Here I have analysed the documentary Supersize me.

1. Documentary Analysis
Supersize me

2. Type of documentary
 Mixed – this is as it is made up of many types of documentaries rather than just one. It is a
mix of interviews, achieve footage, and observation.
 It can also be classed as a self-reflexive as Morgan acknowledges the camera and provides a
narrative to the documentary.
Themes
The documentary explores many themes such as..
Healthy VS fast food
Dieting and Health
Obesity
Impacts of fast food with manipulation from others
Profit

3. Narrative structure
 The documentary has elements of a open and closed documentary as at
the end of the documentary some questions are still unanswered, for
example, the audience does not get to find out whether Morgan
Spurlock had an interview with the McDonalds worker. The
documentary is however also closed as Morgan completes the challenge
he set out to do and the audience see the end result.
 The Narrative structure is Linear as the documentary is in
chronological order.

4. Camerawork
 Handheld shot - This is used throughout the documentary to make the
audience feel that they are following Morgan Spurlock in his journey and it
also engages the audience. A handheld shot is also used when Morgan is
walking through the streets and when he is interviewing people outside, this
makes the audience feel like they know him on a personal level. A handheld
shot is used to show the footage is original and organic rather than planned
out and specific.
Handheld shot

5. Camerawork
 Two shot - A two shot is used in most of the interviews taken so the
audience can see Morgan asking the questions rather than just hearing
his voice. The audience can also see his expression when he hears the
answers which makes them establish a connection with Morgan.
Two shot

6. Camerawork and Movement
 Establishing shot – Establishing shots are used within this
documentary to set each scene. It is used to show a McDonald's before
he walks into it which shows the audience that he will be going into
there.
 Zoom – Zooms are used various times within the documentary. For
example it is used to show foods on shelves. This is done to give
emphasis to the food being unhealthy, while the camera zooms there is
usually a voiceover which is related to the image shown.
Establishing shot

7. Mise-en-scene
 Hospitals – Hospitals have been used within the mise-en-scene of the
documentary mainly to show the audience the effects of fast food.
 Schools – Schools are used in the Mise-en-scene to make the
documentary seem more realistic as the audience are shown food
which is provided in schools and what children eat in schools.

8. Mise-en-scene
 Business places/ offices– When Morgan Spurlock interviews doctors or
professors of nutrition etc who are helping him in challenge, the
background shows who they are. For example, if Morgan is talking with
a doctor then the background will usually be in a business place to show
who they are.
 His home – We see Morgan in his home when doing his diet, this puts
the audience on a personal level with Morgan as they are going into his
home and getting an insight into how the challenge is causing problems
for both himself and his wife.

9. Mise-en-scene
 Props – Props are used to show the effects of fast food or what the fast
food companies sell. The audience see the sizes of the McDonald's food
and drink portions and see how they have grown overtime. At the end
of the documentary buckets of salt are shown in which Morgan has
consumed, this shows the audience the damaging effects of fast food.

10. Sound
 Diegetic and Non Diegetic
 Diegetic - his voice and characters voices within the scene
 Non-Diegetic - Music, Archive Material, Voiceovers
 Sound effects with animations
 McDonalds song
 Voiceover – The audience hear a phonecall taking place when
Morgan is walking down the street however he is not on the phone.
The clip then goes into him being on the phone.

11. Editing
 Montage editing – Montage editing is used to show different
McDonald's around the world in a quick order. This is used to remind
the audience of the themes of the documentary.
• Cut – Cuts are used between interviews so the audience does not have
to see a blank screen between each interview. The interviews also link
in with each other as the same questions are being asked, a cut is used
to show they are related.
• Fast forward – A fast forward is used near the start of the documentary
to show some people walking into McDonalds and some people walking
past. It shows how popular McDonalds is as a restaurant as many
people are seen walking in to there.

12. Archive material
 News report of snow storm in Texas
 McDonalds adverts/cartoons
 Letters from McDonald's
 Government press interviews
 Cartoons of how McDonald's food is made

13. Graphics
 Name of person being interviewed at the bottom of the screen
sometimes with occupation - This is done to show the audience who is
being interviewed and therefore letting the audience feel like they know
them more by knowing there name.
 Cartoons – Cartoon pictures of McDonald's are shown in between clips
to give each scene a small break. They are also used to remind the
audience of the theme of the documentary. Many of the cartoons are
scary to show the bad effects of fast food.

14. Graphics
 Black lines across eyes to hide identity - Black lines are used in clips
with the public as some people do not want there identity shown
publicly, therefore by doing this they are still in the clip, however there
identity is hidden.

15. Graphics
 Day number – the number of each day is shown at the bottom left hand
side of the page to show the audience what day of the challenge Morgan
is on.