Analysis of Documentaries

In class we watched about a ten minute clip from 6 different documentaries and made notes on the conventions presented in each.

We looked into:

1. The conventions used
2. Soundtrack
3. Editing techniques
4. Use of archive footage
5. Documentary type

The first clip I watched was from 'The Blue Planet'...

1.  The conventions used were, voiceover, voice of God, narration- facts and figures
2. Natural sound was used, build up of sound to create tension was also used, the sounds of animals were used which was effective because it was realistic.
3. A variety of camera angles was used, different lighting, jumps from scene to scene which kept it exciting, fast and slow shots also kept the audience interested.
4. No archive footage was used.
5. It was a nature documentary, it also included some poetic forms as it was very calm and relaxing with the music and pictures shown.

The second clip was from 'When we were Kings'...

1. Voice over was used as was voice of god, interview was also used.
2. Loud music was played, meaningful music was also played which made the documentary moving.
3. Variety of camera angles were used, different lighting was used, black outs, fast and slow editing, pausing on images, black and white images.
4. Archive footage was used, clips of him training were shown, posters, clips of him boxing and also shown with other celebrities.
5. It was a poetic/observational documentary.

'Summer Heights high' was the third documentary...

1. Use of interview, use of titles, introduction to documentary was effective, it enabled the audience to understand exactly what was going on. Voice over, mise en scene.. school, correct environment.
2. Natural music, school play music, music between scenes.
3. Variety of camera angles, fast and slow editing, lots of reaction shots, introduction to characters, lighting.
4. Musicals the drama teacher has featured in. DVD of school.
5. Its a parody/mockumentary.

The fourth was 'The World at War'...

1. Use of interview, mise en scene, voice of god.
2. Patriotic music at the beginning.
3. Jump cut, slow motion, colour/black and white, variety of camera angles, use of titles, use of translation.
4. Clips of Germany, Images of soldiers, letters/reports.
5. Expository documentary

The next was the 'Take That official documentary'...

1. Voiceover, Hearing the boys point of view, use of interview
2. Crowds screaming, tense music, Take that backing music.
3. Jumping from scene to scene, blackouts, slow motion, sped up, Use of titles, cuts between interviews.
4. Clips of them as children, clips of concert, Philip Schofield and 15 year old Gary Barlow, pictures of their old jobs and clips of them performing when they were younger.
5. Poetic/observational documentary.

The last documentary was 'David Tennant- who do you think you are?'...

1. Voiceover, use of titles, voice of god,  voice of authority, handheld camera
2. Peaceful calm music in the background
3. Variety of camera angles, close ups, jump cuts, establishing shots
4. Use of computer graphics, time line, pictures
5. Participatory/observational

This activity allowed us to develop skills and get a better undestanding of the different conventions in different types of documentaries. It was good practice as we had to really watch the clip of the documentary in order to comment on the conventions used.