2. STYLE
First if all, I wanted to get an idea of the style and layout of my documentary. I watched many
documentaries to get an overall idea of the typical layout. I found that they have some sections where
the person being filmed is in front of the camera answering questions, however you do not hear the
question being asked but rather the person answers the question with in the answer.
I also found that they use videos, photos and sometimes writing to keep the documentary interesting.
For example on the documentary âdonât look downâ there is a section where he is talking whilst a
video is being played about what this person does. I think in my documentary I will use similar ideas; I
will have John (my person I am documenting) speaking whilst images are being shown. This is so the
viewer does not get bored of watching a man speaking.
http://www.channel4.com/programm
s/dont-look-down
3. SETTING
I have noticed that obviously the documentaries are set in the areas where the
documentary is talking about. Unfortunately I can not travel back to the 60âs but I
will set out Johns house to portray the effect of a 60âs era. I will perhaps have a
Beatles costume hanging beside him and have him sat to the left of the screen. I
have noticed that in many documentaries they are sat on the left hand side of the
screen. I will use different rooms in Johns house to get the full effect of his life as
this is what the documentary is about. I got my inspiration to change rooms from a
documentary called âBodyshockersâ in this, they change areas to suit what they are
talking about.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/bodyshockers/4od
4. MAKING IT INTERESTING
In documentaries they use clips, videos, photos and many other aspects to
keep it interesting. In the documentary â24 hours in A&Eâ they have
graphic scenes such as wounds and operations. Obviously I will not be
using graphic scenes but I will use other aspects to keep my documentary
interesting. For example I will use images of things john has experienced
throughout his work in the 60âs, I will take photos of costumes that he
has kept from famous people and I will use video clips of the concerts
etc.. he has helped and attended with. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/24-hoursin-ae
5. GENERAL
Overall I have researched the main aspects of a good documentary. Whilst I was
watching different documentaries I came across one that was a perfect idea of what
I would like mine to be like. This was the documentary âTorvill and Dean, the
perfect dayâ. This went through a series of events, emotions and facts to lay out the
perfect day (the day they one gold in figure skating in the Olympics) it had the right
amount of questions and answers, the right amount of images, videos and facts that
I would like to use in mine. My documentary will be a lot shorter but I have a clear
idea of the proportioning of different aspects I would like to use.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=Torvill%20%26%20Dean%3A%2
0The%20Perfect%20Day