1. 1). In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
In order to get an idea of how documentaries
work, we looked at a few documentaries. We
watched Morgan Spurlocks ‘Supersize Me’,
‘Airline’ and ‘A Good Smack’
These documentaries were all filmed differently,
however, they still followed the conventions of
an actual documentary. Documentarians are
often in the habit of going to extreme lengths in
order to persuade us that the footage being
shown is real and unchanged, but, the editing
and voiceovers used can often distort the sense
of realism and verisimilitude.
With ‘Supersize Me’ Spurlock used natural
sound and lighting wherever possible which
added to the technicality of realism.
Furthermore, to aid authenticity and give more
information he added archived footage and
stills. He also did expert interviews to
authenticate the views that he portrayed. In
addition to this, there was text on screen and
labels to convey facts, opinions or just to make
the audience aware of who they are watching.

2. 1). In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
• The conventions that I pulled out from
these documentaries were the uses of
the Camera. There were a range of shots
that included; Long shots/Establishing
shots, Extreme Close ups and Medium
close ups. In most of the documentaries,
the one shot that was common was the
medium close-up. We also used this
throughout our documentary as it looked
formal, and created a sense of authority,
especially when it came to the expert
interviews.
• We did all our shooting with the camera
based on a tripod; this ensured that the
shots were all steady. It particularly
worked well when it came to getting
shots of the college, where we panned
right and left, to show the environment
that we were in.

3. 1). In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
We have placed the
interviewee by their fields of
expertise and have framed the
principal according to the ‘rule
of thirds’.
The principal was looking into
a blank space and answering Our Documentary
our questions, which follows
the conventions of real media
products.
Supersize Me

4. 1). In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Sound is a prominent part of
documentaries. Documentaries
always include background
music, voiceovers, a presenter as
well as diagetic and non-diagetic
sound.
We followed the conventions of
‘Supersize Me’ and used a
presenter as well as the ‘voice of
God’ which means that that on
the narration can be heard and Our Documentary
the narrator cannot be seen. I
believed that this was effective
as the audience could relate to
the presenter and fully
understand the situation in hand.
It also enhanced the actuality of
real documentaries.
Supersize Me