Ellens Real media-research

Ellen Bowers Media Studies
Real Media Research
Trailers
Carrie Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-VcPDkTySQ
The chosen movie trailer is that of the horror genre, released in 2013 it hold many conventions
of a horror movie trailer. The film itself is a remake of a horror film first released in 1976 (first
based upon a book written by Stephan King). The first convention this movie trailer follows is
the use of written words within the trailer in order to give a form of narration to the plotline.
This is something that is found in
many horror movie trailers in order to
narrate the story but also to give the
atmosphere that the audience knows
something that the characters within
the trailer do not, creating a feeling of
hopelessness between the
characters and the audience. I
personally do not like this convention,
I believe it tells the audience too much about the plot line and gives the audience opinions
instead of allowing the audience to have their own opinions about certain characters and events
and what they represent within the plot line.
The next convention found within this horror movie trailer is the music played; usually music
found in horror movies is very similar, it is found disturbing by the audience and tells them what
to feel about a certain character of moment in the clip.
In this section of the trailer we see a
woman - who we presume to be the
mother – singing a low paced yet eerie
tune. This allows the audience to have
a set tone for the movie, suggesting
that the movie will hold this atmosphere
throughout. Alerting the audience that
this, if not known before, is a horror
movie. I personally enjoy this
convention as it allows the pace of the
movie to predicted which allows myself to select movies that I will enjoy as sometimes the
speed of which events happen ca effect my personal liking or disliking of a film, using the music
within the trailer as a prediction I can tell immediately whether this is a movie I will or will not
see.

Another convention found within the Carrie trailer is the use of the supernatural as a base for
the storyline.
In this section of the trailer we see the
character Carrie destroy a light by simply
screaming. This highlights us to the fact
that the storyline of this movie will be
surrounding Carrie and her link to
supernatural powers. On the other hand
the convention although is present in the
trailer, it is positions approximately a
quarter way through the clip. This is
unusual for horror genre trailers as usually supernatural storylines are introduced at the
beginning of the trailer, however this may be explained or understood as the movie is a remake
of a previous popular film and book and therefore many people watching the trailer will be
aware of the storyline. I enjoy his convention as I believe it allows the movie to expand in its
possibilities as the supernatural holds no boundaries and therefore the movie can utilise this,
on the other hand the involvement of supernatural can become predicated after a few movies
so it must be done well in order for it to be enjoyed.
The use of religion is also a convention found in many horror movies that is found in Carrie. We
are introduced to this mid-way through the trailer in the form of the mother character.
We see the character praying to
God signifying the religious
element that will be included
within the movie, this is a
conventions found in many horror
movies but in particular ones with
an element of the supernatural as
these two conventions usually go
hand in hand with one another. I
do not like this convention as it
poses stereotypes on characters
which make the plot line
predictable, however this convention in some movies is used well therefore I would not, not go
see a movie simply because this convention is included within it.

Sound bridge is the next convention found in the trailer, many horror movie trailers include this
to frighten the audience and build up tension.
As the majority of film trailers are designed
to be shown in a cinema, the use of a
black screen with sound bridge is used
commonly, especially when there is a
supernatural element involved, as this
created fear once more in the audience
and although they wish not to continue
watching the trailer they are intrigued to
see what can be revealed as the plot
continues. However the use of sound
bridge is usually spoken or used by the
vulnerable character the protagonist; in this case however it is the mother who uses the sound
bridge. This confuses the audiences as throughout the trailer there are mixed messages of
whether the mother character represents a help or a hindrance to the main character Carrie.
The use of this convention suggests to the character will play both roles within the movie. I do
like this convention however once again it is used by many horror film makers, which makes the
use of it predicatable.
The final convention analysed within this trailer is the final title, this convention is used once
again in many horror movie trailer but also within many trailers overall. It allows a sense of
closure for the trailer and once again reminds the audience which trailer they are watching and
that in order to discover more about the movie this must indeed go and watch it.
The use of this convention in the
Carrie Trailer is to foreshadow that
the film does not have a happy
ending; the blood within her name
holds the connotations that Carrie
herself will cause damage and
death along with destruction. I like
this convention as it sets a final
tone for the trailer and will be one of
the main things you can recall about
the trailer which means the connotations of it will help you recall events of the trailer.
*****
The Wolf Of Wall Street trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC7bSzd-eQE

The first convention used that represents each genre that The Wolf of Wall street represents is
Music. Although based as a Drama comedy hybrid genre, there are very clear elements of the
Biographical and crime genre.
The first Music introduction
illustrates that the film would be fast
pace, this is done by using a
soundtrack based mostly on drums
and using it over the top of a scene
of New York city. Manhattan holds
famous connation’s of fast paced life
but it also holds connotations of
crime. This allows the audience to
use the setting of the movie to
predict the type of events and characters that will included in the film. I like this convention as it
does what is discussed above, as I generally know by the beginning of a trailer whether I will
enjoy the entire film or not, the introduction of the setting and the music used is the main
dictator on whether I will go to cinema to watch the film.
The next convention of this trailer is the introduction of the biographical element immediately.
We are straight away introduced to
the main character in the form of a
voice over, this represents that the
film itself will be set out like this.
This allows the audience to
immediately attach to the
voiceover as they are speaking
directly to the audience assisting
us in the narration of the events
which we don’t yet understand.
This allows the audience to feel more informed than the character without the feeling of
hopelessness which is common for most Drama films. I enjoy this convention as it allows me to
understand the events from several different perspectives but also still allows me to hold me
own interpretation of these said events.

A popular convention that is found in many Drama trailers is the use of a famous movie star.
In this case Leonardo DiCaprio is
the main protagonist of this film, we
immediately know this from the
trailer as he is firstly the first
characters introduced and secondly
a widely popular actor within
Hollywood and will therefore be the
main character. The actor is used
in many trailers to set the tone of
the film as many actors hold certain
connation’s themselves. I like this
convention as usually I chose which movies I wish to spend my money on not only by the plot
line but by the actors, many times I have seen movies of plot line is didn’t predict to enjoy and
simply went because I liked the actor. This is why this convention is so popular in many Drama
trailers.
Fast pace editing is something that is used in the wolf of wall street trailer, this helps to
represent the high pace and fats life that the main character ( Dicaprio) is living.
Although the shots themselves are
clear in establishing that the main
character has a large amount for
success and wealth the fast pace
editing allows us to see that this
wealth was gained quickly and
successfully, this allows the
audience to want to watch the movie
as it strays from many other Drama
set films, what is meant by this is that
many Drama films only show the events that lead up to the wealth but this fast pace editing
shows that we will not only see that but its aftermath. I personally like this as it sets the events
of the movie apart from any other film intruding me further into wanting to watch this film in
cinema.

Another convention that is used is the mention of not only the Actors but the Actors
accomplishments in means for their awards.
The mention of awards suggests to
the audience that the film itself will
draw award winning attention and
therefore will be very popular. Once
the audience views the trailer as a film
that many people will want to see it
will make the audience wish to
conform to see the film as well. I do
not like this convention as it draws
attention away from the characters
and instead puts light on the actors and when watching a trailer you do not want this to happen,
you wish to be introduced to the film itself.
The slowing down of the pace to allow the genre of comedy to be introduced.
This is a very popular technique used
in many comedy trailers, the slowing
down of the pace and the lowering of
the music in order to draw attention to
a specific scene or piece of dialect. In
this case Jonah Hill who is a very
popular comedic actor is used in this
scene to show in the trailer that the
movie will hold comedic elements to
it. I like this technique because it
draws my attention to a specific
moment and helps me remember the event after the trailer is done.
The genre of Crime is also shown within the trailer by the use of violence.
This convention is used a lot in Drama
trailers that involve wealth, as wealth
often leads to crime in many movies and
therefore holds connotations of crime.
Fast pace editing is once again used to
confuse the events so you can not
necessarily understand the context of this
violent crime but that you can understand
that the movie holds it. This allows many

audiences to be reached when watching the trailer and leads them to going to watch the film. I
like this technique as I can understand what will be involved when watching the film.
*****
Safe Haven Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQEdUwv0ew
The first convention that I have found is the main protagonist shown in some form of danger of
stressful life situation.
In many Drama-Romance hybrid
genres it is usual that the introduction
to the main character is seeing them in
some form of danger or distress that
foreshows the events to come in the
story, as the camera shows a tracking
shot this foreshadows that the
character is being followed or more
likely chased. More specifically it shows
the vents that the main character most
overcome to succeed. I do not like this convention as I believe it gives far too much information
into the storyline, without watching the film you can predict the outcome.
The next convention used is the diegetic sound of Seagulls, this represents the arrival at the
what can be assumed in the trailer as the ‘safe haven’.
As seagulls are usually thought of
together with the sea, it can be
argued that these birds we used to
show the tranquillity and peace
that this new place will offer the
main character however how easily
it can disappear by the
connotations of birds. I like this
technique because it allows the
audience to understand the events
that are happening in the trailer
without understanding too much of the plot. Allowing the audience to decide for themselves
whether they will enjoy this full movie in the cinema.

The third convention that is used within the trailer is the use of a title screen that described the
context of the film.
By showing that this film is written and
similar to the films The notebook and
dear john the audience can
immediately tell what kind of film this
is as anyone who knows about these
films they are known to be about a
relationship that goes through turmoil
due to uncontrollable events. I like this
technique because I can use my
previous film experience to dictate
whether or not I will like this film as I know now that they will be in fact similar.
The next convention is the introduction of the love interest which will be the main storyline of
the film.
The trailer follows this convention as many
popular romantic drama’s do as my of the
actors used in these films are famous or are
known by many people. They will also help
predict the storyline by their appearance and
mannerisms without, once again, giving the
story line away. On the other hand it is unusual
for the love interest of the main character to be
introduced later in the trailer as they are usually
the main character also. For example Dear John or the Notebook has two main characters
whereas this trailer suggests that only the female in the protagonist of the story. I like this
because it is a change of structure from previous films and therefore suggests that the storyline
may not be as predictable.
The next conventions is props that is found in this trailer, although there are not many props
known to be used in romantic dram’s there are few that are recognised among a few films.
The rowing boat is used in many romantic trailers
as it has grown symbolic as something personal
among the couple. This shows to the audience
that the two characters show a connection and
once again show to the audience that the
romance between these two characters will be
the main plot of the story. I do not like this

convention as it has become a predictable part of romance films.
The final convention I will analyse is the inclusion of the dramatic event within the trailer.
This convention has become common
among romance trailers with the
addition of fast pace editing in order to
stop the audience for understanding
too much context, as if they
understand too much of the plot they
will see not point in going to the film.
However this trailer goes against the
convention a little bit as it shows far
more than many romance trailers do
especially when showing the final events of the story. This is more apparent in thriller movies
suggesting that this film may have an aspect of that genre within it.
*******
Into the storm trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVg8nKNGC5E
The first convention that I found within the trailer was the use of non-diegetic sound playing in
the background of the screen in order to
create a sound bridge.
In this thriller trailer however not only is there
a non-diegetic sound bridge but there is also
an instruction within the trailer to ‘listen’ to
this sound. The sound is of what can be
described as wind or better yet a storm
which progresses into sirens symbolising
dangerous and chaos that will ensue due to
this noise without allowing us to see it with
our own eyes yet. This tells the audience
right away that this sound will be played throughout the film and will play a large role in what the
film itself is about. I like this convention as it tells us immediately what the film is about without
wasting time but it does so by building the atmosphere meaning that the trailer does not give
too much away immediately. The instruction on the screen intrigues you and therefore you wish
to continue watching the trailer.

The next convention found is showing the aftermath of the vents that have taken place within
the film rather than the events leading up to the event.
This is a common technique used in many
thriller trailers as suspense is one of the main
properties of a thriller, if the trailer includes all
the events leading up to the main chaos then
the suspense would be ruined instead the
trailer simply illustrates the aftermath of the
said event which allows a balance between
informing the audience what the film is about
and ensuring that the atmosphere of the film is
kept intact. I like this technique because it
allows me to see if I like the film or not and if
these kind of plot lines interest me without giving too much away so if I went to see the movie in
cinema I would be surmised by these events.
Another convention of a thriller trailer is special effects,
However it is not to say that all thriller films
have special effects because they do not
but how thriller use special effects is a
convention. Thriller trailers show the special
effects as previously discussed as the
aftermath of the built up tension. For
example before we could see these
hurricanes we heard them, this therefore
builds up the tension and expectation of
size and power. I like this convention as it
allows the audience to already fear what
they have yet to see; this not only creates the atmosphere of fear but also of anticipation and
excitement when one can finally see the
source of the chaos.
The next convention is that the characters are
introduced only after the problem is presents.
This technique allows us to attach more to the
situation which in this example is the
hurricanes more than you attach the
characters themselves. This technique Is used

normally in only thriller movies, it allows the trailers to stand out from others and draw the
attention from specific audiences. I like this because it shows that the movie has a solid plot
light that progresses instead of just character progression.
The final convention that I will analyse is the use of a recognisable actor or actress of the genre
as one of the main characters.
Sarah Wayne Callies is an actress
that is known for her role on the
walking dead, many people who
enjoy watching the walking dead will
find interest within this film. The use
of this actress ill draw the attention
of that audience towards the film
allowing them to associate the
actress with both media pieces. I
like this technique as it is normally
easy to tell what kind of film the film
will be by looking at the characters
that can be found in the trailer.
******
Tammy trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8d6Bpl2eAo
The first convention that is found is the use of the introduction music.
As we hear the music before we see the
character we informed that the music not
only illustrates the main character and
her or his behaviour but the tone of the
film itself and the light-heartedness tone
that will remain throughout. This is a
technique that many comedy genre films
use and appears very successful. The
song used acts as a parody to the main
character as we are introduced to her we
see that she is the parallel to the
implications of the song illustrating immediate humour to the audience watching the trailer.

The second convention is the use of Medium shots in order to display the characters
expressions and their appearance without giving away too much of the vents that are taking
place
By using this shot as apart of the
trailer we are able to see the
character but not the events, this
stops the audience guessing
everything that surrounds the main
character and instead just
enjoying the comedy that
surrounds it. I like this technique
because it makes the trailer easy
to watch and you can understand
the main character without having
to pay too much attention to the fine details which shows a positive sign for a light hearted
comedy film.
The third convention that appears in the trailer is the use of the famous actress.
This is popular across all genres
which includes of course the
comedy genre. However this
actress in particular Melissa
McCarthy is very well known as a
comedy actress and has become
very successful across the world
but especially in Hollywood
despite the fact that she goes
against the conventions of
Hollywood. Therefore when she is
seen in a trailer the audience immediately know that the film will break many rules and
conventions and will naturally be successful simply because of her involvement.

The next convention in the trailer is character equality shown by levels and two shots.
Comedy films are well known for not having
too many serious plotlines unless the
comedy is a dark comedy. As this film is not,
it is usually known that there are no serious
character levels within a film, everyone
generally remains equal to each other in
order for the comedy to work, by showing
this in the trailer it shows that the film will
follow these conventions and will not stray
away from them. I like this because you can
simply appreciate the comedy of the film and you don’t have to spend much energy reading too
much into the actions and behaviour of the characters in relations to their growth as a
characters which you do in for example Drama’s.
Another convention is props that are used by the main character.
Many if not all props found in
Comedy trailers are used as tools
to create laughter. In this case the
props used are used to signify that
the main character has been
robbing places while only using
paper bags to hide her identity. The
props found in comedies are simple
usually and can be found anywhere
and by anyone. It creates a feeling
for the audience of real life and
allows them to relax while watching the film.
The final convention of this movie trailer is lighting .
In comedies natural lighting is used
in order to create an atmosphere of
realism which allows the audience
to imagine these actions and
behaviours within the film happen
from day to day. It allows the film to
have a safe atmosphere and holds
the connotations of an easy going
nature which is what many

comedies have. I like this technique because the trailer does not feel artificial and I find it easier
to watch and pay attention. On the other hand it is dependent on the type of humour used to
which type of lighting is used.
*****
Music Videos
Taylor Swift ‘shake it off’ Music Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM
The music video chosen is of the genre of pop and contains many conventions that are usually
found in music videos within this genre.
The first convention found within the
music video is the use of long and mid
shots in order to show the artist and her
environment. As the environment in
music video’s often change frequently it
is common that these shots and
consistent throughout the video.
Another common camera shot found in
music videos is the use of a close up as
it allows the artist to lip sync there song
along with the music played. It is highly
used by all genres but specifically Pop
genre is well known for using this
technique. I like this technique because
although many music videos use this
technique they all use it in different
settings and characters within their
video therefore creating a separation
between all mainstream videos.
Another convention found within pop genre music video’s is costume.
In all music video’s mise-en-scene is used however it
is manipulated is different ways depending on the plot
of the music video. In the case of this video we see
Taylor Swift in many different attires, she is always
surrounded by a group of people wearing the same
clothing. This allows her to show the audience which

group she is a part of which helps to represent the purpose of the song. I like this technique as
it allows the audience to clearing understand the artists interpretation of their own song while
still allowing you to have your own interpretation as you watch the music video.
The next convention is the editing technique of jump cuts
Jump cuts are also a popular technique
within music videos, as it allows the video to
progress in context within the short time it is
set. It also allows the progression of the song
to match the video. I like this technique as
when it is used well keeps the music video
flowing well and also allows me to see a
different meaning behind each verse.
The sudden scene change gives to audience
something new to constantly watch keeping
them listening and watching to the whole
song and video, as the music video has the
purpose of advertising the song it is
important that the music video reflects the
type of audience the artist wants to song to
be listened to by.
Another convention is the use of colour to represent the tone of the song.
The colours used within a music video can usually
predict the genre of the film easily and well, for
example bright colours are usually found in many
pop genre music videos whereas dark colours are
usually found in rock videos or indie videos.
Usually the colours are a way of setting a tone to
the song.
In this video we can tell by the colours that the
music video is one of pop and the song itself is
light hearted, and fun. This can be seen by the
bright colours in the video. I like this technique
because it immediately allows the audience to
know what kind of song is being played.

The final convention is the use of dance within the music video.
Finally this is another very
common thing found within pop
genre music videos, however
many other music videos such as
rock and indie do not usually have
this technique within. This
tehcnique allows the pop genre to
stick out form the crowd and attract
the target audience of perhaps a
younger crowd.
******
Matthew Mayfield ‘Fire Escape’ music video
The first convention found in the indie music video is the use of close ups.
As many indie music videos feature
a form of narrative the use of a
close up allows the audience to
see/ read the emotions on the face
of the artist or characters within the
music video. They are usually used
throughout the video and allow
them to lip sync the song. I like this
technique as we are constantly
drawn back to the source of the
song and the video is not relevant.
The next convention found is the use of narrative throughout the music video.
The use of a narrative in an indie music
video is to tell the context that the song
was written in and allows the audience to
understand more about the artist. It is a
technique popular with all genres however
it is usually used within the indie genre. I
like this technique as it allows the music
video to be different from others and stick
out from the crowd.

Another convention is the use of a guest star to be in the music video in order to promote it.
In this video Brittany Snow features
within the video, this actress is very
popular among the genre of pop as she
has featured in the film ‘ pitch perfect’
and ‘hairspray’. The use for this
technique is to attract a different
audience into watching the video and
therefore taking up an interest in the
artist. This technique is popular across
all genres. I like this convention as it
allows the audience to have a connection
with the video and the artist and take a chance on listening to new music they wouldn’t have
previously.
The next convention is the use of slow cuts for editing in an indie music video.
The use of slow cut editing is used to
show the pace of the music video. It
allows the video to keep in time with the
slow pace music and also the
progressing narrative. This helps
illustrate the mood of the video to the
audience without taking away the
atmosphere set by the music. I like this
technique because it sets the
atmosphere for the video.
The convention of mise-en-scene in regards to the setting of the music video is the next
convention I will analyse.
Indie artists use the setting of their
videos in order to set the atmosphere
for their videos. Most indie videos are
not as extravagant as pop genre
videos and therefore need there
setting to separate them from other
indie videos. The use of colour also
makes the video stand out as the
video is set mainly in black and white
and therefore enhances the use of

the mise en scene within the video. I like this technique because it fits well with the atmosphere
of the video.
*****
Bon jovi livin on a prayer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk
The first convention found in the rock music genre video is the use of live music performance.
The technique of inputting live
performance as the music video of a
rock song is so the atmosphere of
the concert and the band is shown
off the audience. As a music video is
a work of promotion it promotes the
audience and suggests to them that
the band is worth seeing in concert. I
like this technique as we can see
how the band are live as some
bands perform better than others
and by watching the video we are able to see whether the band in question is worth seeing live.
The second convention found in the video is the use of costume.
Many rock bands are known for a
certain look dependant on their age
of fame for example Bon Jovi rose to
fame in the eighties and therefore
are known to wear the attire that was
popular at that time. Fr example
leather jackets is a popular look in
the band’s music videos. This
separates major bands from each
other. I like this technique because if
each band has a district look it is
easier to tell them apart and become attached to a particular band.
The next convention found in this video is the
camera work.
In rock videos there are many close ups of the
band members face along with tracking shots,
this is especially used when the video contains
live footage which the example present does. It

allows the audience to feel like they are there at the concert and see many different angles and
perceptions of the concert. Mid shots are often used as well as a way to introduce the artists. I
like this technique as it adds a sense of difference to the video and separates the genre away
from other ones.
Another convention found in this video is the use of editing.
The kind of editing used within this
video is high paced as it allows many
different kinds of shots that are
discussed above to be used to
create the atmosphere of a fast life
which is the ideology of Rock and
roll. This is a popular technique used
in many rock video’s especially ones
shot in the eighties which this one
was. I like this technique as it shows
the atmosphere clearly and allows
you to feel as our living the lifestyle of the band.
******
Eminem ‘We made you’ music video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSdKmX2BH7o
The first convention found is the use of camera angles.
The close up introduces the artist to the
audience making it clear that it is the artist that
will be the feature of the video. They are also
used to show power which is a popular thing in
many hip hop music videos as they are usually
very extravagant. The power is displayed as
the artist takes up the majority of the screen
and therefore I shown as important and in
charge. I like this technique as you are easily
able to see what is happening in the music video and the purpose it has towards the audience.
The second convention is guest stars of other famous artists
The artist Eminem is in particular known for having the
artist Dr. Dre in his videos as he helped the launch of his
career. Many artists do this to show off there a list status
within Hollywood, another way to show wealth and power
within the Video. It also provides comedy and a joint

interest of both artists therefore helping with promotion. I like this
because it helps to promote an artist and it also when used well can
help the video rise in popularity.
The third convention is the mocking of other celebrities and lifestyles.
In this music video Eminem mocks many
celebrities as these celebrities are being
mocked within the song, the video keeps
in time with the lyrics and as each
celebrity is mentioned in the song they
are mentioned in the video. This
provides comedy for the video and
therefore it is watched more by the
audience which leads to the promotion
of the song itself. I like this technique
because it offers visual and audio
context.
The next convention is fast pace editing within the video.
The editing in this video is fast pace due to the
narrative that flows with the lyrics for example when
Lindsey Lohan is mentioned in the song she is shown
in the video. The use of fast pace editing is used a lot
in hip hop music videos as it reflects to fast life that
these celebrities live in but it also is slow enough to
show the narrative clearing and allows them to
interpret the video themselves.
Another convention is the use of costume.
Costume is used in order to show the narration of the
music, in this case it is used predominantly for the sake
of humour which is a main theme in the music and the
music video. Costume normally in hip hop videos is used
to display wealth and power however in this parody
music video we see a different side. I like this because it

steps away from the stereotype and allows the audience to see something different from the
music videos for a change without stepping too far out of the genre itself.
******
Documentary videos.
"The 16 Year Old Killer" Cyntoia's Story- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLyenhWOwg8
The first convention found in the documentary extract is the voice over
The voice over acts as a natural party
within the documentary and is there
simply to inform the audience about
the events and happenings within the
program, they aren’t supposed to be
used in order to sway the opinion of
the audience, simply to inform. The
use of a voice over makes the
documentary seem more professional;
as the documentary is shown of BBC
three it must remain informative and
professional. I like this technique
because it allows all the events to be told without having bias, which means I am able to watch
the events for myself and make judgement how I see fit.
The second convention is real life footage
The footage is used in order to clearly
show the event allowing the audience not
only to be informed by the voice over and
experts but to see for themselves the
evidence in order for them to make their
own judgements. Real life footage
however can sometimes be fabricated
however if this is so they usually highlight
this at the bottom of the screen. I like this
as I am able to see for myself the
evidence and not have to simply believe
the information given as it could be bias.

The next convention is interviews with experts.
This technique is used to offer an
opinion about the topic of the
documentary in the form of someone
educated and trusted however outside
of the documentary, this allows the
narration of the documentary to express
views without being bias. Often they
agree with the documentary topic
however if the disagree the
documentary often disproves them in
some manner.
Another convention is the use of titles in order to introduce new places and new people
The use of these titles are a quick and simple
way to convey information to the audience,
they usually contain information about new
people or places. They are often found also at
the end of the documentary so summarise
what had been learnt. I like this technique
because it keep the audience up to date as the
documentary progresses and remind them or
key information that they are likely to forget.
The final convention is the use of a sound bridge.
The sound bridge used is to draw
emphasis to voice of the person the
documentary is about, this allows the
audience to understand her issue
before you see her; this creates an
atmosphere of anticipation. I like this
because I creates a more serious tone
to the documentary and helps it
become more interesting as much of
the editing within documentary is very

simple and smooth. This creates a small change.
******
Catfish season 3 episode 5 documentaries- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spmkZplq02U
The first convention in this documentary is the camera shots.
The two shot’s shown throughout the
documentary show the equal status of
the presenters as the documentary is
participatory. The use of long shots and
wide shots are also used throughout the
documentary in order for the audience to
be introduced to new people throughout
the documentary and to meet new
people. The range of shots allow the
audience to see the documentary from
clear angles and different perceptive. I
like this because you are able to see many peoples point of view throughout.
The second convention is the lighting of the documentary.
The purpose of this documentary is to
expose and entertain, therefore as it
has the purpose to expose there is a
lot of natural light from natural footage.
The natural light makes the
documentary seem more professional
and real, it allows the audience to
perceive the events that are happening
from a realistic standpoint as they do
not appear to have been influenced. I
like this because it makes the
documentary feel for real and truthful
simply because there is less about it that is artificial.

The next convention is the real footage.
Real footage is present in most if not all
documentaries; it allows the audience to see
information that is unbias and allows them to
create pinions themselves. As the documentary
has the purpose of expose the real life footage
allows the real footage event to be seen
progressively, as this is a series of documentaries
exposing what are called ‘catfish’ which are online
relationships, the purpose is already clear however
each individual case is not, therefore the real footage by each separate documentary must be
shown.
Another convention that is shown within the documentary is mise en scene costume.
The use of costume in this documentary
is to enhance the realism of the piece, as
the presenters and everyone within the
documentary are wearing normal clothing
(every day) the audience feels more in
touch with the people in the show giving a
more realistic view on the events that are
happening within it. I like this because it
makes it feel like the documentary isn’t
set up and although it is used for
entertainment purposes the basis of the
story is in fact real.
Use of text and titles is another convention that is found within the documentary.
The text at the beginning and the end of the
documentary summarises the events of the
people within the show, they also show the
aftermath of this documentary. As many
documentaries are filmed several months
before they are shown the aftermath of the
documentary is normally not filmed therefore
the text used allows the audience to find out more information. I like this because the audience
is kept up to date even after the filming is ended.

*****
Naked Science - Shark Attacks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oDz-BHL1xI
The first convention found in the documentary is the use of non-diegetic sound
The non-diegetic sound in the form
of music sets the atmosphere for
the documentary as high pace and
adrenaline filled. The fast pace
music creates this before we even
see the subject of this
documentary, as the documentary
is used to persuade the audience
of something the atmosphere of
the documentary will allow the
producer to change the mind-set of
the audience and therefore make them agree with the topic at hand. I like this because it
immediately informs the audience what they are watching has a particular goal in mind which is
clear in the music played.
The next convention is experts.
Experts are used in this case in order to give evidence
to the opinion of the documentary, in other words to
confirm that the sharks are in fact deadly killers and
nothing more. By using trusted and known experts the
audience is willing to believe the information due to the
fact that they know more about the topic than they do. I
do not like this because it persuades the audience to
believe something instead of allowing them to have all
the information and then make their own opinion.
Another convention used popularly among documentaries with the purpose to persuade is real
life footage edited in a sequence.
The footage within the documentary is taken from
several clips, they are edited together into a
sequence to prove a certain point told by the over
voice or by an expert. This technique is very
successful as it provides real life evidence for the

point however as they are edited together you re only able to see one point of view. I do not like
this because it once again gives you a bias view on what you are being shown and taught.
Real life witnesses is also a convention used.
As the purpose to persuade the audience there must
be enough substantial evidence to do so as the
audience will to simply just believe the voice over,
therefore seeing real life people they will increase their
knowledge and belief or what they are being told. For
example in this shark documentary there are victims
that have been attacked by sharks, seeing this the
audience begins to believe that sharks are in fact cold
blooded kills. I like this because it gives the audience
insight to the thoughts of the people who have really been in the situation.
Bias over voice.
In many persuasive documentaries the voice over
is found to be bias simply because of the purpose
of the piece. If the voice over was in fact not bias
then the audience may not follow the belief of the
documentary therefore it is the job of the voice over
to convince the audience of something specific. I
do not like this because when watching a
documentary you wish it to provide you with facts
and not opinion.
******

Ellens Real media-research

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