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Introduction to the Advanced PortfolioLearning Objective: Am I able to explore documentary conventions within real media texts?

+Your brief

To make a five-minute extract of an original television documentary, to be submitted with two of the following:

1) A 30-second radio advert for your documentary

2) A newspaper advert for your documentary3) A double-page spread about your

documentary, from a TV listings magazine.

+Research – Real Media

Yup, this again…but MORE! This time you are going to film you talking

about your real media research, as a ‘Top 5 Documentaries’ video.

The purpose of this is to get used to talking in from of the camera naturally. A new requirement from the exam board…

+Getting Used to the Camera

The point of this task – as well as successfully completing your research – is to get used to creating a confident video diary.

When you produce your evaluation you must be confident and clear throughout your evaluation. The challenge you need to master is NOT READING OFF THE SCREEN/A SCRIPT WHILST FILMING.

If you look like you are reading from a script for the main task evaluation you will be marked down. It might feel cheesy, but you must be able to discuss your work as if you are having a conversation, not reading off a sheet of paper.

A tip is imagine you are talking to one person about your work – they know nothing about media studies so you must be approachable and explain it to them step-by-step.

+Look at the experts…

Have a look at these presenters talking to the camera…they will have prepared and practised ahead of filming. So appear natural and not stilted when speaking.

Brian Cox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOqR1Csv7yg

Charlie Brooker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8MjoB3vgv8

Homes Under the Hammer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngNEPySNs14

+Conventions refresher

Can you recall any general documentary conventions?

+Documentary Conventions

Voiceover – Usually authoritative – allows audience to assume they are an expert on subject or that they’re opinion is the ‘right’ one.

‘Actual’ Footage – Documentary is non-fiction so must include footage which has captured reality in some way. The audience must believe they are watching a ‘real’ event.

‘Natural’ Lighting and Sound – build up sense of reality. Archive footage – Aids authenticity and provides

additional information.

+Documentary Conventions

Interviews with ‘experts’ – May contradict the overall view of the documentary but can be quickly contradicted by the docu’s ‘voice’.

Use of titles – Reveals time, dates and locations quickly. Sound – Non-diegetic sound provides flow between

scenes but helps to further influence audience at particular moments.

Editing and camera – Capture emotions of situations but used in a way to influence audiences POV. Use of continuity editing.

+Documentary types…

Can you remember what each type of documentary is like? What is their purpose?

① Reflexive② Expository ③ Observational④ Participatory⑤ Performative

Can you think of any

real documentar

y examples?

+Top Five Challenge

You will need to research (watch) five different documentaries and analyse:

① What type of documentary it is② How it follows/break conventions③ Who is the target audience? How does

the documentary appeal to them? Effect them?