-Voice over
-'Actual' footage / reconstructions
-Archive footage
-Set narrative structure (beginning, middle, end)
-Interviews
-Cutaways
-Ambient sound
-Graphics/Subtitles
-Theme
-Observations
-Music bed
-Opening title sequence
-No questions asked
-Eyeline a third of the way down the screen in interviews
-Name only shown when the person is introduced to the audience once
-Some of the documentaries use fades between interviews
-Light always positioned behind the camera
-Expostition always made apparent
-Vox pops
-Matching action
-Sound effects
-Location shots
-Mise en scene
-A variety of interviews, usually all having the same point of view on the topic
-Appropriate editing
Concepts and Theories
Documentary
The word and definition of documentary was created by John Grierson and his general post office team in 1926. Documentary is hard to define because it has a very wide range of genres/ideas, however the dictionary Definition is: the creative treatment of actuality. The purpose of a documentary is to document an event with evidence.
Documentaries such as; Coal Face and Housing Problems where made originally for cinematic purposes, as were most of the early documentaries. They were made so we could glimpse into other people's lives, also to boost morale in the war times.
Actual footage must be used to back up ideas and to show the audience what happened, even if it is by the use of reconstruction.
The voice over gives meaning to the reader and leads the viewer into what is happening on screen.
All events have been documented, mostly it is elements of the truth, however sometimes elements are fictitious. The question is what is real and what is not. “What distinguishes a documentary is the portrayal of the recorded sound and images of actuality” John Corner, 1995
Documentaries are partly staged, using actors and sets to evoke feelings and thoughts for the audience. However, the acting is based on elements of the truth. The high level of construction and editing creates a certain view to the audience. There is the other side of documentaries however, that make you, the viewer to decide what they think. It doesn’t have to be so annalistic.
The scheduling of a documentary is very important because the shows before and after the documentary will have an effect on the amount of viewers watching. Do you want viewers to stay tuned in to watch the documentary because the same target group was watching the programme before or do you want them to see it accidently? Obviously it would be more beneficial if the target audience stayed tuned just to watch the documentary. Panorama has a prime time slot on the television currently. It gets a lot of viewers watching because of the scheduling.
Documentaries can be either emotional or sensational. Some offer a balance point a balanced point of view, leaving the topic open to the audience. Others have more of a British journalism feel to them and are more investigative. Those documentaries oppose the view of the government and occasionally against the view of society. Even if they do oppose the views of society and the government, they must not be too creative because authenticity is very important.
‘Truth is what you come away with at the end of seeing the film. I mean it’s your truth that you’re seeing. Everybody who is making the film is putting their own truth on screen” Dianne Tammes, Film maker. Even though it is impossible to capture real events, all documentary makers believe that there must be elements of actual reality.
Current affairs are similar to documentaries but are not documentaries unless they are longer than thirty minutes. Current affair programmes have to be planned, filmed and edited quickly whilst the topic is still popular, if it takes too long, the audience will lose interest in the topic, resulting in less viewers.
Documentaries have changed law and legislations. In 1966, Ken Loach’s ‘Cathy Come home’ documentary was publicly shown on the BBC, resulting in the country improving homeless conditions.
“It is critical that film makers be rid of the fantasy that can be unproblematic representation of reality and truth can be conveniently dispensed and received like valium.” Dennis O’Rourke
Ideas of truth and reality counter claim the lies. Evidence is used instead of the truthful facts alone, because no one can argue with the evidence. Also, the evidence supports the exposition concerned with one side of the story.
Documentaries represent the transformed world and they are the first to be cut if there is little or no money.
The controversial documentaries are less popular to make as it is very easy to upset or offend the audience because the view of the documentary opposes the view of the majority of the audience.
The way a documentary works is like a cog system:
Each of the three aspects of a documentary must be interlinked, otherwise the documentary makers will not get any response from the target audience and will not know whether it is successful or not.
Types of Documentaries
Fully Narrated
All nature documentaries are fully narrated by the idea of using voice over as a guide. The voice over also helps the audience to get involved and understand what is happening on screen.
Fly on the Wall
The fly on the wall documentary is very observational. It must have cinema verite – it looks like a film but the way that it is edited looks more like a documentary. ‘Rogue Traders’ and ‘Roger Cook Reports’ are examples of a fly on the wall documentary.
Mixed
The play on narrative in a mixed documentary also helps the audience throughout the observations and interviews etc. The voice over is well suited to the target audience and the topic. The majority of documentaries are mixed.
Self Reflective
It is more about the person and style, rather than the topic in self reflective documentaries. People usually talk to the documentary itself.
Docudrama
Docudrama’s re-enact events as they were supposed to have happened. They must contain elements of truth but they dramatise the issue because there is a story behind it.
Docusoaps
They are staged to a certain extent. Usually follow the life of people in different jobs. They are low cost but very popular. They are also extremely easy to make.
Disneyfication
This is all to do with the dumbing down of real issues to gain ratings. Steven Barnett blames Docusoaps for this.
What to Include
In order to choose a subject to plan and make a documentary based around, it must be a topic that influences you. It must be manageable and something that you can delve into and make the audience feel either emotional or sensational. There must not be a strong emotional link between the idea and the maker, as this would make the documentary extremely biased.
You have to think about visuals. What can be shown? What evidence do we have? And what archive footage can we insert? For the interviews, we have to create a meaning for the audience by the use of settings and backdrops on the interviews. Starting with factual questions, then moving on to more detailed questions and answers. Vox pops can be used to fill the documentary. They are mostly used to add humour and give a sense of relief from the hard hitting facts, usually documentaries use street interviews. All documentaries must have a beginning, middle and an end. The central question from the documentary must be shown at the beginning, the middle needs to be more complicated and have conflict then at the end, the exposition must be made fully apparent and a resolution must be offered.
John Corner
John Corner’s main teachings and research interests are in the areas of broadcast journalism, documentary, media audiences, political communication and cultural analysis.
John Corner said the Central elements of a documentary are:
Observation.
The camera is used as the eye witness to observe all events. The camera is sometimes hidden and is always ignored in reconstructions, to give a deeper sense of reality.
Interview.
Documentaries rely on interviews. They can sometimes contrast the observation, like if a clip was played of a man fighting, then there was a voice over denying it, the audience are forced to trust the footage more than the voice. The cutaway shots are always relevant to what is being said and adds more meaning to the topic being discussed. It is very rare for a full flowing interview to occur, because the viewer gets bored and most of the time the questions and the interviewer are not heard.
Dramatisation
Audience members won’t feel emotional, unless it is dramatic, however it still must appear natural and not over acted. It must be based on facts. Reconstructions are used for the purpose of dramatisation.
Mise En Scene
It is carefully done, which encourages the drama to unfold. It advances arguments and the story can be told through Mise en scene.
Exposition
You can have your documentary a certain point of view, but some are argumentative. They are descriptive. The message behind the documentary can be hidden or not hidden. The narration sometimes tells the audience what to think or it can be done by an observational sequence.
TV Scheduling
The scheduling segments are; Early Morning, Morning, Daytime, Evening, Primetime and Night (after 9). The target audience for the groups are as follows:
-Early morning is for workers
-Morning is for families
-Daytime is more for housewives
-Prime time is for everybody
-Night time is for students
Soap operas are very popular with everybody.
Channel loyalty doesn’t really exist anymore, not like it used to a couple of decades ago.
BBC 1 is for middle age middle class
BBC2 is for educated people
ITV is for the working class citizens
Channel 4 is for the younger generation such as students
Channel 5 tries to target everyone
Repeats are more common on certain channels. It is more common on ITV and Channel 4 , than they are on BBC1 and 2.
Channel 4 and Channel 5 import programmes from other countries because they are cheaper, as they don’t have to make them themselves. Also, they choose the successful ones because they are reliable.
‘The Watershed’ means after 9.
Documentary Research
"The Devil Made Me Do It"
After watching this, I realised that it was a mixed documentary. I got to this understanding because I noticed that the voice over was pushing the narrative, observations were used as evidence and reconstructions were used to make the whole topic more dramatic. These are all used in typical mixed documentaries.
The themes of this documentary are; murder, religion, youth rebellion and how the media effects firstly people’s perception on certain subjects and secondly how music can almost hypnotize and influence people and their actions.
The narrative structure was very apparent. There was a beginning, middle and end. The beginning explained of an unsolved problem, a nun was killed and we were questioning who would have done it and what reason they would have to do such a horrid thing. The middle found the girls who had killed the nun, even though the girl’s admitted to killing her because they were very young, everyone thought that there must have been another reason. Marilyn Manson was blamed. The end acknowledged a resolution, the girls were sorry and one of them shown remorse. They were sentenced and the town was restored to its natural state and it was like nothing had ever happened.
A varied amount of camerawork was used. High angle shots were used to show that the town was very little; therefore the impact the murder had was huge and would have affected everybody there. Low angle shots were used to make Marilyn Manson appear powerful and to show how he was looked up to by all his fans. Most of the interviews were two shots with either two or a group of people in them. To create the feeling of mayhem and panic, a hand held camera was used in the court seen, which presented mayhem. A close up on the lawyer woman gave her importance as she was an expert on the case and very intelligent. In the reconstruction, a canted angle was used to represent the where the woman lay dying.
Mise en scene was essential in this documentary. The lawyer wore red which shown her to have power. It was set in the place where the murder happened to create a greater sense of realism and to create an eerie feeling. Everyone was interviewed in their own environment, which did make it less informal but more comfortable. The concert footage helped the audience make up their own mind on whether his music was for entertainment purposes only or whether it is more. The make-up on the fans at the concert, which was coincidently the same as Manson’s, suggested that Marilyn was brainwashing his fans. Lastly, the girls were never shown, which allowed the audience to picture and design their own image of what the girl’s looked like.
Whenever we are meant to feel a certain way in this documentary, sound effects were used. The Non-Diegetic religious music was used to create a holy atmosphere at the beginning and also tied into the theme. In the reconstructions, a mix of diegetic, non diegetic, asynchronous and synchronous sounds were used such as footsteps, heartbeats, phone ringing, bangs and screams. All of which were used to add to the tension. At the Marilyn Manson concert, the sound level was very loud and there were a lot of swearing sounds used, to accentuate the problem of Marilyn’s music and concerts. Natural/ ambient sound was used in the interviews to give the serenity of the town, now the event has passed.
Cutaways were used to evident the story in the interviews. Match on action was used regularly at the concerts, which followed the action in line with Marilyn to show that he was the key figure in the concert hall. A point of view shot was used, so we as the audience could feel and see what the nun felt like just before she died. Long takes of the town were used so the audience could feel like they knew the whole environment. The range in fast and slow editing worked well with the mise en scene.
Archive Footage was used to give and create a back story. Newspaper footage from around the time when the crime was committed and footage from the nun’s funeral was used to show how it affected people who lived there. Also, old concert footage and music videos of Marilyn Manson was used to show that he is quite a strange character, also to show that he had been linked to other horrific crimes, the archive footage of the Colorado school shooting, which he had also been blamed for, was used.
The graphics were very simple and gave out the basic information. They were always at the bottom of the screen. Were white and plain, which meant that they didn’t detract from what was happening.
Marketing Movies BBC2 - Educational Documentary
This is a mixed documentary. It contained archive footage, interviews with experts, voice over that lead the audience through the narrative and observations.
The themes consisted of marketing films, persuasion and the importance of relating to a target audience.
The beginning of the documentary looked like it was going to be upbeat throughout because of the exciting sound bed and fast editing. It also explored the reasons marketing is important. The middle showed how marketing can be successful and then the evidence of how it works. It also talks about budgets. The end presents the finish product but we aren’t told whether it was successful or not.
Close ups of adverts and posters were used and zooms were used to show the merchandise and how the publicising can sell products and also onto important people. There was a static camera in every interview to make it more formal. Panning shots of merchandise was also used to show the wide range and variety of products that can be made off one film or product.
The mise en scene related to the topic. Posters were used in the background of interviews to anchor the purpose of the documentary. It was set in London, which is the capital of film making, here in the UK. No American experts were interviewed which was disappointing because they are seen to be more knowledgeable.
A music bed was used throughout to make it more interesting for the audience watching. Diegetic sound was used throughout to show that it is very realistic. Most of the sounds didn’t anchor meaning and were used ineffectively. The sounds were also underused.
Lots of cuts were used to keep it fast paced and to keep the audience interested until the end. The cutaway shots were relevant to what the experts were talking about. The fades used were quite amateur and didn’t really have a purpose- a cutaway shot would have been more appropriate and would have looked better. A superimposition was also used.
Film footage from lion king, Aladdin, the little mermaid, Jurassic park and mouse hunt were used as examples and also to support the arguments. Archive footage from a Premiere was also used to show that they are important to how successful a film can be.
Graphics were used constantly and were relevant to the target audience.
The Music Biz - Marketing Meatloaf
Marketing Meatloaf is a mixed documentary. It has lots of different types of media. It contains narration via voice over, interviews and archive footage.
The themes are; Meatloaf, Marketing, Publicity, Media influences, Audience and the battle to Christmas No.1
The audience are given a bit of information at the beginning about the music industry and different opinions from editors, fans and musical directors. The middle introduces Meatloaf’s re-launch and shows how much dedication and money is being put into it, people are even remortgaging their houses. Even though it was not number one, the end shows how successful Meatloaf became.
There were lots of close ups on Meatloaf to show that he is the star and how he is the most important person in the documentary. There is also close ups on director to show that he is in charge and holds the authority. At one point the camera nods in response, which shows that interaction with the cameraman is used in this documentary. Zooms were used in location shots. A panning shot on the marketing table portrays everyone to have importance.
Mise en scene was used effectively in this mixed documentary. The interviews were filmed on a green screen so they could adapt them to look like they were on the front of a magazine cover. The backgrounds in every shot were relevant and video on location was used. His make up in the video also showed how major his transformation for his comeback, was.
There was use of a voice over to guide the audience through the narrative because it was quite complex. Sounds effects of a heartbeat was used. Diegetic sound was used on the location filming. The song was also played over and over again.
A shot reverse shot was used in a conversation between Meatloaf and Michael Boy, to show that there was a little bit of a power struggle. Cutaways shots were used to reinforce what was being said. Fast editing was used at the beginning to show all the different point of views and to also add excitement. Dissolves were used occasionally to create a break between two shots.
The archive footage that were used was; the awards ceremony and Meatloaf’s music video.
The subtitles were simple and plain. However at the beginning, the graphic of people’s facing in the magazine cover was done effectively.
Lara Croft - That Thing
Whilst watching this I realised that because it have lots of observations as evidence and archive footage, as well as a typical narrative structure and voice over.
The themes were; The effects of media and how it can confuse fantasy from reality, video games, electronics, Lara Croft, animated celebrities, how celebrities become products and female icons.
Gamers are interviewed at the beginning and the movie is introduced with different opinions given. The game is described in the middle and shows how Lara Croft is evolving and fans start to mimic her. At the end we the audience see how successful the game was and explains that the expectations of the movie is very high.
Static cameras are used regularly in interviews, as are mid shots. Over the shoulder shots are used as people are playing the game, to show game footage. A canted angle is also used in one interview, to add interest.
The mise en scene in this mixed documentary is used for atmospheric purposes. The room is dark as the people are playing the game, this creates the feeling that the game has engulfed the person playing and they are in the game itself. Everything is relevant and centred around the video game. A projector was used instead of a blue screen to make the images darker and to create a mysterious atmosphere.
Sound effects of breathing, panting, and running, climbing and fighting from the game were used as were sound effects from the film too. A quiet music bed was playing throughout.
Cutaway shots were used to anchor the meaning of the documentary.
The Nike and Barbie adverts were used as archive footage. The footage from the game was also used to show what the game is like and how realistic it actually is.
Simple graphics were used to show who people were.
Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer
I recognised that this was a mixed documentary as it has a strong voiceover throughout which leads the narrative. It also uses many codes and conventions of typical mixed documentaries such as archive footage and observations becoming evidence.
The main theme of this documentary is the influence the media industry has on the story of Jack the Ripper and all the horrific things carried out by him. The subthemes were things like confusion surrounding the Ripper and heightened emotions because of the media's input. It is clear that death is a theme, as well as mystery and hidden identities.
The beginning is basically an introduction to Jack the Ripper and the gruesome stories of the murders he committed. The middle explores into who the murder, known as Jack the Ripper, really was and whether the media enhanced the stories and made him look and appear more gruesome and volitile, whilst delving into whether headlines can change people's views and make their imaginations run wild. It explored how headlines can capture peoples imaginations and attention. The end resolves mostly all of the issues brought up throughout. Confusion was cleared up.
Close ups were used quite regulary to show either the emotions on people's faces as they were being interviewed and talking about all the murders, but also of newspaper articles to show the stories that were being told and to show how the headlines of that time, would have shocked audiences. Midshots were also used during interviews, as that shot is the typical code and convention for an interview. A formal feel was given to the documentary, as it is a very delicate but serious matter. The backdrops for interviews linked in to the topic and added to the serious atmosphere.
A non-diegetic sound bed is used as soon as the documentary starts which sets the mood instantly. It links in with the theme and the time zone setting of the Jack the Ripper stories. A voiceover is used throughout. The tone is serious and informative, which links to the mood trying to be created and anchors a lot of the meaning, whilst guiding the audience.
The mood is set instantly by the music along side the fast editting. Cutaway shots were used, which related to what was being said by either the voiceover or interviewee. Fades to black were used to add interest for the audience. Shot reverse shot and over the shoulder shots were used when people were talking to show the different people having the same view.
Archive Material was not overused in this documentary. Tours of London were used, which set the scene and also anchored the meaning and themes. It also shown how the city was affected by what Jack the Ripper did.
The graphics were kept fairly simple. White was used to show who people were in the inteviews. This linked into the basic but serious theme of the documentary itself.
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