Media Studies Analysis of my own documentary

1. Documentary Analysis
Aimee Gras

2. Time: 0:04
Shot Type: Ident
Audio: Channel 4 themed music
Explanation: I added the Channel 4 ident to the opening
of my documentary in order to ensure my audience know
what channel its on. As well as this, to show that its an
extract from the very start of the documentary, rather
than mid way through or the end of it.
This was evidently understood as when asking my focus
group what part of the documentary is the extract from
they all said the very beginning.
Time: 0.10
Shot Type: Close up of the water
Audio: Non-Diegetic sound – upbeat music
Explanation: This is the title screen of my documentary. I
included this to make the audience aware of what the
documentary is called, what episode it is and whom the
documentary is based on.
I did this as after researching other documentaries this
was a common theme that this was included at the start.

3. Time: 0:27
Shot Type: Wide Angle Still Shot
Audio: Dialogue
Explanation: In this shot, the audience meet Jude for the
first time.
This still shot, is wide angle to enable the audience to see
the surroundings behind the ‘aspirational figure’. The
audience whom take an interest in the sport are likely to
see that behind him is some sort of dry training area. This
is likely to gratify the primary target audience.
Time: 0:32
Shot Type: Panning Medium Shot
Audio: Upbeat music – non diegetic sound
Explanation: This is an underwater shot of Jude
swimming with fast paced, upbeat music in the
background. The use of panning allows the audience to
understand fully what Jude does and it’s likely to engage
his audience.

4. Time: 0:41
Shot Type: Close Up
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a cutaway shot that is directly linked
to what Jude is talking about at that specific moment. It is
also a panning shot from left to right enabling the
audience to see what Jude is speaking about. This is
effective as it engages the audience.
Time: 0:49
Shot Type: Slow motion, medium shot, high angle
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a cutaway shot taken in slow motion.
I did this to enable the audience to see Jude’s technique
as he’s being portrayed as a ’aspirational figure’.
The use of the high angle challenges typical conventions
as usually this would make the subject appear small and
vulnerable. However, the high angle hasn’t been used for
this purpose. Instead it’s been used so the audience can
view his technique from a different angle.

5. Time: 1:04
Shot Type: Wide Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This again is another cutaway shot – it is of
archive footage from the 2012 Olympic Swimming in
London. This has been used as it allows the audience to
engage with what Jude is saying about what got him into
the sport initially.
Time: 1:23
Shot Type: Wide Angle, panning shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This wide shot allows the audience to see
the type of environment/atmosphere Jude trains in. This
is likely to be gratified by the primary target audience as
hopefully they’d be able to relate to this.

6. Time: 1:40
Shot Type: Wide Panning Long Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is also could be considered an
establishing shot. A presenter started talking about the
Olympic Pool at the specific moment this shot came up.
Therefore allowing the audience to picture what is being
spoken about.
Time: 1:51
Shot Type: Wide Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a moving taken from the perspective
of the person filming (me) in order to create a feel for the
audience that they are looking at the same thing and are
experiencing the same journey. The use of the facts on
the right hand side support the image as this is the
location being spoken about.

7. Time: 2:25
Shot Type: Wide Panning Long Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is an establishing shot. It is a shot of
where Jude swims and it enables them to experience
where Jude does his training. It allowed the audience,
when watching the cutaway, to see where Jude trains
from another angle and in better detail.
Time: 2:28
Shot Type: Medium Close-Up Still Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a still shot of Jude swimming towards
and then away from the camera.
I used this shot to gratify the audience – as it allows them
to view Jude swimming from another angle.

8. Time: 2:52
Shot Type: Medium Close Up
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is an establishing shot. It is a shot of
where Jude swims and it enables them to experience
where Jude does his training. It allowed the audience,
when watching the cutaway, to see where Jude trains
from another angle and in better detail.
Time: 3:03
Shot Type: Medium Close-Up Still Shot
Audio: Dialogue
Explanation: In this shot the audience meet Jude’s head
coach Will for the first time. He has been positioned
slightly to the right which is known as the rule of thirds.
This composition technique is useful when filming as it
produces more engaging shots as well as them being
more balanced - because it allows the audience to get a
better view of what is in the background.

9. Time: 3:30
Shot Type: Medium Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a cutaway shot that I created (after
research), to show the audience the expenses of the
sport. This is likely to appeal more to the secondary
target audience whom will be more interested in how
much it could cost.
Time: 3:40
Shot Type: Medium Close-Up Still Shot
Audio: Dialogue
Explanation: This is when the audience see Keeley, Jude’s
mum for he first time. I have placed the interviewee in
the left third of the shot. I have done this because it
produces a shot that’s better balanced and more
engaging for the audience. It allows the audience’s
attention to be on both the person speaking and what is
being shown in the background; and if the audience were
to look closely they’d see some of Jude’s achievements
on the noticeboard

10. Time: 3:53
Shot Type: Medium Close Up, Panning Down
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a cutaway of an image of Jude holding
a trophy. This has been included during the interview
with Jude’s mum to break it up, so the audience’s
attention isn’t lost.
The shot pans down from the top of the image to the
bottom. This has been done in order to give a fuller view
of the image.
Time: 4:00
Shot Type: Medium Close-Up Still Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is another cutaway of an image of Jude
but with other people. In this shot it zooms in on the
subjects.

11. Time: 3:53
Shot Type: Close-Up Panning Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a cutaway panning shot of a car
pulling up. In this shot we see Jude get out of the car, at
this moment the speaker is talking about commitment
and early mornings therefore they are directly linked so
the audience feel as if they are experiencing the journey
themselves.
Time: 4:35
Shot Type: Wide Still Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is another cutaway shot of Jude on a
trampoline. It is clear to the audience here that there’s
been a change in location. Implying that he trains in more
than one place and the sport requires dry land training as
well – the primary target audience should be able to
relate to this and therefore be gratified.

12. Time: 4:55
Shot Type: Medium Wide Shot
Audio: Voiceover with quiet upbeat music
Explanation: This is a still shot of Jude eating. He has
been placed on the left third of the shot. This
composition technique is more effective as it’s more
engaging for the audience.
Time: 5:08
Shot Type: Medium Close Up Still Shot
Audio: Dialogue
Explanation: This is the last shot of the extract that the
audience see. In a previous shot Keeley was positioned
on the left third of the shot. In this one however, she has
moved to the middle of the shot as the audience are
already aware of where she is so the attention is focused
on her.