Similar Products: Part 1

To make sure we applied the correct codes and conventions to our documentary we looked at five similar products and conducted a textual analysis of each one. These products include several different styles of documentary making. We looked at:

• 'The Truth about Drugs in Football' by Dispatches for Channel 4
• 'Small Teen Bigger World' as part of the Extraordinary Me series for BBC 3
• 'Educating Essex' for Channel 4 
• 'Gateway to Heroin' by Vanguard for Current TV
• 'Big Brother' for Channel 5
• 'Hunting the Internet Bullies' by Panorama for BBC One

1. 'The Truth about Drugs in Football' by Dispatches for Channel 4

• This is a current affairs documentary.
• In the documentary there is a presenter, reporter Andy Barnett, who does the voice-overs, conducts the interviews and discusses the topic.
• There are interviews with people who are specialists in the topic area. These interviews are conducted in front of a nice background that doesn't distract the viewer's attention.
• There is a combination of real time and archive footage. This makes the documentary seem more authentic. 
• Non diegetic background music is used. This music fits with the serious tone of the documentary. Therefore a level of seriousness is sustained about the topic. This is the same for the low key lighting used throughout the whole documentary as it fits the mood of the topic.
• Information is given to the user through onscreen quote and statistics. These are then spoken by the narrator as well. By doing this it ensures the information is accessible to everyone watching.
• The presenter uses field specific jargon. This would appeal to the target audience as they would be able to understand what is being said and would therefore interest them. However, an outsider may not understand the language used and may be put off watching the documentary further.
• The documentary starts off by introducing the topic of discussion and the current problem. It then goes onto investigate the problem and ends by concluding it.

I particularly like this example because it brings across the tone and seriousness of the topic through its mise-en-scene. By doing this it makes it interesting and dramatic to watch. 

2. 'Small Teen Bigger World' as part of the Extraordinary Me series for BBC 3

• In the documentary a teenager, called Jazz, is explaining the day to day struggles she faces because of her height. I think the fact that the documentary is presented by a teenager it makes it instantly appealing to the programs teenage target audience as she talks like a teenager and acts like one too. It also makes the documentary very personal.
• The documentary consists of a combination of real time footage and archive footage from Jazz's childhood. The archive footage makes the documentary and topic feel very personal and makes the viewer want to carry on watching. It also gives the audience some background information and context into Jazz's life.
• Voice-overs are used to help explain what is happening on the screen. These are given by Jazz or someone close to her, like her mum.
• There are interviews with members of Jazz's family throughout the program. This allows other people to comment on Jazz's extraordinary life and how far she's come. These interviews are set against a very homely background which makes the tone of the program seem very relaxed.
• The combination of high key lighting and modern non-diegetic background music makes the documentary feel upbeat.
• The start of the documentary introduces the important stage in life Jazz is about to undergo. The middle follows her as she goes through the stage and the end draws the program to a close by Jazz commenting on how she feels it went.

I like this example as it engages with its audience through the young bubbly presenter. I also like how archive footage was used to make the documentary feel very personal and interesting to watch.

To be continued...