A level media coursework- Type 1 Documentary

1. Media Coursework- research
Sophie Rebairo

2. Chosen Brief
• My chosen brief is number 1: Television and online.
• To create a TV Documentary for BBC Three, as part of an independent
media production company. My target audience is a socially-
conscious, 16-25, middle to upmarket demographic.
• The opening sequence must be no longer than three minutes.
• There should be a voiceover, or diegetic voices that fit well with
edited music.
• The documentary must include at least two characters representing
two different social groups.
• Two different uses of mise-en-scène.

3. Genre conventions for Television
• Usually the programmes are around an hour or less. (Excluding the films shown
on television channels)
• Capture audiences attention to make them want to watch multiple programmes
in one series, for example TV Dramas.
• A title sequence of some kind, often with music, to introduce the audience to the
name of the show.
• A summary of the specific programme or snippets from all shows across the
series, and then an introduction to the content for that week.
• Most often the programme (whichever type or genre), will air on TV at the same
time every week. Sometimes with a repeat showing on a +1 channel.
• Most commonly, there is the opportunity to find a missed programme through a
‘Catch Up’ service, e.g. BBC iPlayer.
• Credits at the end telling people who was involved in the programme, from the
people on screen, to the directors and people behind the cameras. The credits
run through on a black screen or while the end of the last video clip is playing.

4. Typical conventions of a Documentary
• Voiceover- is usually authoritative in some way, encouraging the audience to think the voice is of a specialist or has ‘the right’
opinion that people should listen to.
• Real footage of events- there are debates but a documentary is essentially seen as non-fiction, all events presented are supposed
to be ‘real’. The aim is to convince the viewers that the footage is real and unaltered, although editing and a voiceover can affect
the ‘reality’.
• Realism- natural sound and lighting help to achieve this.
• Archive footage/ stills- to aid authenticity and add further information.
• Interviews with ‘experts’- develops the views expressed in the documentary, makes the show’s argument more approved or
believable for the audience.
• Use of text/ titles- the use of words on screen anchors people in: images, labels, dates etc. they are mostly believed without
question and are an easy way to convey information.
• Sound (non-diegetic music added)- the use of non-diegetic sound or music has certain effects, sound can be used as a bridge
between scenes. Sound effects can also be added to enhance the topic, but isn’t for comical effect (documentaries are often hard
hitting, and based on serious topics)
• Set ups- reconstructions of past events, and also setting up ‘typical’ scenes. Strictly speaking this is not ‘true’, but a way of getting
footage that may have been difficult to obtain ‘naturally’. However, there is an issue here because if many set ups are used there
will only be images of ‘reality’ that the audiences already recognise (possibly confirming stereotypes) and producing new ideas
about ‘reality’ will be impossible. The problem is, radically different images may be rejected as atypical or ‘unreal’ but opinions
cannot be changed just by viewing what people already perceive as ‘reality’.
• Visual coding- e.g. mise-en-scene and props, is the characters’ role doubted if not in an accurate costume?

5. The House Style- BBC Three
• BBC Three produce many documentaries about many different topics.
• Opening BBC Three title shown immediately before documentary start, with the BBC logo in the top left corner. (With ‘BBC Three Presents’)
• Summary of the documentary or the highlights, before the title of the documentary is put on screen. Summarises what the programme will be
about and gives the audience an understanding of the topic before watching the whole thing- gives the audience the choice to watch it all or not.
• Text on screen to accompany the visuals, e.g. names of the interviewees.
• A voiceover if there is a presenter, or text on screen similar to what a voiceover would be saying.
• Often presented by Stacey Dooley, she appears to host many of the documentaries on the channel.
• The channel’s target audience is adults between the age of 16 and 34. As this is quite a large age range some documentaries are able to target a
smaller bracket within this. For example one recent documentary Boys Banged Up would typically have a more male demographic compared to
Nudes4Sale, both of these are likely to be for over 18s due to their explicit nature.
• There is BBC iPlayer where people can re-watch documentaries that have already been on TV, or watch them for the first time if they missed it’s
airing on the BBC Three channel.
• If there is a presenter, their name often features in the title of the documentary or they will introduce themselves to the audience; just before or
just after the documentary title appears.
• If the documentary is filmed in a specific location there is usually some footage of the travel to get there. This is the presenter sitting in a car or
driving themselves there, a plane landing on a runway or the road up to the building where the filming is taking place. Or the presenter at the
end coming away from the chosen setting.
• The presenters on BBC Three are more natural looking. We can assume they are wearing make-up but more naturally, very few are wearing
extravagant make-up with bright colours. Their clothes and hair aren’t flamboyant either, connoting the more serious nature of the
documentaries.
• There is generally a summary of everything shared in the documentary at the end, if there are people involved there is information on how they
are months after the majority of the documentary was filmed (may be after a certain number of months of recovery).
• The presenter (definitely Stacey Dooley) gets involved with what they are investigating and takes part in it. This can be by wearing a certain
uniform, helping out with the jobs of the people in the documentary; or getting involved in the key aspects of the topic so they can give their
own personal opinion when on the ‘other side’ of things. This gives the audience a view from someone we trust, who we believe are reliable and
a modest, well respected individual.

6. The target audience
(A socially-conscious, 16–25, middle to upmarket demographic)
• The ABC1 social demographic contains the upper-lower middle class, from high administration jobs to a more junior administrative professional.
This grouping by the National Readership Survey (NRS) is based on different social status and income. Due to their affluence ABC1 consumers
are more interested in premium products, as well as more sophisticated activities in their free time. They are more actively spending, this age
group like to go out often and will go to upmarket and expensive places.
• The socially conscious members of society are those who are more concerned with ethical issues. This may be globally- climate change, or
ethical food production- buying organic food instead or free range eggs as they know this food is produced ethically. 16-25 aged people are
typically into beauty, one way the target audience would be different in this area to other 16-25 year olds, is by checking their products to
ensure they do not purchase anything that has been tested on animals.
• This age group are likely to share their socially conscious attitude by encouraging others to buy similar products, most often through social
media. Today it is very easy for people to record themselves using a certain product, their recommendation mean people that do not fit into
this category would be more likely then to buy a product that is ethically better rather than cheaper.
• People who are not socially conscious would look up to anyone who they deem to be this way, that they respect. This can be anyone but is
usually celebrities, as we want to be similar to the people we believe are good and well thought out. One person that could inspire others in the
documentary genre is Stacey Dooley. All of her documentaries tackles serious topics, mainly ethical, she usually gives her opinion too while in
the filming locations. Her view is important as she is socially conscious and has that celebrity status that influences many people to follow
others’ actions.
• BBC Three create lots of documentaries on ethical topics that would appeal to the socially conscious demographic. Some more specifically
targeted at the chosen age range is the ones about fashion and social acceptance. These shows that are designed to help people recognise that
it is good to be different, is an important message to get across to 16-25 year olds- this is the age group that struggle most with self confidence
and identity. Jesy Nelson’s Odd One Out is a great example of how a celebrity that this age group would like and recognise, has shared the idea
of acceptance that people would follow due to her fame and high social status; she is an inspirational figure to many 16-25 girls.

7. Representation of different social groups
within Documentaries
(Your product must include representation of at least two different social groups )
• The representation of different social groups depends on the topic of the documentary, as different groups
are represented equally unless there is a specific focus on their ethnicity or gender, for example. Age is the
only social group that is often represented very stereotypically with the youth as uninterested in society,
antisocial and involved in hair and excessive make-up. There are many war documentaries that displays the
elderly as amazing, throughout their lifetime and at an older age; this is often not the case with teenagers
and young adults. The stereotype of women as inferior to men is changing and this is shown, lots of different
ethnic groups are also often included in modern documentaries. The different social groups: youth and
elderly, black and white, male and female.
• BBC Three represent different social groups without having an opinion either way or influencing the
audience’s thoughts about a specific group of people. The presenters are often very open and honest with
the people they are interviewing, and express an understanding rather than judging them. Therefore, due to
this style of documenting the topic, stereotypical representations of certain social groups are not commonly
shown. The producer offers a platform of acceptance regardless of the social group of the interviewee.
These representations wouldn’t be classed as new however, they are different to the majority seen in the
media as they are non-biased and non-offensive. Today the media has a more positive outlook on people but
there are still negative representations featured very often, the programmes that appear on BBC Three are
part of the minority that are all inclusive and optimistic towards differences in social group. BBC Three also
challenges stereotypes in the way in which it investigates people of all groups and backgrounds. There is no
direct focus on the documentaries they all cover a variety of issues, with the theme of hard hitting ethics
linking them together. This is important as it allows all social groups to be shown and also disagree with
popular belief about what certain social groups are like and how they act (usually changing negative
opinions into positive).

8. • Escaping Gangs: Death, Jail or Redemption- Ethnic minority, youth and men
The focus is on gangs but this includes mainly men in the ethnic minority groups. Although the overall representation is negative as these men are
violent and have put lives in danger, the documentary focuses on rehabilitating people and trying to move them away from a life of crime. The
costume reflects our visual expectations of gang members: dark clothing, balaclavas and expensive branded items. Their body language seen within
the camera angles also helps us to understand their position within gangs, whether they are in or trying to get out of it. The midshots in the
interviews enable the audience to see these people’s facial expressions and generally the negative image that is portrayed, confirming already
established stereotypes. Despite this, there are some people featured that challenge the stereotypes, their physical mise-en-scene may be very
similar but their attitudes are very different. This difference in belief is displayed by the body language and the cross cutting sequences of them giving
positive advice to others, this beats the stereotypes and shines a positive light on this social group that are most commonly represented negatively.
• Life and Death Row- youth and men
The male youths are represented extremely negatively in this documentary, the two males in the first episode are responsible for murder and are
executed. The association of youths and crime is reinforced by this documentary and meets stereotypes. The costumes
(prisoner uniform) demonstrates the seriousness of their situation, as well as their setting. The holding cells that they
are in during the interviews reiterate how dangerous they are, and the risk that they pose to others. The
representation here is developed by the camera angles, the use of multiple close-ups allow the audience to see the
offender’s facial expressions. From this we can decide whether they are remorseful or not, and form our own opinions
on their punishment or the death penalty in general; if we approve of it or not.
• Beauty Laid Bare- youth, men, women and ethnic minorities
The majority of women in this documentary meet the stereotype while one challenges it. The dialogue is important
but the mise-en-scene makes their view more obvious, mainly in their costume, hair and make-up. The two girls are
wearing make-up and limited clothing such as crop tops which convey the expected image of female youths, who show
off their body (no longer modest like previous generations). The other girl does not wear any make-up and more
conservative clothing, her body language is very mature as she presents herself as interested in the ethics of beauty-
more than the physical appearance that seems to be the focus of the other girls. The men in this documentary
definitely challenge stereotypes in the way in which they also use make-up, and some are part of ethnic minority
groups. The editing puts emphasis on the ignorance of these young people as the cross cuts join together a sequence
of all the people involved in the documentary, they state how unaware they were of the difficult lives of people in
other countries making these products.
• Ultimately, all these different social groups are represented in a stereotypical, negative way. It is rare that alternative
views are demonstrated, and there are very few of these people shown that do beat the generalised, expected image
of their social group.

9. Audience research- creating an audience profile
• Buyers journey – Documentary trailers are the best way for a documentary to advertise on TV, these are played a while before the documentary is scheduled to be shown on a
television channel. These are most often shown during the evenings, the weekdays and the weekend as this is the time when most of the target audience are watching. Those at
work or school are busy in the daytimes and will often spend some time in the evening unwinding in front of the television. A similar time is also applicable at the weekends as
some people have to work weekends too and others will be studying, therefore this window in the evening is perfect for producers to advertise a small section of their
documentary, as well as what time it will be on. We are in a world now where it is very easy for people to record things and watch them on catch up, we rarely sit down and watch
what is currently being shown- something that was previously the only option. If a documentary is a two or three part series it is also a good idea for the documentary to make the
audience aware of this when advertising the second of third one in the series. As we have the catch up feature on itv and BBC iPlayer at the touch of our fingertips, it is really easy
for an audience member to download and then watch the earlier documentaries that they have missed.
Another advertising platform that is relevant to the age group is on YouTube. If the documentary trailer is shown on here this age group are very likely to see it as this is a very
popular source of information and entertainment for this younger generation. Links can be attached onto the documentary from here and then people can click it very easily and
be taken to an iPlayer service, the documentary’s website or another similar site with lots of information sources. Googling the presenter or documentary title is often what people
do to find out more information about it as well as when it is on. Another thing a member of the target audience would do is google the topic of the documentary to see if it would
be something that they would be interested in, instead of watching the first five minutes to see if it is something for them. An older generation might look through a TV guide, 16-
25 year olds are less likely to do this, however they make look at a digital version of this https://www.tvguide.co.uk/ .
An audience member is able to explore their options when deciding how to watch the advertised documentary. Although most documentaries are predominantly shown on TV,
there is the choice of timing. You could watch the documentary at the time it is on, record it and watch the programme later, or on a catch up facility. This means that the audience
can choose themselves how they consume it, as well as being able to watch the documentary on other devices (a smartphone, laptop or tablet) when accessing on catch up. The
final element of persuasion to make people take the move to watch it or schedule a time to watch it later on is most likely from something in the documentary trailer. An insight
into the main topic or the main conspiracy theory for example could grab people’s attention, or possibly one line at the start or end that hints at the main occurrence or height of
interest of the documentary. The specific director or presenter can be of interest if it is a famous name, if people like them and the work they do it will encourage them to give this
new documentary a go. Sometimes the related website is put on the end of the video too so this is a place for direct research that a viewer could look at to persuade them that the
documentary will be something of interest to them and the rest of their age group. Word of mouth is the best type of marketing, if a friend thinks it will be interesting and plan to
watch it, this could make someone sit down and watch it too.
• Psychographics and demographics – The Demographic of my target audience is a socially-conscious, 16–25, middle to upmarket group. As this is quantitative data it does not give
a huge insight as to the detail of each audience member, it is important to look at this specific demographic before going into more depth with psychographics. This age group is
youthful so much more used to technology, as they’re concerned about social issues they want to make a positive ethical impact and create change. The upmarket demographic
places the target audience in the ABC1 category, these people usually spend more money generally and spend more money on luxury items or experiences. Under the advertising
agency Young and Rubicam, they created a list of categories called the Cross-cultural consumer characterisation. This list puts the target audience in the reformer Psychographic
category: (freedom from restriction, personal growth, social awareness, value for time, independent judgment, tolerance of complexity, anti-materialistic but intolerant of bad
taste. Curious and enquiring, support growth of new product categories.) Their opinions, beliefs, values and interests are the focus when thinking about how the documentary
would apply to the right psychographics. These people are ethical and socially aware of global issues, therefore their psychographics are heavily related to how they want to
improve all the lives of others as well as the animals and nature on a worldwide scale. Their opinions are for equality and letting everyone experience their full potential, they are
going to want to see a documentary that reflects a positive outlook on an event or a calling for optimistic alteration to a current problem. Their beliefs and values would be very
similar as this group of people are wanting a fair life for all, their beliefs are strong and so are their values- both supporting what is morally right. Their overarching interests are for
social change and also a change in people’s attitudes towards doing the right thing. This is what they want to do themselves and inspire others to follow suit.

10. • Aspirations and Needs – The whole target audience would want money, but the 18-25 band within this group are most likely to need the money. This age group
are usually, going to university, moving out, trying to find a fulltime job, or starting to think about paying off their student debt; therefore money is more essential
for this group of people. The under 18 category are most commonly wanting money or working a part time job to earn money, for luxury items or experiences in
their free time. The aspire to make a difference is very predominant in this age group as these are all the younger people in society, the people that are very able
to make change. This generation can influence many older and younger to do the same and make positive choices to alter the issues we all face, this is most likely
to be an ethical resolution. These people are socially conscious, therefore aware of the problems across the world that people and animals face, even if it doesn’t
directly apply or affect them. There is no specific age within this category that could make more effective change, take Greta Thunberg for example. She became
an environmental activist making change at 16, proving it is possible for anyone. As this demographic are middle to upmarket they are less likely to want fame
because of money, as well as being a celebrity due to their socially consciousness. These type of people are not interested particularly in celebrity culture and
would prefer to be successful rather than famous. The only reason they would want fame is in order to make a difference, they are likely to look up to famous
activists because of the changes they made (such as Emmeline Pankhurst and Nelson Mandela) not because it boosts their social status.
• Info and Media Diet – The general place for this age group to get information is off their phones through social media, compared to an older generation that are
more likely to actually watch the news on TV. There are easy ways of accessing the news online or through news apps on a smartphone that can be downloaded
from the android or apple app stores. Many articles online inform this age group about a variety of different topics, this is easy access which is why it is very
popular and can be read across several types of devices. Due to a technologically changing world, digital reporting is now becoming more favoured than print
journalism; this age group are highly unlikely to read a newspaper but would happily read the exact same articles online. Magazines are still purchased but the
printed versions are becoming less and less fashionable as it is quicker and more sustainable to subscribe to them digitally. As the usage of social media is
growing, 16-25 year olds get the majority of their information from this source. Social media influencers are the modern day celebrities that everyone wants to
follow and be like, especially characters like Emma Watson for this demographic as she is an activist mainly fighting for gender equality. Broadcasting information
is still relevant as thousands of people watch television, however this is becoming less and less important. This age group usually uses other sources to watch
programmes, such as Netflix, despite having no adverts this is still a useful tool. Information can be passed through the messages in the TV shows, documentaries
or films and the topics they address. This may be a different way of presenting information but this media form is extremely important to this age group as this is
a facility that some individuals use almost every day.
• Competitive Set - The older generation are less likely to watch BBC Three shows, as this channel is aimed at a younger target audience. This is evident in the style
of programmes, not just documentaries, in addition to the most common presenters: Stacey Dooley and Reggie Yates that are quite young. They both talk in a
more modern way which is appropriate for younger adults, compared to their more sophisticated older parents for example. Whereas on other channels with a
mature adult audience-such as BBC Two, Louis Theroux presents as he is older and his style is more established and therefore more suitable for the older
population. While this age group may be more likely to watch reality TV programmes on Netflix, due to the social consciousness of this particular demographic
this is not the type of entertainment they would be interested in. As these people are passionate about ethical topics they are more likely to favour watching
documentaries, more educational programmes that have more purpose than entertainment. Documentaries are designed to inform people and most often
discuss controversial or hard hitting topics- the change that these people believe is necessary to a better world. Whereas older generations could still be
interested in watching informative programmes and documentaries, this is most likely done on other formats such as Sky or Virgin through the actual TV package,
instead of Netflix which requires an extra monthly subscription. The streaming idea of Netflix is something that doesn’t hugely appeal to an older audience who
would still watch DVDs such as the Blue Planet box set instead if they wanted to watch a documentary series that was no longer being shown on TV.

11. Validating data
I conducted an online survey to see the specific interests of my target
audience. In this I asked eight questions ranging from; their age, their
beliefs on social representation, ethical concerns and preferred
documentary categories.
I had survey responses from people in all my age categories: 16-17,
18-20, 21-23 and 23-25. I also have had all gender options included in
my survey (male, female and other).
I received some very interesting results. The most popular presenting
style was voiceover. However, only a slightly smaller proportion of people did
not mind whether the presenter appeared on screen, aurally, or not at all
(using text on screen instead).
Despite how far we have come as a society, the majority believe there is still
a misrepresentation of different social groups. Therefore I want to reflect
these results in my documentary, which is why I plan for my topic to be
about defeating these stereotypes still found in the media.

12. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Other
religion
psychology
nature
war
history
health
environment
art
science
technology
crime
make-up/ beauty
fashion
sport
Documentary topics
The most popular choice by far is obviously crime, followed by psychology and science. This is important as I can see what the most popular
topics are for my age group, which will ensure that my documentary is suitable to the target audience and will interest them.
I asked what people’s favourite documentary was or one that they have watched and enjoyed. The most popular answers were Blue Planet
and Planet Earth. Some of the others were: Making of Thriller, Inside medicine, The history of Britain by Allan Marr, Trial by media, Last Dance.
the Michael Jordan documentary, Ted Bundy tapes, A new drug for cancer, Charmed by Darkness, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Next goal wins,
Life and birth, Secrets of the solar system, One born every minute, Before the Flood, crime and mystery: Madeleine McCann, Blackfish, Life in
North Korea, Tiger king, 999 on the front line, Louis Theroux’s documentaries in America. This will help with my research as I can watch some
of these documentaries, to understand the kind of things that people actually enjoy within them (rather than just the topics).
People chosen each topic

13. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Other (please specify)
Fast fashion
Homelessness
Poverty/ world hunger
Animal Rights
Human Rights
The environment
What social issues are you concerned about?
This proves that my target audience are most interested in ethical issues that affect people. I plan on reflecting this by
focusing my topic on something related to humans rather than nature or animals.
70% of people said they would turn off the documentary if they were not interested within the first few minutes. This has
proved to me that my documentary needs to be engaging with the audience straight away. If my three minute opening
sequence does not stimulate them, then there will be no hook to make people watch the rest of the documentary.
Overall, the general response I got from my survey was that people believed that different social groups are still
misrepresented. The majority of people are interested in crime, therefore I will look into topics relating to this and my
realistic options when it comes to filming something that will not put me or others in danger.

14. Reggie Yates: Life and Death in Chicago
• This documentary was made in May 2016, it is about gun violence in America and more
specifically Chicago. Reggie Yates shares his personal opinion of being empathetic with the
families who has lost people but doesn’t influence the viewer’s opinion in the way of police brutality- who is at fault?
• The credits are simple, white text on a black background, conventional to most documentaries where they move up the
screen from the bottom to the top. The music throughout is instrumental and non-expressive or sensitive to the topic. The
whole documentary is factual and there is no manipulation by the director to persuade the audience to either side, the
black victims or black criminals vs the brutal white police officers or misunderstood white fighters for protection. We are
more likely to have empathy for the black victims than the police officers but this is due to our natural emotion of
kindness, not something forced upon us and encoded by the director.
• There are a wide range of questions asked, mainly about police brutality and shooting victims. Most of the questions
Reggie asks are factual and are trying to get information from the interviewee for the documentary. He expresses no
personal opinion or belief when talking to people, this allows the audience to have their own thoughts. “Has there been
any change?” and “how old were your children?” are simple questions with simple responses, the interviewee often
portrays their emotion which is carried to the audience but the presenter does not replicate this. This is important as then
the target audience are able to question their own morals and values as to what they think about each side on the debate
and if they would support one more than the other.
• At a few points he does express a reaction, one of these is shock, but that is completely natural as he is observing an
appalling incident, as an audience member we react in exactly the same way- in horror. Throughout the documentary
Reggie does have times where he is directly talking to the audience and he does share his thoughts, however these are not
influential on the audience due to the way he shares them. He talks about personal worries and beliefs but does not share
an opinion particularly on the white police vs black people battle as to who he supports most. This is evident in his
statement “the problem is that everyone feels like the victim in this situation”, he addresses the views of both sides
without agreeing or disagreeing with one of them. Part of the documentary is also dedicated to black on black shooting,
indicating a fair non-biased opinion presented. The responsibility is handed over to the viewer to decide which side of the
argument they fall on, Life and Death in Chicago gives all the information to let people determine their own views
themselves- even without an obvious preferred reading directly imposed on to the audience.

15. This still from the documentary is when Reggie Yates is interviewing Reverend Catherine Brown.
Micro elements- This is a very sensitive scene therefore there is no diegetic or non-diegetic music. There are some interjections of the sound
and footage of the video clip that they are both watching, however this does not come in while either of them are talking. Both sets of
videos in the programme are placed in a sequence not combined simultaneously, emphasising the importance of each individual element.
With the editing, only simple cross cuts were used. The type of edits are important here as it encompasses the emotion of the scene, this
was a very serious conversation therefore elaborate editing such as montages or fades would not be appropriate or fit the mood. The
editing is between the two of them talking and the previously recorded footage from the police car, there are limited changes apart from an
occasional change of camera angle. The camera work is important as it allows us to focus in on the conversation between Reggie and
Catherine in between the other video. As they both walk through the house they are followed by the camera to create a tracking shot, until
they reach the kitchen where the interview starts. The first close-up is not of any face but Catherine’s hands to indicate how she is holding a
tablet to show the footage to the presenter, this is useful as we understand that their comments and conversation is from the same footage
that we are seeing too. The original close-ups of them both individually moves to a midshot as Rev. Brown uses more body language,
demonstrating how she reacted on the night of the incident. The following over the shoulder the show invites us into the conversation as
we are able to see Reggie’s face and his thoughts to what she is describing to him. The camera angle then changes to a two shot so we can
see both people in the scene, despite still being able to see both of them the wider previous shot moves to a mid shot as they are close
together we can see both of their facial expressions at once. This is effective as it gives us a stark contrast between Reggie who is completely
surprised, compared to Catherine who is now desensitised to the violence she is witnessing. The pan between the two as they are talking
after the video has ended proceeds the wide shot we then experience. As Reggie’s voiceover can be heard we transition to a wide shot, this
indicates that the conversation is continuing but we are no longer part of it, instead listening to the information that is now being presented
to us about the charges placed against her.
Mise-en-scene- Reggie’s body language is very different to that of
Catherine’s, she is almost emotionless at this particular point as she
simply recalls the nights’ events. Her face implies a sense of agreement
with Reggie who he is hunched over her watching the video, his facial
expressions of his mouth open and jaw hanging down demonstrates
the obvious shock at the horrible scene he is witnessing. They are
currently in her house which is located in Gresham, an especially
dangerous neighbourhood in Chicago. There is natural lighting
(not high or low-key), as they are in her house and he is positioned
on the left due to the importance of his reaction in this shot (left-rule).
Both are dressed naturally in their plain casual clothes with natural
hair and make-up, this then resembles the type of conversation they
are having. Distracting clothes or bold make-up would detract from
the seriousness of the scene’s topic. Plain clothes
Natural
make-up
Natural
hair
In her kitchenShocked facial
expression
Two/ mid
shot
Hunched over body
language to get
closer to video

16. Branding and digital convergence
• The most obvious digital convergence is the BBC Three logo that is found at the beginning of all documentaries. The
actual BBC logo can also be found on the top left of the screen at all times throughout the documentary and this is
very clear on the website, it is also in the top left in the header of the website. Also at the end of the documentary,
the BBC logo or simply its name in plain text comes on screen too. This reminds people at the end of the documentary
that they have been watching a programme made by the BBC or an independent company and shown on the BBC
Three channel.
• There is no website mentioned or social media accounts at any point throughout the documentaries, at the beginning
or in the final credits. The BBC is an established broadcaster therefore they know that people are aware of them and
their website. The BBC is so well known for general use as well as specifically on BBC iPlayer to watch other shows or
documentaries, that the website is easy to find and people know this. The BBC has been around since 1922,
consequently the website has also been available for much time too. The target audience are educated enough to
know the website address, they are likely to have previously used it in their time in education for articles online and
BBC Bitesize.
• Fans are able to interact on the website by leaving comments in the ‘Contact the BBC’ section of the website. This
allows people to share their thoughts and beliefs of any show that they have watched from the BBC, including
documentaries. As the shows are only put onto iPlayer for a certain amount of time, a comment might be a positive
opinion on a certain show and if the BBC were to get enough of these they would be able to extent the deadline as to
when the show expires and is no longer available to watch on catch up.
• #
• nn
• The BBC resources can be accessed across several different devices. As shows are aired
live on the multiple channels available, people can watch these BBC programs on their
televisions. There is also the BBC iPlayer function where shows can be watched ‘on
demand’, this is the main part of how the BBC have created a cross-media platform. BBC
iPlayer is available on a laptop through the BBC website, but the website can also be
accessed on smartphones or tablets- or through the app that is available to download on
apple and android products.

17. BBC Three website analysis
• Layout- at the top of the website is a menu bar with the logo in the very top left corner. Then the most recent top pick, underneath this is the featured
section, eight of the most popular shows can then be found here. Succeeding this section is a title of Documentaries, Drama and then Box Sets on BBC
Three; all three of these subheadings have an arrow feature so people can scroll further along to see more videos from these categories (as well as
being able to see all of them ‘View All’). Finally, at the bottom is ‘Elsewhere on the BBC’ which displays videos that are located on the BBC that are not
related to the iPlayer page. The footer contains links to other BBC pages and the safety information, nearby the contact opportunity and history of the
corporation.
• The sans serif font style is modern and appeals to the target group. This type of font is attractive to both the younger and the middle aged members
of the audience, as it is simplistic and easy to read.
• The images used are the ‘covers’ of each show, in each the presenter or main characters feature with the title of the programme also across the
image.
• Text can be found under each image, each displaying the information of the type of programme, title, sometimes the number of series and a summary
line of what the programme features. This one line works as a hook to get the audience to watch the show, combining with the image above to create
an anchorage. There are many shows on offer, therefore this one line persuades people to watch that specific programme- over something else.
• The menu bar is located at the very top of the website with the BBC logo on the far left. Next to this is a small picture of a cartoon person in a circle
with the adjacent words ‘sign in’ which then change to ‘Your account’ once you have logged into your BBC account. Horizontally across is a notification
bell, followed by ‘Home’, ‘News’, ‘Sport’, ‘Weather’, ‘iPlayer’, ‘Sounds’, ‘CBBC’ and ‘More’. This section has a drop down menu with more links:
‘CBeebies, Food, Bitesize, Arts, Taster, Local and Three’. A search engine facility for the BBC iPlayer is the last title on the far right. All of these are white
sans serif writing on a black background, the links off the drop down menu are the opposite to the colours above. Underneath the menu bar is a
similar thing that has the iPlayer logo on the left side with other drop down menus further along. The ‘Channels’ and ‘Categories’ contain the types of
channels showcased on the BBC, types of shows, specific features to aid the deaf and blind as well as the other regional parts of the BBC e.g. BBC
Scotland. Next to these two drop down menus is ‘A-Z, TV Guide and My Programmes’, these are all part of the iPlayer menu bar which is a section of
the BBC website.
• The colour scheme of the website is black, white and pink. This is to fit in with the BBC Three and iPlayer logo.
• There are hundreds of videos on the website, by clicking on the images you get redirected to your chosen show. From here by selecting the play
button you are able to watch the programme that was previously on television. This is where it would be possible to watch my documentary.
• Fans can interact with the BBC3 by leaving a comment, this is by going to the bottom of the page and clicking on ‘Contact the BBC’. There are two
numbers; one is for sending a text and the other is for calling, there is also an address if people want to send a written letter. Or by clicking the
‘submit form’ button there is also the opportunity to submit a comment online. There is no obvious place for social media involvement and no
competitions on the BBC3 website. It is possible to share the website but this is in more of a general way rather than through a specific website
function.

18. Menu Bar
iPlayer menu bar
Footer
Videos
Text- headings
Sans serif
font
Leaving
comments
Pictures
Black, white, pink
colour scheme

19. Other Documentary website analysis
The page for Stacey Dooley on the BBC website fits the white, pink and black
colour scheme as her documentaries are shown on BBC Three. Whereas
Louis Theroux’s documentaries can found on a much darker and duller page,
with a limited colour palette. This reflects the older target audience of BBC
Two, compared to the younger adult demographic of BBC Three. The website
features are all the same, in the way it operates- the video links, images and
fan interaction- due to the overarching BBC link that both these channels
share. For example, the BBC menu bar is evident in both, the layout is similar
but the content very different (despite both being documentary presenters).

20. Documentary trailer analysis- ‘Is Britain
racist? Three Brits speak out (BBC Three)’
• This documentary was made in 2015, there is no presenter on screen or voiceover in the trailer.
The title of the documentary can be found at the end, this fits the BBC iPlayer’s iconic colour
scheme as it is in pink on a black background. The BBC Three logo can be found in the top left of
the screen throughout the documentary trailer and then in the bottom left at the end, under the
title. There is a search engine clip in the bottom right, in line with the logo. BBC Three gets typed
into a search engine hinting at the public to do this too, suggesting at interaction between the
media form and the audience- also calling for action by large, flashing neon ‘subscribe’.
• There is non-diegetic music added in behind the interviews and sound effects of the cars and
pelican crossing beeping, as people walk across the road. The editing is simple as there are only
cross cuts included, however this is effective in making the majority of the audience accept the
preferred reading. The simplicity allows more focus to be placed on the content of the
documentary trailer rather than extra effects that have been added to it, taking away from the
seriousness of the topic. The camera work includes a mixture of wide and mid shots, when the
filming is outside and inside respectively. The directors choice of camera angle allows us to give
our attention to both the interviewee and the important setting, the use of a slow tracking shot
towards the end is also effective as we can watch the subject walk and move with her on her
journey. This particular type of shot helps to promote the documentary as we get a sense, as the
viewer, that we can follow these people and get a better understanding of this issue. (Especially
those of us who haven’t directly been impacted by this).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuZbbMOH0Qomedia

21. • All the three interviewees are interviewed in what we believe to be their homes. The first person is sat in front of a book
shelf, this implies that he is educated, therefore we know this is a trusted documentary. Their opinions will be evaluated, so
as an audience we feel more interested in watching to see what message will be displayed. The chosen settings promote
the documentary as the encoded message of racial acceptance is clearly decoded by the audience.
• As there is filming outside the lighting is bright but still natural, when the cameras move inside it is still not bright enough
for high-key lighting it is more natural. The natural lighting reflects how there are many different races in everyday life, if
the lighting was high-key it would appear too artificial and not send the intended message to the audience.
• Each speaker is always positioned at the forefront of the screen, the focus on them demonstrates that they are the most
important thing in frame at that time.
• The make-up, hair and costume is all natural and casual looking. This has been chosen to continue the idea that there are
lots of people from different ethnic backgrounds in any area in everyday life. A casual look reflects this well and makes it
believable to the audience.
• All the three people have experienced problems with discrimination because of their race and beliefs. None of them are
angry or upset they state the issues they have had when they tell their own personal stories. The first man appears deep in
thought by the lack of expression with his mouth and the tilting of his head, not necessarily the most natural position. The
second man is smiling at the points where he describes happiness in the acceptance of him and his faith. Compared to his
later nervousness, as he keeps moving his head and eyebrows up and down as he speaks. The third person also smiles as
she discusses British tolerance, but loses this facial expression as she states how ‘life is getting harder to be a Muslim in
Britain.’
Bookshelf
Tilted
head
Casual
clothes
Natural
make-up
Natural
lighting Middle of frameMid shot

22. How do the BBC make money?
• The BBC’s main source of revenue is the annual TV licence fee,
this is charged to the UK households, companies and
organisations that receive any live television or programmes on demand (apart from
those the age of 75 and over). The fee amount is set by the government and is
accountable for around 75% of the producer’s revenue. This licence allows the viewing of
all BBC programmes, therefore the shows that are sold to the private sector are often
not available for normal license fee payers to watch- unless they pay an additional
amount. This is as part of BBC Worldwide which creates roughly a quarter of BBC
revenue. It sells BBC programmes and services internationally and distributes the BBC's
international news services and BBC World News. The smaller sources of income are
from direct government grants, mostly from the FCO, as well as: DVD or Blu-Ray sales,
merchandise and fees paid by other broadcasters to play BBC content. Their commercial
subsidiaries are also responsible for generating income- BBC Studios, BBC Global News
and BBC Studioworks.
• The BBC promote themselves so we are interested in paying this license fee to watch
their programmes. This is done by social media, word of mouth by the audience and
through the well acclaimed name the BBC have made for themselves over the last 98
years.

23. The rationale and role of the BBC and BBC Three
The BBC’s aim is to ‘enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain by being
the most creative organisation in the world’. The Royal Charter also lays out five public purposes that the BBC stick to.
The organisation has six values, these guide the day-to-day decisions and what they do.
1. Trust is the foundation of the BBC; they are independent, impartial and honest
2. Audiences are at the heart of everything they do
3. We take pride in delivering quality and value for money
4. Creativity is the lifeblood of our organisation
5. We respect each other and celebrate our diversity
6. We are one BBC; great things happen when we work together
The BBC was established in 1922, these intentions help to represent the expectations the audience and BBC have for
their programmes.
BBC Three is most famous for its shows Gavin and Stacey, and Little Britain. They are both the channel’s best
successes with regards to the amount of viewers. Both programmes were originally on Television and can also be
viewed on BBC iPlayer, and on other services such as Netflix. The success of these shows demonstrates that the
audience’s favourite genre is comedy, as both of them fall into this category. However, BBC Three’s worst programme
is also a comedy- Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Suggesting that the audience enjoy comedies but only
those done well, there has to be a certain level of humour for them to be widely watched and enjoyed.

24. One problem the organisation has run into
is the controversy over the television licence
fee. A standard TV licence is currently £157.50,
it allows the BBC to provide a wide range of TV,
radio and online content, as well as how this is
presented to its audiences. The licence fee mean
s that all the BBC's UK services are able to
remain advertisement free.
The BBC ensure value for money so as much money
as possible in invested into providing the best
content and services. This is done by:
• A reduction in overheads
94% of the BBC’s spending in 2018/19 was purely focused on content and delivery. (The other
6% for running the organisation).
• Talent spend reduction
• Reducing the senior manager paybill
• Making overall cost savings.
The BBC is a Public Service Broadcaster (PSB- ownership status), this means they are a non-profit
organization that provides television programmes for the public. They distribute 11 television
channels, regional and for different target audiences e.g. Cbeebies and CBBC. The BBC also
branch out into radio, as well as their educational BBC Bitesize website.