Short analysis of 3 documentary openings

1. Analysis of Documentaries

2. Attenborough: Saying Boo to a Sloth! – BBC
Earth
Participatory
Educational
Needed otherwise audience
won’t understand what’s going on
in scene while also being really
boring
Little element of humour adds
depth to documentary
- Talks over shots, sometimes
not always seen
- Cut editing, time-lapse shows
life of sloth and solidifies how
slow they are and what little they
do, then giving reason why
- Actual sound of environment – diegetic sounds
- Bird sounds over images of sloth and talked over, reminds audience they are in
jungle and adds personal feel to piece

3. Observational
To entertain
Gives people something to do
Looks into different life
The Only Way Is Essex S10E07
-180* degree rule
- Shot reverse shot
- Shows the conversation,
following each character that
talks, make you feel like you
are at the table in the
conversation with them
- Pan shot with modern music
shows era shot in while also
highlighting the casual feel of
the piece to come into two
characters talking

4. Secret Life of Motorway – Part 1
Expository
Exposes info on motorway
Interesting information
Informative
Use of stock images
Cultural to Britain, M6 etc
- Music follows era
- Adds adverts to show time
before motorway, narrator
talks describing 1949 while an
advert from time shows
- Interviews with experts and
adults who grew up without
motorway and builders adds a
level of analysis
- Gives audience opportunity
to think