Documentary Research

We talked about our coursework which will take place throughout the year and started to make notes on the main types of documentarys found on TV.

• Fully narrated – A non-diegetic voice over is used to make sense of visuals and anchor their meaning.
  
• Fly on the wall – The camera is observing real life as it happens. Participants are ‘unaware’ of cameras presents.
  
• Mixed – using a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance narrative.
  
• Self reflective – When the subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speaks straight to the film maker.
  
• Docudrama - a re-enactment of events as they are supposed to of actually happened.
  
• Docusoap – usually occupation based e.g. airline.
  

Types of Narrative structures documentaries can follow;

• An open narrative is were there are unanswered questions
• A closed narrative is were all questions are answered and there is no loose ends.
• A open narrative in a documentary is were a question is asked but does not get answered.
• Single strand narrative, one narrative thread
• Multi-strand narrative, more than one narrative thread
• Linear, documentary narrative is structured to follow chronological order
• Non-linear, documentary narrative does not follow in chronological order for example, flashback.
• Circular narrative, the start and end point of the narrative

Documentary Analysis: 'The devil made me do it'

Type of documentary;

• Mixed documentary, actuality footage is used.

Themes;

• Religion (contrast of religions)
• Binary oppositions (Good vs. evil)
• Murder
• Power of the media

Narrative structure;

• Single strand
• Open narrative
• Non-linear (crime is followed in chronological order however the program is not)

Camerawork;

• Handheld camerawork - camera needs to react quickly
• Close up, Medium close ups during interviews, framed to left or right of screen
• Manson filmed in low angle. Lighting focused on half the face, half the face is dark - representing good vs. evil
• Slow pans across the town in day and night
• Lots of shots showing religious iconography matching interview with Manson
• Camerawork in press conference shows cameramen and through their camera's showing the documentary as impartial

Mise-En-Scene;

• Shows poor surroundings
• Teens filmed in cafe and smoking in relaxed settings
• Adults filmed in office or place of work
• Interviews - shows persons personality. Police in office and behind a desk, in full view is police mans hat showing authority
• Contrast in Manson's personality, he seems to be shown to be against the government however he is shown eating from McDonald's, showing him conforming within society.

Sound;

• Music played while build up to what happened, building suspense
• Drums played over confession representing heartbeats
• Religious/Symbolic music played reflecting subject
• Narrator - standard English, no clear accent
• Voice overs have accents, to anchor the person talking, their age and gender

Editing;

• Cut aways to religious symbols
• Original speaking is left on with voice over as well
• Cut aways used
• Montage of shots
• Fade to/from black to signal end of scene or to take audience from one place to another
• Juxtaposition with image and sound (good vs evil)

Archive Material;

• Marylin Manson concert
• New footage Italian and American
• interview with Manson
• headlines from newspapers shown
• Marylon Manson's music video's

Graphics;

• White over black writing
• Subtitles on Manson's concerts to re-enforce his lyrics
• Provide information on murders but not narrative of the story
• During interviews - name of person and relevance to topics
• Anchors period of time
• Celtic cross on 'devil made me do it'. Gothic overtones

Documentary Analysis: Marketing Meatloaf

Clip from Documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8drBafBphXg

Type of Documentary;

• Factual Documentary

Themes;

• Behind the scene of meatloaf and music industry

Narrative Structure;

• Non-linear

Camerawork;

• Handheld camerawork
• Panning over archive footage
• Fast cuts matching the music
• Single Interview filmed side of head and also looking at camera

Mise-En-Scene;

• Meatloaf posters used as background in interviews
• Recording studios anchors music

Sound;

• Meatloaf's music played under narrator
• Familiar music played

Editing;

• Music Magazines such as 'Q' and 'Kerang'

Documentary Analysis: That Thing

Type of Documentary;

• Mixed

Themes;

• Virtual games
• Popular Culture
• Representation of gender/feminism

Narrative structure;

• Closed narrative
• Single strand
• Non-linear

Camerawork;

• Handheld camerawork
• Interviews - Medium close ups, big close ups of inventor of character also in tilted frame to gain interest
• Point of view shots into cafe and tracking

Mise-En-Scene;

• Chromakey used (blue/green screen)
• Backgrounds were extracts from the game, anchors what interview is about
• Projection over and behind the interview
• Inventor of game tilted frame and put in a computer giving the effect he has been 'put into the game'

Sound;

• Music played from game
• Dance music-pop culture
• Voice over is male, young, using standard English

Editing;

• Interviews filmed through computer
• Moving backgrounds on interviews
• Cut most common edit, speed ups

Archive Material;

• Footage of game
• Fan forums
• Interview of Angelina Jolie
• Nike advert

Graphics;

• All white and sans cerif
• No caps which makes the text modern
• Graphics link ot interview

Codes and Conventions of the documentary genre;

Camerawork;

• Varied shot types and movement to keep the audience interested.
• Handheld camera work is used for actuality footage were necessary.
• Interviews have conventionally close ups or medium close up shots, big close ups or extreme close ups can be used, a tripod is always used, and the eye line of the person being interviewed is always 1/3 down the screen, they are always framed to either the left or right of the shot.
• Establishing shots are used.
• Pan and Zooms are used when shooting a still image, to keep the audience interested.
• Point of view shots are sometimes used to position audience in the action.

Mise-en-scene;

• Behind interviewee's the mise-en-scene is either relevant to the subject, for example if it anchors their job or relation to subject.
• Archive material from a variety of sources for example; films, Tv, websites, newspapers, magazines, still photo's.
• Graphics used to translate were necessary.
• Title must be unique and creative.
• Graphics used to name and put relevance to subject, anchors who they are.
• Credits - scrolling, all achieve material is credited.

Narrative Structure;

• Open / Closed / Circular.
• Single Strand.
• Most documentaries are non-linear.

Sound;

• Voice over to tell a story; Standard English is used, age and gender should relate to either audience or subject. Voice over must be emotionless on the topic.
• All questions are edited out.
• Music is used which is relevant to the topic.
• Interviews; there must be no background noise.

Editing;

• Interviews; all questions are edited out
• Editing creates the pace of the documentary
• Cuts; Most common edit, no editing effects are used unless it is relevant, sometime a dissolve may be used.
• Cut aways are used frequently and are always relevant
• Fade to and from black are sometimes used to convey a passing of time or end of a chapter.