves. This is done to show what the Simpsons programme is like, many people watching the documentary may not have watched it before so it gives them something to base what their being told.
Graphics:- Names of the interviewee's and what their involvement in the Simpsons so that the audience know who they are are their importance.
Teen trouble:
Type of documentary:- Participatory documentary. This type of documentary is where it's not just narrated but there is a presenter that gets involved. It's so the presenter can say their opinions too but sometimes that can confuse the audience on what they really think and what they are being told.
Themes:- Teenagers is the theme of this documentary, its based on crime, violence and how people think crime and violence is created by teenagers.
Your/Audience responses:- I think it was an interesting topic and documentary but I don't think there was enough opinions and interviews, because the documentary topic is about teenagers the topic reaches out to the younger audience. There was interesting facts that were told but I think there could of been more because documentaries are suppose to be factual.
Structure/Narrative:- There was a lot of simple interviews throughout the documentary as well as some vox pops.
Mise en scene:- I didn't think the interviews were thought about that much because of the locations they were in, even some of the interviews were happening while they were walking about. I thought a few of the interviews were thought about because they were set in places teenagers are known to hang around in such as places like in front of shops and playgrounds.
Camera:- Medium shots were used quite a lot for interviews and vox pops because detail of the person being interview wants to be seen so it's more intimate for the audience watching. Long shots were used too so that the audience can be shown were the camera is at that time, it gives them more of an in site of what's happening.
Sound:- Non-digetic music is used as a background, its behind interviews and narration. The narration in the documentary is also non-digetic sound because its added afterwards, the narrator is the same all the way through the documentary, this is so there's a pattern and it doesn't confuse the audience.
Archive Material:- News reports and CCTV are shown too, these convinces the audience more on what the documentary are telling them about teenagers because they are watching real footage of bad things being done.
Graphics:- There are graphics of names of the people that are being interviewed and what their role/reason to why they are being interviewed for the documentary. Also there are credits at the end which are shown with some "Teenage music" and a slideshow of photos of this that were shown in the documentary
Meth Epidemic:
Type of documentary:- Mixed- there is narration, observation and interviews.
Themes:- Meth, Drugs and drug users. Its to show a factual side of drugs and what it can do to people.
Your/audiences responses:- The topic was interesting, the way the documentary is shown draws people in because its actually showing users of the drugs not just people that used drug but got clean like most drug documentaries.
Structure/Narrative:- The narrator has an interesting deep voice that attracts the audience into listening to the documentary and there are a lot of different facts being told.
Mise en scene:- There are abstract shots in some interviews like this for example, the interview doesn't come under the codes and conventions of a interview for a documentary because even though her eye line is right; 3/4 of the way down and she is still looking into the distance on the opposite side the camera shot is not a medium shot, its a close up. The reason this has been done is to show the effect the drug has had on her, the audience can see her more detailed and can see what her reaction is to the drug meth.
Even though this is done a lot of the interviews are still thought about and the codes and conventions are used and the miss en scene is thought about. Here is one of the interviews that they have done that with.
Camera:- Close up and extreme close ups are used, this is done to show reactions of people to the drug meth and to show detail of there facial expressions. It gives the audience a look into how lost the people who take the drugs actually are. As mentioned before the talking head shot is also used in a medium shot, also establishing shots are used to show the audience where the documentary is being filmed at that time.
Editing:- The start of the documentary shows a preview of what's going to happen and be shown in the documentary and its fast paced to show the passing of time. Also graphs, charts and statistics are shown on the screen to show the audience facts and figures.
Sound:- The narrator also know as the "voice of God" is heard all the way through to keep the audience informed with whats happening. Non-digetic music is also heard quietly behind the narrator and interviews, the music is emotive because its a droning noise that is almost making the audience feel what the addicts are because of the emotion in the music. There is also digetic sound of sirens, this is to indicate to the audience the dangers of using drugs.
Archive Material:- It was all original footage that was shown in the documentary.
Graphics:- There are titles of peoples names, who they are and what they do that is important to the documentary. There is also the title at the start to tell the audience what their watching and also at the end there are credits to also let the audience know that the documentary is finished and who to credit for the making of the documentary.
Dying To Sleep:
Type of documentary:- Fully narrated documentary.
Themes:- Health and Diseases. Its about a rare sleeping disease called Fatal Familial Insomnia. It follows families who have got the disease but lets us know factual information about it too.
Your/Audiences Response:- The documentary itself pulls the audience in because its based around a family with the disease, people automatically sympathise with the family and what they are going through.
Structure/Narrative:- There is a narrator that tells the audience all the way through what happening and keeps them informed. The documentary not only is factual but it also follows different families who have the disease which makes the audience try and imagine and feel what the families are feeling and going through.
Mise en scene:- In this documentary mise en scene is thought about quite a lot, here it shows a professor that studies the disease and as you can see his interview is set in the codes and conventions way but not only that but the background hows files and work ect which also shows he's a intelligent professor
Camera:- The camera shot for the talking head is in the codes and conventions of interviewing using medium shot. Close ups are also used for shocking footage of things like chains and skulls, this is to shock the audience of how bad the disease actually is. Long shots are also used to show people walking towards and away from the camera, this is to show where the person is.
Editing:- In the introduction a lot of preview clips were shown to show the audience what they will be watching. Reconstruction is also used to show the audience what the people with FFI feel like.
Sound:- Fast paced music is used at the start in the introduction, this is to get the audiences attention and it creates a distorted atmosphere almost like what the people in the documentary are feeling. The narrator is a voice over which is also said to be called 'the voice of God', the narrator has a calm voice that makes the audience listen and pulls them in, things he says also sounds dramatic but calm at the same time because of the way he pronounces his words so slowly.
Achieve Material:- Hospital footage of other patients that had the disease. Also family photos of people who had/have the disease who have died or are still suffering with the disease.
Graphics:- An Infrared video is shown of the chest upwards to show what happens inside the brain, to the ill people, scientific graphics are then shown zooming straight into the brain showing what might be happening inside when the FFI takes over. This is to try and help the audience to understand more about whats happening. There is also graphics of text in things like interviews to let the audience know who the person on screen is.
Evil Cult Leaders:
Type of documentary:- Fully narrated documentary, the narrator is the 'voice of God'
Themes:- Cults and Spirituality, its a documentary following people that are or have been in cults and stories of the lives of some of the people who were in charge of a cult.
Your/Audience response:- I think the subject itself is interesting, but the subject could be seen as shocking and quite scary because of some of the facts and footage that is shown. I think there isn't many interviews shown because most of the interviews are shown of just camera shots backing up what can be heard in the voice over. I would of have liked to have seen more visual interviews.
Structure/Narrative:- The narrator has a soft voice to sooth the audience that are watching. I think the way the documentary is set out is interesting because facts are told by the narrator and visuals of close ups and medium shots of things like photographs and reconstructions.
Mise en scene:- In this documentary mise en scene is used in interviews, when a woman is being interview by a professor that is studying cult leaders in the background of the shots books can be seen as the background, this tells the audience that he is a very cleaver man and he knows what he's talking about. Its strange though because the books in the background is used for the interview shots of the interviewee who was just a witness to one of the leaders. Voice over is used a lot of interviewee's and professors that are telling us facts but then camera shot of things like books and the professor doing work and dark rooms with candles this shows to the audience spirituality of the leaders and how they get people to follow them.
Camera:- Close up shots are used, they are done to show more details of something that maybe the audiences eyes can't see in maybe a medium shot for example. Tracking is used to show the passing of time. Over the shoulder shot is used so we as the audience feel involved in whats happening and we can see what is going on.
Editing:- A montage of clips at the start are shown so the audience can see what they are going to be watching. Reconstruction footage is also shown so that the audience who are watching gets more of an understanding of what had/is happening.
Sound:- Non-digetic music is heard in the background of the narration to make the audience feel a certain emotion through the music. Digetic sounds from TV new reports can be heard like people crying and sirens to shock the audience so they know how bad that time and event was.
Archive Material:- There are TV news reports to show the audience the real event not just a reconstruction so they see the impact. Video footage to back up what the narrator or interviewee is saying and telling the audience. Photograph's of people or events that took place to back up the facts that are being told/said.
Graphics:- Graphics of interviewee's names and who they are to let the audience know. Also a fast paced list of symptoms of people who become cult leaders and dangerous people, this is done to keep the audience on their feet and give them facts. Brain graphics of scans for example are shown when an interview is shown to show the audience what the interviewee is talking about and to back up the fact of what they are being told.
