This documentary analyzes the case of Gemma Barker, a girl who pretended to be three different boys on social media. The documentary uses a linear narrative structure to tell the story from the girls meeting until the sentencing. It interviews those involved like the victim and journalist Ryan Sabey. The documentary incorporates a variety of shots, graphics, archive material and sound effects to explore the dangers of social networking and how the girl took on false online identities.
1. The Girl Who Became Three Boys
Documentary Analysis
2. Type of Documentary: Mixed
Themes: The dangers of social networking
Narrative Structure:
• Linear – it starts with the girls meeting and
ends with the sentencing.
• Closed- all of the questions are answered.
• Single strand – it is only about the girls.
3. Camera Work
• The interviews are framed to the left or right and are in mainly medium
close up.
• A variety of other shots are used including extreme close ups, long
shots, two shots and establishing shots.
4. Incorrect Framing in Interview
During the documentary some of the interviews do not appear to
be framed correctly. As they are framed to the left with the
interviewee looking to the left of the camera. She also looks directly
into the camera lens often.
5. Mise-en-scene
• Most of the interviews are filmed on a black background.
• However, the interview with the Sun Journalist, Ryan Sabey is filmed in an
office as this anchors his relevance to the topic and the interview with
‘Alice’ is filmed so the light is behind her as she wanted to remain
anonymous.
6. Sound
• A voice over is used. It sounds like a middle aged male and is speaking
Standard English.
• Some sounds are amplified like camera shutter sounds and typing.
• Music is played quietly in the background and sounds almost comical
when the interviewee says something that could be viewed as funny.
Editing
• The majority of the editing is cuts. However, a super impose is used in
order to make the silhouette of a boy appear. This is because he is a
figment of the Gemma (the girl who became the boys) imagination.
7. Archive Material
The archive material includes newspaper covers, still
images of the victims and Gemma Barker, YouTube videos
and Facebook pages.
8. Graphics
Part of the documentary appears to be animated and
shows post it notes with names of people involved with
the situation as well as images of them. During the
interviews, the graphics are conventional of the
documentary genre as they are in a plain white font and
show the name of the interview and their relevance to
the topic.
