2. Documentary Type
This documentary is classed as a mixed documentary, as it includes
interviews, observational footage, archive footage and a narrator.
Examples of all of these can be seen from the images below:
Interviews Archive Material
Observational Footage
4. Narrative Structure
This documentary is single stranded, as it only focuses on one topic. In this
case it is Kenny Rogers.
It is organised in a circular structure, as it starts off in the present day, goes
from the beginning of his life in chronological order back round to the present
day.
The narrative is closed as there are no more things that need to be said about
him, as it has covered everything up until when it was made.
5. Camerawork
No handheld camera shots used in the documentary.
Movement when a photograph is on the screen, makes it more interesting
than just a still image.
Variety of camera shots and sizes used throughout the documentary, this is to
make it more visually interesting as a result of the variety.
Establishing shot Movement on still image
6. Interview Setup
Interviewee is always sat off centre from the camera, this follows the typical
convention of interviews.
It also follows the convention that the interview is done at eye level.
The rule of thirds can also be applied to the setup, making it conventional.
7. Mise-en-scene
There is relevant mise-en-scene used in the interviews, as you can see from
the image below. A musician is speaking while there is a piano in the
background, this music iconography is clearly relevant to the person.
There is lots of musical iconography in the programme, this signifies a key
theme of music.
Lots of relevant posters, album covers and other things related to Kenny
Rogers.
The lighting is always high key and natural.
8. Sound
Non diegetic music played throughout the documentary, relevant as it is
Kenny Roger’s songs. The volume of the song is lowered when somebody is
singing.
Narration/voiceover style of voice is standard English and it has a
authoritarian tone which makes it sound informative.
The narrator is used to explain, give information and states facts. It also ties
sections together and provides a link/segway.
There is diegetic sound from interviews and live performances.
9. Editing
A cutaway is conventional of a documentary, it cuts away from an interview to observational
or archive footage, it illustrates what’s being discussed and provides variety for the audience.
An example of a cutaway from this documentary is when it refers to Johnny Cash and then
cuts to a picture of him.
Another example is Islands in the Stream, and then cuts to a performance of that and then
finally Kenny discusses his influences, then cuts to a Ray Charles performance.
It mainly uses conventional straight cuts, which aren’t distracting.
Montages are also used, using observational footage.
Interesting transition used, appeared to be like flashing lights. This hints at stage lights which
is to do with Kenny Rogers. Used when starting a new topic.
11. Graphics
The names of people being interviewed and underneath their relevance to
Kenny.
The title of the documentary on the title sequence.
End credits at end of documentary.
