The document discusses the development of a documentary about the wedding dress industry. It outlines the initial plans for a documentary that shows an in-depth look at the process of creating and selling wedding dresses. It details the importance of research and planning in developing the documentary. It discusses challenges made to conventions, such as the use of a narrator instead of a presenter, and the incorporation of historical found footage. Conventions followed include the use of interviews, cutaways, and similar shot types and music to other wedding documentaries. Ancillary products like a poster and newspaper spread are discussed in relation to conventions.

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES
YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?

2. MY INITIAL PLANS
➤ After researching a variety of types of documentaries, I identified a gap
in the market for a new of type of wedding documentary.
➤ Although wedding documentaries are increasingly popular with shows
such Say Yes to the Dress, Don’t Tell the Bride and Four Weddings
(click on the links to clips of the shows) dominating TV channels, I
wanted to create a documentary which showed a more in-depth show
of the process of creating and selling wedding dresses
➤ I wanted to show the variety of wedding dresses and the different
options brides may have nowadays

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING
➤ Research and planning is an
essential part to the creation of a
media product - I have learnt this
since the creation of my AS music
magazine.
➤ Throughout my advanced portfolio
I made sure to research throughly
into existing media products to
understand the codes and
conventions of existing
documentaries and ancillary
products.

4. DOCUMENTARY TITLE
➤ Originally the title of my documentary was going to be ‘The
Wild World of Wedding Dresses’
➤ However after consulting with my focus group, they felt the
connotations of the adjective ‘wild’ did not reflect the
symbolism of wedding dresses which suggests a dainty,
pure and glamorous image
➤ I chose to go for the title ‘The Wedding Dress’ as it is simple,
shows the genre and the use of the word ‘ the’ suggests
there is one dress - typically brides have one wedding dress
which is special to them.
➤ The message shown is contact with one of the members of
my focus groups

5. CUTAWAYS
➤ I used a lot of cutaways throughout my documentary which is
a convention of wedding documentaries seen in shows such
as ‘Say Yes to the Dress’
➤ I decided to mirror some shots used in other documentaries to
add to the professionalism and verisimilitude of my product.
➤ For example, there is a shot from ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ of a
dress drop which I have replicated in my own product

6. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - USE OF A NARRATOR
➤ After analysing ‘The Wedding Shop’
documentary which filmed a wedding dress
shop, I decided to use a narrator throughout
the documentary
➤ Shows such as ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ do
have a presenter - in the UK version the
presenter is celebrity wedding dress
designer David Emmanuel. By therefore not
using a narrator I am challenging the
conventions set by the genre
➤ Due to the type of my documentary being
expository I decided to use a voice over
narrative as this was typically seen in other
documentaries which were similarly
constructed - for example ‘The Wedding
Shop’.

7. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - FOUND FOOTAGE
➤ Although I did mostly decided to conform to conventions, I did
challenge some typically seen in wedding documentaries
➤ For example, most documentaries only use modern age footage
when showing wedding dresses however I challenged this
conventional using both modern footage as well as incorporating a
use of older found footage from royal weddings
➤ This created a historical element of my documentary which
showed a change in trends and styles throughout history - which
could possibly be appealing to a different audience

8. INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS
➤ I incorporated a use of interviews by experts in the wedding dress
industry - I interviewed Clorese Thompson, owner of Chantilly Lace and
Lucy Spragg, an independent wedding dress designer
➤ An expert opinion provides the audience with a trustworthy source of
information which gives the media product more informative authority
➤ I used simple shots seen in other media products - mid shots with the
use of the name and title of the speaker showing how to speaker is an
expert. This is an adopted convention of the genre.

9. MIRRORING SHOT TYPES
➤ Below shows a medium shot from ‘The Wedding Shop’ and
how I have filmed my footage in a way to reflect this.
➤ By framing a mid shot of Clorese creates a clear mise-en-
scene of the shop, showing her location with the background
of a rack of wedding dresses

10. THE USE OF SOUND IN MY DOCUMENTARY
➤ I used non diegetic music added over the top of my narration and
shots. By using dainty, happy and upbeat music provided a good
background to my content and did not overwhelm or distract
viewers from the footage shown and the narration heard.
➤ I found the music I wanted on Youtube and used KeepVid to
download it and place over the top of my content - all music used is
copyright free
➤ The music used is similar to the background music in
documentaries such as ‘The Wedding Shop’ conforming to the
conventions set

11. MUSIC USED IN MY DOCUMENTARY
Dog and Pony show linked here. This music has
connotations of ballet music which is typically very
feminine, girly and dainty - therefore a reflection of
the representation of wedding dresses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_dEO4am2YI
Used from 0:11-0:42
Upbeat Instrumental Work music linked here. The
music is quite upbeat and connotes a happy
experience - reflecting a brides typical emotion if
they are engaged and searching for their wedding
dress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmtfhud4cUE&
t=18s
Used from:
0:42 - 1:03, 1:09-1:23, 1:34- 1:38, 2:55-3:32, 3:42 -
4:55

12. IMPORTANCE OF ANCILLARY PRODUCTS
➤ A key convention of documentaries is the use of ancillary
products to support the show. The use of the products are to
encourage the target audience - mine being women aged 16-
30 to engage with the show and promote engagement and
encourage people to watch the show

13. ANCILLARY POSTER
➤ My poster would appeal to the older age range of my target audience
(25+) due to younger people being less likely to buy
newspapers/magazines.
➤ However, if my poster was shown on social media such as Twitter it
may reach a wider audience of younger people
➤ I have chosen to adopt a similar style to other Channel 4 posters to
add to the brand identity and make the poster instantly recognisable.
By following the conventions set by Channel 4 makes the poster look
more realistic.

14. CHANNEL 4 POSTER CONVENTIONS
➤ The use of a Channel 4 logo in the chosen colour theme - I
have used purple as it is a stereotypical girly colour which
creates an feminine association to wedding dresses
➤ The font which has been used is placed on a block of colour,
matching the logo - this is seen in nearly every poster
➤ The posters typically have a web address to encourage
engagement online with audiences
➤ The time of the documentary is also shown - to promote the
show and encourage audiences to watch the show

15. NEWSPAPER DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
➤ After researching I realised the necessity for a good double
page spread with a good copy which can encourage readers
of the magazines to watch the show
➤ I have used images taken from when I got my footage from my
documentary for my ancillary product
➤ I identified key conventions such as using the same font for
the title of the double page spread (DPS)

16. IN CONCLUSION
➤ My main product reflects a lot of conventions set in the genre
such as using upbeat non diegetic music in the background,
the use of cutaways, a narration and certain shot types.
➤ However, I have challenged some conventions such as not
using a presenter and using found footage adding a historical
element to my media product
➤ My ancillary products do use and conform to the conventions
especially my poster as I have used the same layout and
same techniques used in a Channel 4 poster