2. Topic
The topic we have chosen to base our
documentary on is the supernatural. As a group,
we decided on this topic during brainstorming,
as it has the most content for us to film.
3. Type
Our documentary will be mixed as it will be a
combination of interviews, narration and
observation.
4. Style
This documentary will be pitched to a wide
demographic as it is a broad topic, and as it will
be aired on channel 4 it will be formal and
sincere, as it is for audiences over 16 and the
topic is serious, also it is post watershed. In
order to do this, we will interview professionals
and people with a lot of knowledge or experience
with this subject. We will also include slightly
less formal elements such as music, cutaways
and archive material in order to maintain the
viewers interest.
5. Channel and scheduling
We have selected channel 4 to air our documentary on as it
has a slightly younger demographic but is still within our
target audience. They also produce a wide variety of
documentaries and shows on a plethora of topics. We
will air this at 9pm as that is watershed and our
documentary will contain some footage that may
frighten younger viewers. Also our target audience will
watch the documentary as this is when the majority
watch TV according to our questionnaire results. We
have decided to hammock our documentary between the
great British bake off and Gogglebox, as these are two
popular shows and thus the audiences will be less likely
to channel surf.
6. Target audience
This would appeal to a mass audience as the topic
could interest anyone. The age range would be
16+ and suitable for either gender.
7. Primary research
For our primary research, we created and then
distributed a questionnaire. Within this
questionnaire, we created both general questions
and questions directed towards the supernatural in
order to help with our documentary. Now, we must
consider who to interview for our documentary, and
we have considered mediums, spokespeople for the
pagan foundation, historians, people in the film
business, ghost tour guides etc. For our cutaways,
we are considering footage from supernatural films,
ouji boards, ghost sitings etc.
8. Secondary research
We will need to research youtube clips, possible
archive material, search engines (Google, Yahoo
etc) and any articles or forums we can find on
the supernatural.
9. Narrative structure
We intend for our documentary to be of a linear
structure as we plan to interview a historian
about the supernatural in historical context. We
also plan to talk about Halloween and
supernatural traditions and how they have
evolved throughout the ages.
10. Outline of content
Interviews, mediums, ghosts, haunted houses,
Halloween and witchcraft/cults, personal
experiences, and then cutaways to display the
supernatural in popular culture
11. Resource requirements
In order to create our documentary we will need a
voice recorder, a HD video camera, a tripod and
interviewees.
