This documentary analyzes the popular video game character Lara Croft and examines themes of feminism in media, the power of virtual reality, and how Lara Croft became a global phenomenon. The documentary uses a mixed format including game footage, interviews, and a voiceover. It has a closed narrative structure and is non-linear and single-stranded. Various camera shots like extreme close-ups and point-of-view are used. Chroma key effects and stock footage from the game are incorporated into the mise-en-scene. Music, sound effects, and voiceover are used to tie elements together. Quick cuts and recurring motifs keep the audience engaged throughout the editing.

1. Lara Croft Documentary Analysis

2. Type of documentary The type of documentary used on this particular episode is MIXED, as game play, interviews and a voiceover is used all throughout the programme.

3. Themes The theme of this programme shows the progress of media, such as feminism and how women are representated in the media, as lara croft is a women and she is being betrayed as a strong women, this is new to the media as she is being shown in such strong way and it usually a male figure being shown this way. For example; the action man and his muscles. This also shows the power of the media as it made Lara croft a phenomenon. Another theme of this programme is virtual VS reality, as the game got made into a film this is bringing the idea closer to reality.

4. Narrative Structure The narrative structure is closed, as the programme doesn't leave you on a cliff hanger, this is because this is not an ongoing situation and it was filmed after the game and the film was made so the public aren't exactly waiting for anything new to happen, it has already happened. Also the programme is non-linear, bits of interviews are all chopped up so the relevant parts of the interviews are played all at different times, they are not in order. Lastly the narrative structure is single strand, this means that the programme is all about one subject.

5. Camera Work Extreme Close up, this shot was mostly used when the interviews were taking place, this is because they want to make a dramatic effect on the emotion used as the people being interviewed were pretty emotionless, close ups and medium close ups were also used when people were being interviewed. When people are getting interviewed they are either to the left or the right this is because there is then viewing space for the green screen. Tilted frame is also used as a documentary use’s a mixture of shots and it makes the programme more interesting to watch. There is also a point of view shot when the game is being played this is because it is like the audience is like playing the game so they get a feeling what the craze is about. Zoom is also used on the magazine headlines to make them more interesting and appealing to the audience otherwise it would just be boring and not appealing so in term the audience would loose focus in the programme.

6. Mise-en-scene A chromokey is used throughout the programme when people are being interviewed, sometimes it is also being projected onto the person who is being interviewed face, this adds more effect to the chromokey, and it creates a sense of the computer game being discussed. The images that were used in the chromokey was all computer/gaming related, this because if people have just started to watch the programme then they will know exactly the type of documentary it is. Another point in why they used the images that they did is because they are reinforcing the topic of programme all the time so the audience doesn't loose interest in the programme. There is also stock footage used of the game so when people are discussing certain parts of the game it can be shown to the audience because not everyone watching it will have played the game or remember certain parts of the game.

7. Sound They use dance music in parts of the programme this is because they are connoting the game, as it is fast and upbeat. They also use sound effects from the game, this is because again some of the audience might not have played the game and don’t know what the sound effects on Lara Croft sound like. Moreover, throughout the whole programme there is a music bed, even when the interviews are taking place, this is because when the music comes in louder its not as much of a shock as music has been quietly playing all through the programme. The voiceover is a young male voice, his voice is neutral and it ties all the elements together throughout the programme, the voiceover is also part of the target audience (someone who has played/plays the game). Madonna is also played just as someone refers to Lara as being Madonna, this is a clever technique as the audience may not realise this but it ties the two together.

8. Editing In this documentary this cuts are very quick this is because any other effect will distract the audience away from the topic of conversation. Also the creator is put in a computer, this is because this singles him out from anybody else who is being interviewed, there is also special effect on the character. There is also fast motion when the person is walking into a cyber cafe, this is a common effect for when people are travelling, this is because if it was normal speed then the audience would loose focus in the programme but sped up its only about 2/3 seconds long. Also the programme kept returning to the same part of the game, this is recurring motlife, they did this because this is familiar to the audience and they wont loose interest because they don't know what is going on. In the programme game footage and film footage are played at the same parts against each other, this is because it is kind of suggesting which is more popular, the reality or the game world

10. Lara Croft the movie footage

11. Websites

12. Angelina Jolie stock interviews, poster behind them, this is set up.

13. Magazines

14. Adverts

15. Nicki advert.Stock footage is used because it makes the programme more interesting and when people are talking about certain parts or the movie or the game it can be shown. Archive material ties the whole programme together.

16. Graphics When people are being interviewed their name and relevance to the subject is under the face, the name is bigger than the relevance, the text is white and plain, this is used because then the audience know straight away who they are and what they are going to talk about. There is also a copyright on the nicki advert “that thing”.