1. Type Of Documentary: Lara Croft - That
Thing is a mixed documentary as it features
conventions typically found in this sort of
documentary with a mixture of archive
footage, interviews and voice-overs.
Themes: The most significant theme of this
documentary is PlayStation gaming and
also how Lara Croft has become a virtual
sex icon for some males, the documentary
also talks about how Lara Croft has become
so popular that it has become marketed as
a brand by the media.
Narrative Structure: The Lara Croft
documentary is a single strand narrative as
there is only one story line and also it is a
non linear structure as it doesn't follow a
story line from beginning to end. The
documentary is also closed as all of the
questions were answered at the end of the
documentary.
2. Camera Work: The camera work in the documentary is conventional as in the
interviews they are set up so that the rule of thirds shot is considered, they have
been framed in either the left or right third of the screen and also the eye level
of the interviewees is a third of the way down, disregarding what kind of shot it
may be. They are also framed in either a close up shot or a medium shot. There
is also use of a handheld shot which is done when going down the stairs which
helps to keep the audience engaged in the documentary and makes them feel
apart of it.
Mise En Scene: The Chroma Key is used to edit gaming footage into the
background of interviews and it has also been used to project over the
interviewees faces during the interview.
Sound: There is a voice over in the documentary with a unemotional response
towards the story and may come across as sarcastic, the voice also sounds age
appropriate towards the audience for the Lara Croft documentary. There is
constant gaming/dance music being played throughout the documentary but
then it changes when comparing the character to Madonna.
3. Editing: The most used when editing the documentary was Cut as the
audience didn't get to see the whole shot. Also there was a lot of fast motion
editing in the documentary which I thought kept it to the same theme of
gaming. In one scene the creator of the game is placed in a computer screen
where as others aren't, this is done to help him stand out and look different
to the rest of the people being interviewed and it also has relevance, the
mise en scene was considered a lot in that shot.
Archive Material: There is a lot of archive material used in the documentary
which included; gaming footage, Nike adverts, websites and magazine front
covers. Also there was archive footage of an interview with Angelina Jolie.
Graphics: The graphics are fit for purpose and aren't over the top. Simple
white text and a basic font is used to display the name and description of
each person being interviewed. The end credits roll up the screen in the
same basic font which was used for the interviewees.