2. OPENING SEQUENCE
This opening sequence shows the main perspective of this documentary. The main point is showing
the comparison between people who are really big in weight and people who are really small in
weight. This opening sequence shows the comparison and allows the audience to gather an idea of
how the programme is going to work. This documentary is a reflexive documentary because it is
very obvious that it is being documented. By having this type of documentary it means that the
people involved in the documentary are able to take part and show their opinions. Additionally by
having an opening sequence like this, the audience can see straight away that it is quite an open
documentary and the opinions and activities going on throughout it will be fairly full on as the
people who are being filmed know that it is being filmed and are ready to participate. It does
however allow the audience to create their own opinion on what looks better, being super size or
super skinny. They can then adapt their opinions throughout the programme and see how each
person copes with their size issues.
3. Dr Christian Jessen is the presenter of
this programme. By having someone
who has a professional opinion
present this show it means that the
audience find it more believable and
are more trusting with the
information being shared on the
programme. He is also a likeable
character, which again influences the
audience into watching the
programme more because they like
watching what he does with people
and listening to what he has to say. It
is important to include professional
opinions because otherwise the whole
programme doesn’t make really make
sense. The people who are in the
programme need to ensure that they
are being given the correct
information and not just an opinion.
Documentaries are supposed to be
factual so by having a Doctor on it, it
4. This sequence of the documentary shows the
audience the contrast in each persons lifestyles
and bodies. This shows how much he eats and
how little she eats and exercises. Because
there is such an extreme contrast with the two
peoples lifestyle this creates a shocking affect
on the audience because of how different they
are. It is clear to see why both of them are at
the size they are which is portrayed to the
audience in this scene. The producer will have
done this again for the effect. When there are
things that are completely different it creates
an effect on the audience because they are not
used to seeing such a difference. It allows the
audience also to become more personal with
the programme because they can compare it to
their lifestyles and their diets. By being able to
understand these people lifestyles it means the
audience can put them into perspective and
compare it against not only each other but
5. EATING DISORDERS
The final scene of this programme is about a girl who has eating
disorders. Eating disorders are a massive problem for teenagers
nowadays. In this documentary they have a final scene which is based
around a girl who has suffered from an eating disorder. There are
flashback clips of her when she was going through her disorder.
Additionally there are bits of text going over the screen to show the
facts of eating disorders. Including things like this in a documentary
emphasises the factual side to this programme. This will entice the
audience into continuing to watch because they can become more
personal with what is being shown on the programme. Additionally it
is a real issue that goes on daily, so this means that they are not only
highlighting the fact of eating disorders happen, but they are also
influencing people away from it.
6. MISE-EN-SCENE
The producer of
this documentary
has used a long
shot in part of the
starting clips. The
programme is
called ‘Supersize
VS Super skinny’,
so they want to
focus on the parts
of the title. By
using a long shot it
shows the audience
the full picture of
what it looks like
being overweight,
and the audience
can clearly see this
The producer uses a swipe edit. At the
start of this edit it is a woman in America
talking, then it quickly changes to a man
in the UK. The producer uses this editing
technique because they want to
emphasise that obesity is not only
massively affecting the USA, but it is also
causing a massive impact in the UK. This
edit is similar to something in a
children’s film when they move from one
place to a different part.
7. MISE-EN-SCENE
The people who are involved in the
documentary are dressed pretty much
naked in nude coloured underwear. The
producer has done this to emphasise the
actual point of the programme. You can
clearly see their figures in the shot and it
reflects on the name of the programme
because us as the audience can see the
The mise-en-scene in this show
has made Christian the main
focus of the shot, however in the
background it is clear to see that
there are people eating unhealthy
food. The producer has decided
to do this because of the theme
of the programme. It shows 2
polar opposites. Christian being
healthy and a Dr and the two
people behind him eating
unhealthily and looking slightly
over weight.
8. MISE-EN-SCENE
The producer has used a close-up in
this shot to convey to the audience
how the woman in the shot is feeling.
Because it is so close to her face it is
clear to see that she is upset and the
audience are more able to connect
with her because of the reasoning for
The producer has filmed this section
of the documentary like this as the
lighting is dark on his face. This is
because he is talking about a
negative subject that has a negative
impact on him and his health. If he
was talking about something more
positive it would mean that he
would have more light shining on
his face to show that it is positive.
The producer has done this for a
reason to create a lower mood to the
9. MISE-EN-SCENE
This shot used is a focus shot. The
pizza is the main focus of the frame
and the man is in the background.
The pizza is the main focus of this
image because it is not what she is
used to eating and he is in the
background because it is what he
usually would eat.
10. SUMMARY
Over all, in this documentary it is clear to see that this is a reflexive
documentary. The presenter is involved throughout the whole of it
and he really gets involved with what the people who are involved
have to say. Additionally the people who are starring in the
documentary are open and honest about what they think and how
they feel. This is important because for people to believe it, then they
need to see it. One of the main focuses of this programme is to
promote a healthy lifestyle and by using people who are completely
different to contrast against each other. They have included real facts
throughout the whole of it as well as some opinions. They have not
only focused on the people who are concerned with their weight, they
have also spoken to people who have had some sort of experience
with food or eating.
