Forms & ConventionsBranded a which

Jodie Foster Pilia

Branded a witch(documentary)

This documentary ‘Branded a witch’ explores the ways in which , witch craft is a huge issue in Congo and the reasons as to certain children in particular may be accused of being a which. She comes across the physical abuse that the children endure.

Conventions

Archival still photographs

• Here are Photos which were shown in the documentary.

• This documentary has used the convention of archival still photographs, as they explain or show a particular time or event, witnessed in somebodies life.

• This helps to explain and tell the story

Often to show someone who has passed away

Arranged Interviews

• Interviews are very common in documentaries.

• This documentary used the convention of interviews to show how exactly an individual feels about a particular situation, or demonstrate their life experiences

• This makes the viewer of the more aware and educated, which is the whole point of the documentary

Use of body language to demonstrate their opinion

Public interviews

This particular documentary has Used the convention of having public interviews

Public interviews help to portray an honest view of what the documentary is about

Public interviews give a sense of truth and reality

Presenter

• In Documentaries there is often some sort of narrator

• This convention was used in this documentary to to inform and explain to the audience what exactly is happening

• The presenter is shown almost everywhere, I.e. in the car, on the streets, and in houses

Natural lighting gives a sense of realism

Forms

Handheld camera movement

Here, the hand held camera was used as she filmed herself in the middle of the night

Hand held cameras ensure that the narrator is constantly able to document, without the organisation of many cameras

This helps to portray a sense of reality to the audience

Credits

The credits introduce the person who is speaking to the viewer

The writing is bold, making it clear and easy to understand

Placed at the bottom corner, not on top on the face as this would be a distraction

Subtitles

If the person being interviewed speaks a different language, they will use subtitles to show what they are talking about

These are placed at the bottom of the screen, and the font is quite small, so it isn't in the way on anything