A level media studies

2. Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table is a mixed
documentary as it contains a variety of content
in different forms. The documentary consists of
Interviews with friends and acquaintances of
the artist; such as Lionel Richie as well as
Interviews with experts including a past
manager of Kenny. There is a narrators voice
running over the majority of the documentary
who is female and there is also large amounts
of achieve footage and items which document
the life of Kenny Rogers from being a child, his
height of fame and how he has progressed.
Throughout there is also interviews with Kenny
himself.

3. This documentary has many themes. These include:
Music and the music industry- which is the overall
subject of the documentary
Kenny’s life- Allowing us to gain insight in his story
before and within his musical career and in later life
Upbringing- We can learn about Kenny before his
fame meaning that we have a better perspective
Kenny’s Career- As audience members we can
watch his career develop and adapt and see the
challenges and transformations that he has faced
and overcome

4. The narrative structure of this documentary has a beginning, a middle and an end, showing
the clear progression of Kenny's life and career in the music industry.
Beginning Middle End
The beginning of the documentary
introduces Kenny Rogers and gives a
brief summary of him and his life. After
this, it then begins a more detailed
account of Kenny's life from childhood,
from his roots and lack of fame. We are
also introduced to the majority of
interviewees how will speak in the
documentary throughout.
As the documentary progresses, we see
Kenny’s music change and adapt and
learn how he copes with the struggles
of loosing his way etc. As he becomes
less successful he takes a new musical
direction and we are left wondering
whether it will work or not. We see
Kenny experimenting and duetting with
different artists including Lionel Richie,
Dolly Parton and Sheena Easton.
Coming to the end of the documentary,
we begin to see the negative parts of
Kenny’s life including scandal, enabling
the audience to form their own opinion
on the singer, rather than being a bias
representation of his life. As well as
this, we also see Kenny as a normal
man with a family, allowing us to relate
to him on a personal level and
therefore ending on a positive note.

5. In Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table, modern
footage of interviewees including Kenny Rogers
and Lionel Richie and archive footage of
Kenny’s past. Camera work includes Fixed
camera during interviews, with a head and
shoulder shot, slow zooms to Kenny or from
him to highlight him as the focus of the
documentary- revealing a close up image, and
long shots with family, home and surroundings
to place the documentary.

6. Mise-en-scène is the design aspects of a film
production and means ‘Visual Themes’. In ‘Kenny
Rogers: Cards on the Table’ Mise-En-Scène features
include the archive footage which tells the story of
Kenny Rogers career and Interviewees and where
they are interviewed- Interviewees are filmed in their
own most suited environments, for example: Kenny is
captured in his home so we can relate and Female
musician friend is captured sat next to a piano. As
well as this record covers and official photographs are
shown to anchor meaning to the story and what the
interviewees tell us. Kenny's manager is interviewed
along with other experts- This means that the
documentary is more authentic as experts offer their
specialist insight on the subject of the documentary.

7. Sound in this documentary allows the audience to hear
Kenny Rogers music and therefore associate him with a
style and understand his story. There is a collection of
songs by or featuring Kenny Rogers throughout which
anchors the meaning of the documentary. There is a
female voice over which is well spoken and articulate, this
allows the documentary to have a professional feel and
means that the audience is sure that they can depend on
the information they have been given. The natural sound
of the documentary also authenticates its meaning.

8. In this documentary, editing is key to create a
smooth transition and authentic film. Straight
cuts are predominant and used constantly
throughout, moving from one shot to another
Images such as old photographs, album covers
and film and concert posters/ professional
photography are filtered in to anchor meaning
to information given and animate the
production. There is a graphic match which is
key to any documentary- This means that the
editing matches what is being said and the
documentary flows in an orderly fashion.

9. ‘Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table’ depends on archive material in
order to illustrate the story that is being told. Artists, who Kenny
took inspiration from, are featured through both footage and
photographs and photographs of his childhood and life ensuring
that the audience can relate to Kenny Rogers and therefore warm
to him. There is footage of performances from his very early
experience in the music industry with ‘The Scholars’ all the way up
to footage of some of his biggest concerts and duets with other
famous artists. Albums, records and movie posters and pictured and
there is music throughout.
Graphics are plain and simple to avoid distracting/ detracting the
audience from the documentary and the story that is being told.
The name of the speakers/interviewees along with the what they
do/their relation to Kenny is provided in order to educate the
audience on their purpose in the documentary.