1 of 6 Documentary Analysis

Documentary Analysis

GRAVITY.

Themes:
This Documentary is purely about gravity, it does not contain any dialogue, just silent videos with non diegetic music over the top of the videos to set the feel of the documentary.


Your/Audience response:
No information or narrator, slightly boring because it was the same concept in each video; with different objects/scenery/

Structure/Narrative
Constant B-Roll footage with mellow music.
No interviews, Random Structure.
''Gravity'' Graphic/Headline at beginning of documentary.
Poetic Documentary - This documentary is silent, there is no narration/voice of god or presenters on this documentary. There is only silent footage (B-roll footage) throughout this documentary.

This Documentary contains only a few conventions of a documentary, it does not contain  Rule Of Thirds, Interviews, Narrators, or any information about gravity. It lacks intelligence and depth.


Mise En Scene
All videos include references to gravity with a number of different objects.
Every individual video contains the same structure (Objects falling/Moving in slow motion) but different objects. For example, an apple; A person; and also a plane. 
Most of the footage is also outside, until towards the end it changes to inside a Gym.

Camera
Slow/fast motion videos.
Backwards shot (videos played backwards)
The camera is still in every shot, its the subject matter/objects that move within these clips. This makes sense because if the camera was moving, the objects may seem to be moving in ways they aren't supposed to.

Sound
For the majority of this 'Documentary', a soft mellow song is used to make the documentary have feel and emotion. But then towards the end, there is an unexpected change in music that has no real reason why it changes, the video matter changes slightly too; to a man doing weights and working out in the gym.. In slow motion.

 2 of 6 Documentary Analysis

CRYSTAL SKULL LEGEND

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Themes:
This documentary is about the miahs and aztecs history with the crystal skulls, and how they all came to be.
This is a 'Voice Of God' documentary. (which is appropriate because it talks about the gods/aliens coming to earth. It also contains reenactments of past events of stories being told in the documentary.

Your/Audience Response:
Very back and forth with the information; using and mentioning the same information all the time.
This documentary uses Question and Answer instead of giving us straight answers. The program shows the research and development the investigators, adventurers and scientists use to achieve the conclusion of the crystal skulls.

Structure/Narrative:
The documentary starts with a 360 video of a 'Crystal Skull', this is accompanied with the Voice Of God narration; Telling us about the crystal skull and the thousands of year old stories from the Miah's and Aztecs, and that the skull is one of 13.
It then shows B-roll footage of people interested in the crystal skulls and the film based on the legend of the crystal skulls. Indiana Jones and The Legend Of The Crystal Skulls.
It then shows us the land are temples the Miahs and Aztecs lived in and the stories and sculptures/carvings they had done for the crystal skulls.
It then shows us the past and information about the adventurer who found the crystal skulls, and how.
Scientists tell us about what the crystal skull is made from, and how it may have been made/sculpted.
Archive Footage is shown of old interviews with the adventurers daughter. The one who claimed to have found the Crystal Skull.
It shows the man who guards the crystal skull now, and the crystal skull lovers who travel to different areas and buy replicas of the artifact. It was told to be brought by the gods, so they believe aliens may given it to the humans to communicate.
It shows tests being held on the crystal skull, and other crystal skulls that people claim to be made by Gods, the original skull turns out to be the oldest artifact out of the others, and the others are deemed to be fake. This one was found in the early 1900's and the way it was made was far to advanced to be made then. It also shows how the adventurer's daughter telling different stories about the same event, so it is then shown to be a fake skull. This documentary tries to find out how and by who it was made, but they say it could have been made by aliens, or it is just a fake artifact.

Mise En Scene:
The documentary contains many different videos and images of crystal skulls and people who are interested in them.
In the interviews, the backing of the different interviewee's reflect there job/surroundings. In this interview, shown left, it shows a messy table of paperwork, book shelves and filing cabinets. This is done to reflect the hard work she goes through and you instantly trust her judgement.


This is done with all the other interviews, apart from one. There is one with the man who guards the crystal skull, and they just put a set of curtains in his background (Shown Right), and I think this has been done to make you think he is less intelligent than the others, and that he shouldn't be as trusted as the other people who have been interviewed.
With the Scientist interviews they show equipment and objects being used to show the depth and intelligence they have to achieve answers about the Crystal Skull, and its Creators.


Camera:
At the beginning of the documentary, they use a 360degree shot of the crystal skull, to show what the whole documentary is about.
All of the interviews use Rule Of Thirds, some are little bit off the grid but i think this is done to show more of the background.
In the Reenactments it uses establishing shots, and panning to show what the adventurers daughter could see and how she discovered the crystal skull.
They also use shot reverse shot on computer screens and files to show evidence of what they are saying and describing.


Sound:
There is no music over the interviews and when they are looking at at equipment, the music is only played when the Voice Of God narration is being used, and when B-roll footage and Reenactments are used.
The music played is the same piece throughout, it is a slow high pitched synth sound, to sound mysterious and spooky. This is used to make you feel confused and scared of the crystal, the documentary flips back and forth with changing opinions, but the music stays creepy throughout.

3 of 6 Documentary analysis

ANCIENT ALIENS

 Themes:
This Documentary is based on aliens, but not aliens today, it is about whether aliens have influenced the course of mankind by visiting in the past.
This is another Voice Of God documentary.

Your/Audience Response:
I am very interested mystery, and paranormal happenings. So this documentary instantly appeals to me, but it takes the questions of aliens to a knew level. This informs us about Ancient Aliens. Aliens that have visited earth thousands of years ago. This helps shed a new light upon the history of mankind.


Structure/Narrative:
The Documentary starts with information about what the documentary is looking at and telling us about. In first minute of the documentary, you know exactly what the documentary is based on, and what its setting out to find.
It then features the Title of the documentary and after that, describes UFO sightings, and alien sightings, that have been documented in the past. Even in cave walls from 2000 years ago.
Objects and drawings have been found that match current sightings and beliefs of aliens and UFOs.
It shows us evidence of this information, from ancient artifacts that describe vehicles from the sky having 'Beings' inside.
The Documentary is contently showing us ancient images/carvings of ancient aliens, and includes interviews with different Scientists and people from the 'planetary Society'.
This documentary features mixed opinions on the subject, so that it's not a bias documentary and gives equal views.
The Voice Of God describes a story written in the year 22.
A story from Alexander the great was written about him seeing 'Great Silver Shields' in the sky. It then says seven years later, the UFOs shoot a wall into dust to help them pass.
This proves that even thousands of year ago, people believed in Aliens.

The Documentary shows us a lot of other ancient stories about aliens, and then goes on to see the possibilities of it actually being real. By reading passages from the bible, and other ancient stories.
The pyramids, and other ancient buildings have been believed to have been made for/by aliens, and that is what the documentary then goes on to tell us.

The Documentary then keeps repeating its structure but just with different stories.
At the end, it shows modern images and old paintings of UFOs.
It then tries to link Aliens intelligence with ours, saying that they want information about us and our planet, like we do with other planets.



Mise En Scene:
The interviews take place in kind of plain rooms, the background does not reflect their profession or the theme of the documentary. I think this is done to make us feel as if they are normal, regular, everyday people who have a knowledge for aliens. This makes us relate to them, making us support and believe in acient aliens.



Camera:
The only filming going on in this documentary, is the interviews. They all roughly stick to the Rule Of Thirds, just occasionally being a little of the axis, but generally all in the right area.
The other footage is all B-roll images of ancient artifacts and pictures.


Sound:
When describing the UFOs it is accompanied with light myserious music, almost exactly like the music in the 'Crystal Skulls Legend'. This sets the scene for the documentary, and helps us get an idea of how we should be feeling.
When the Voice Of God is reading stories/passages the music changes to thrilling orchestral music to set the scene of the Story.



4 of 6 Documentary Analysis
 Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You

Themes:
The theme of this documentary is Tourettes, and how people who suffer from tourrettes over come their obsticles with music.
This is how music affects them, and it is a very modern documentary with popular music and mise en scene.
Voice of God/Participatory Documentary.

Scructure/Narrative:
This Documentary starts with the, Voice Of God,  voice over of Reggie Yates informing us of the documentary of what it is about. He tells us how he meets people who are musically talented but also suffer from tourettes and how they practise and get ready for a big Gig at the end of the 3 part Documentary.
It shows all the individuals and how the tourettes affect them in different ways, and it then shows us Reggie Yates getting involved in the documentary and with the people with tourettes. He talks to them, familiarises himself with them and discovers their talent.
After this has been done with all of the people in the documentary it goes through each episode of vocally training them all, and getting them ready for the big Gig. There is a number of small interviews with each individual throughout the 3 part Documentary.


Mise En Scene:
In each interview, the background always represents what the person is interested in and reflects his profession/hobbies. (as shown right)
All the people are dressed very uptodate and fashionable, this is because this documentary is targeted at the younger audiences.

The same goes for the people with tourettes. One of the people in the documentary enjoys surfing and playing guitar, and he is frist interviewed inside his van with his surf boards and his guitar. (also show to the right)

Camera:
The interviews all stick to the Rule Of Thirds, and uses astablishing shots.
In a few of the scenes, the people with tourettes are performing their talents, when famous artists approach behind them when they can't see, and the camera pans from one side of the performer, to the other side showing the famous artist.
(shown to the left in Mid-Pan)


Sound:
Throughout the Series of documentaries, all the music is popular chart music.
This documentary is aimed at the young audiences, so the music used is all popular well known tracks the majority of the young audiences love.
Reggie Also uses Voice Overs throughout the documentaries giving us information and telling us whats going to happen in the documentary.


5 of 6 documentary analysis:

DAVID GUETTA- NOTHING BUT THE BEAT

TYPE: This is a mixed documentary, because it contains interviews and observation, what i like about this documentary is that it is different from all the other documentaries. It contains almost everything a documentary needs, yet it has no narration at all. I think this has been done to keep the focus upon david guetta, he is the feature of this documentary and it doesnt want to get you distracted with other people getting involved with him.

THEME:There isnt any kind of political, social or ethical issues, just about the man who helped bring about house music and what he does no; David Guetta. It takes the audience on a journey through Davids career and tour. The overall theme is success, ambition, drive and achievement.

STRUCTURE/NARRATIVE: My only criticism is that there isn't much structure to it, despite the following David through is tour, there was no balance between negative and positive views by other people, or david himself, of the subject matter. The whole documentary was a positive view of Davids current life and career, this gives the documentary a lack of conflicting substance. I think this documentary was made to make you view david in a new light, not just a man behind a machine, a man who takes action and loves what he does.

MESE EN SCENE: In this documentary every single shot has some relation to the subject matter, to abstract footage of his shows, footage of him touring, to interviews being held in studios. To create a scene, the people they are filming are dressed in club clothes, or with the artist dressed in modern styles like hooded jackets or wearing headphones.



Establishing shot and photography led shot (abstract)

CAMERA: There was plenty of establishing shots of each city david arives in on his tour, which made sense, so the viewer knew where david was going on his tour. It has mixture of handheld camera work to make it seem like they  are following him, this technique was the most practical as they interviewed David walking/moving around to certain places. Tracking and panning was used to film the crowds, this was to create a large montage of edited shots of the show and crowd to create that distorted, hylusonating atmosphere. Kind of like a drug experience. This was also enhanced through a montage of extreme closeups, mid shots and establishing shots, this was to create the scene of his shows and give the viewer a really idea of how big his concerts and fan base are/is. These chosen camera techniques excite the audience, making them appreciate Davids music. This is a very abstract documentary, where the camera angles were very photographic; based on surrounds and abstract angles.


Black and white representingthe past

EDITING: There is a lot of abstract editing used here, using strobe lights and stage lights as a fade to white to involved the subject matter, and what is on the screen, instead of just david they use his surroundings. As this documentary isover a period of time, it uses elliptical editing through a montage, to show a performance and traveling in the car by speeding up the film. When there is an old clip used in this documentary, they show it in black and white. This gives it a kind of movie feel; like a flash back. With no narration, using black and white helps give the audience the information that is an old clip. 

SOUND: The appropriate songs to fit the subject matter were all davids songs, used in a way to match the footage that was in the documentary. The only other thing that can be said about sound is that, at the beginning they voices of the crowd were echoed to give that big sound of a concert.

GRAPHICS: The graphics were very abstract and modern to appeal to the teenage audience and again seem surreal. This also gives a drug experience but also seperates this documentary from others by using clever techniques to match the music. With the beginning montage they use overlays of colour with vibrant  pinks and blues to bring the element of stage lights/club lights.

Overlaying colour and light beems











Days Of Our Lives

This is kind of two different types of documentarys together as one. It feels abit like expository, where a voice is here talking over the images and videos present a particular argument. Its also very observational by videoing all the band does, tours, and in there lives.

Themes

I think the themes in this documentary about Queen are what the band was like and how they became famous. It gives you back ground information about the band and lets you know how they met and created there music. It makes you feel like the know the band on a more personal braces.

Mise en scene

i tihnk that the mise en scebe is presented very well bceause the interviews are set up using rule of thirds,  with the subject looking across the camera. it also has a relative background to what the subject is talking about, as you can see in the picture.

Studio interviews are also set out well and also show relevant backgrounds with instruments behind the band and using the rule of thirds against his all creates a very professional looking documentary which has been composed well. As you can see from the image studio interviews have also been thought about, and I will consider he background for my documentary.

 

Camera

 

This documentary has a lot of establishing shots. like in previous documentaries, as you can see on the photo to the right. These are used to show the area and place in which the subject is going, but helps to create splits in the documentary for it to cut from scene to scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The documentary also uses some hand held shots, these are used for the interviews when they are walking. I have not seen these in any other documentaries I have watched yet but found it very good. I thought that the constant changing background made for a very interesting interview cut up with small cut away and some abstract shots like the photograph to the right. I think these help to break up the interview and keep the audiences attention.

Finally, close up shots are used to show the emotion the subject is displaying whilst describing the chosen subject matter. Its very effective because you are able to get up close and personal which the person being interviewed.

Sound

During the documentary most of the music is from Queen the band. They do this because it is relevant to the documentary and if you have you not head the music before lets you know what the band sounded like and was relevant to what they were talking about. They also used calming music sometimes in interviews this was used to emote a certain type of feeling to the interview. I think these helped to bring the documentary together and made peoples point stronger, and more relevant.

Editing

 

Editing is used well throughout this documentary. interviews with the band still playing in the background are used to fill the spaces, and to be relative to the subject matter. a lot of archive footage was used to illustrarate what the subject was talking about, and to realte it to each other. I thought this was a good idea as it supported what they were talking about.

 

 

 

I thought it was very effective when they showed two interviews being played at the same time, talking about the same thing. It gives you an idea of how they both remember things that happened, and you get two sides of the story. It shows the connection between the band members and works very well.

i thikn a god mixture of archieve footage b-roll and A-roll was used as it all fiit in well, especially in interviews and the B-roll and achieve footage really supported the interviews and made them more understandable. Finally I think that graphics were used effectively throughout as well like the title scene looked like it would fit on the front of a Queen album and went well with the documentary as you can see from the image.