2. Type of documentary
• Mixed – it is a mixture of many
documentary types, as it includes many
styles such as, observations, interviews
and there are elements of mise-en-
scene.
• Also, we see most of the cast members
acknowledge the presence of the
camera regularly.
3. Themes
Obesity
Fast food
Dangers of fast food
Government
Health V Fast food
(binary oppositions)
Manipulation of others
Corporations/profit
Personal responsibility
4. Narrative structure
• Multi-stranded – not just about his story, but America being obese
on a whole
• Linear – the documentary is in a chronological order, this allows the
audience to follow the documentary with ease
• The documentary is both open and closed, as the story is closed
due to his aim at completing his 30 day McDonalds diet is complete
and we understand the risks he may have faced, but it is also open
because the story behind America and obesity is not answered
completely, as there are still questions to be asked on the story
• Propp’s character theory can be applied to this documentary as
Morgan Spurlock is almost the hero, attempting to save the
princess of the USA from the villain that is fast-food and the
industries they are made in.
5. Camerawork
Two shot – these are used to establish relationships between people. In
this shot we notice through the two shot they are quite formal with each
other, as they are sat far apart and upright, rather than slouched, this is
because she is his nutritionist, not a close friend, but an expert.
Hand held & close ups – hand held camera work shows that it is less
professional and made by normal people, this shows that the documentary
affects all people, as normal people are making this documentary as it
concerns society on a whole. Also, close ups are used to focus on people’s
faces to see their facial expressions, thus in this shot we see he is passionate
in his belief fast food is okay alongside exercise.
Establishing shot – this shot sets up what the documentary
will be based around and where the story takes place, this
suggests that the story is about fast food and centres in the
heart of the fast food industry, with Burger King being an
example of this.
6. Low angle – this shot is used perhaps to make Spurlock appear
more powerful, as he can stop eating the McDonalds he is eating
at any time, as he is the one in control. This shot is seen at most
of the times he is eating at a drive through, this allows the
audience to relate, as they too might eat McDonalds at a drive
through.
Mid shot – this shot shows the interview with the expert is
formal, as the camera angle isn’t adventurous and is a very
simple choice, this allows the audience to understand they are
being fed important information at this point as it appears very
formal.
7. Mise-en-scene
This shot shows McDonalds themed items placed in the
background, this anchors how the film is purely based on
McDonalds. Also, their is a Ronald McDonald statue sat down
behind them, this could be done to show that McDonalds is
always present in everyone's life, despite whether or not they
want it to be, reinforcing the values of the documentary.
There are also close ups of fast food, this focuses on the food,
showing how much he will eat and the intensity of the diet.
Their is also the code of attire, which portrays the formality of
the interview, whereby we know that this part is informative
and serious, as he is sat with a man with a stethoscope around
his neck, portraying he is a doctor and is helping him with his
health, making him appear more professional.
8. Through the mise-en-scene, we can see that the room has become
dimmer and the doctor wears darker clothes, this sets the tone for the
scene, whereby it reinforces how Spurlock’s health is becoming
dangerous, as he continues his fast food diet.
We also see Spurlock play with props, that are McDonalds
themed toys, this anchors what the documentary is about, which
is fast foods and the dangers they can bring.
Their are also props of physical evidence of how much
fat he consumed during his diet, this shows the
audience the dangers they could surpass if they lead a
diet as Spurlock had over the 30 day period.
9. Sound
• We hear the non-diegetic sound of Morgan Spurlock’s voice over,
he seems confident and understands the information he gives, this
tells the audience the documentary tells true facts and is
professional, as he is aware of the facts that he states and is sure of
himself. Also, the voice over anchors to what the visuals are on the
screen.
• Their is also non-diegetic soundtrack music, where they tend to
bring humour to the scene. Whereby, when their is filming in
McDonalds childish, up beat music is playing, suggesting to the
audience that McDonalds should only be for immature children
who don’t yet need to worry about their health as much as an
adult, but this music also mocks McDonalds, inferring it is a childish,
petty industry.
• Their is also diegetic speech, this allows the audience to first hand
understand what is going on in the scene before the voice over is
added in.
10. Editing
• This documentary uses many cuts, this allows the film to have a natural
flow, and the audience can easily follow it, without any difficult editing
being used.
• There are also zooms in, of logos of fast food restaurants for example, this
anchors the storyline of the documentary, which is fast food, and also
shows the audience the worse places they could choose to eat, such as
Wendy’s.
• There is also panning, when the camera pans around the food being served in
a canteen of an American high school, this shows how even high school meals
are dangerous, as the government is influenced by cheap and easily produced
fast food.
11. Archive material
They use adverts from television to show how the media is
dominated by fast food advertisements and how it
indoctrinates people to eat their food on a daily basis,
reaching millions of people in America alone.
The documentary uses a government document, stating
the chicken nuggets produced at McDonalds are the
‘McFrankenstein’, as it is made from all sorts of
dangerous ingredients. This portrays McDonalds in a
negative light and mainly dangerous.
They also attempt to find a leaflet on nutrition at McDonalds
and only find it in obscure areas and few McDonalds, this
shows that the fast food industry doesn’t care about the health
and well being of their customers, as they aren’t giving them
the information that they may want, portraying the fast food
industry as manipulative.
12. Graphics
Cartoon visuals are used to show the audience how much
money is wasted on marketing in the fast food industry,
rather than making healthy, wholesome meals for their
customers, thus portraying fast food industries as greedy
and too self involved.
The documentary has the names of people being
interviewed, this makes the interview formal and lets
the audience know that it is professional and
information is being given by an expert.
