This document discusses four documentary programs and provides analysis of their conventions and topics. It analyzes the BBC documentary Human Planet for its use of observation, wide camera angles and first-hand experiences to explore different cultures and ways of life. It examines the Channel 4 series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding for allowing viewers to form their own opinions of Gypsy culture through real-life footage and interviews. It also summarizes the conventions used in One Born Every Minute such as observation and interviews to give an intimate view of childbirth, and Lifers' use of interviews and commentary to examine murder cases and provoke discussion of criminal psychology and ethics.

1. Assignment #2: Introduction to
Documentary Task
BY JOANNE

2. Documentary
 Human Planet – BBC One (Documentary)
 My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding – Channel 4
(Documentary)
 One Born Ever Minute – Channel 4
(Documentary/Reality)
 Lifers – Channel 4 (Documentary)

3. Interesting Topics
Human Planet My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
 Seeing different  Seeing different
cultures cultures
 Others way of life  Are Gypsy's trouble?
 How people survive in  Their beliefs
different climate
 Others beliefs

4. Interesting Topics
One Born Every Minute Lifers
 What child birth really  Why they committed
entails murder
 The preparation  Professionals views
 Life after pregnancy  Do they humanity

5. WWW
Human Planet My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
 Storyline through  Allows people to have
observation their own opinion on
 Voiceover to keep the Gypsy’s
views in the loop  Ultimately entertaining
 Point of view through
interview

6. WWW
One Born Every Minute Lifers
 Allows people to really  Makes people rethink
see childbirth their opinion on
 It also being a reality criminal but can also
allows the audience to confirm it
connect emotionally  The interviews allowed
the prisoners to get
their point of view
across

7. Conventions
Human Planet Use, Develop or Challenge
 Off screen commentary  Develop – its used for
 Wide range of different most of it if someone is
not talking on screen
camera angles
 Develop – through the
 First hand experiences
way they get their angles
 Challenge – We don't
know their way of life
and more explanation
has a need to be given

8. Conventions
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Use, Develop or Challenge
 Develop – its used for most of
 Off screen commentary it if someone is not talking on
 First hand experience / screen
 Develops/Challenges – All
Real life setting footage is real nothing
scripted allowing the audience
 Current debateable to connect emotionally
topics  Challenge – It takes a topic
which the media have
portrayed to be violent and
troublesome and allowed
viewers to make their own
opinion on the gypsy culture

9. Conventions
One Born Every Minute Use, Develop or Challenge
 Observation  Use – To show you the process
with no interruptions
 Interviews  Use – Allows audience to
 First hand experience become emotionally attached
and understand their view
 Font  Develop – Even though its in
plain white it would portray
how simple the world is

10. Conventions
Lifers Use, Develop or Challenge
 Use – To give info and more
 The is off-screen
in-depth understanding
commentary
 Interviews  Use – To give info
 Use – Helps audience connect
 First hand experiences emotionally
 Current debatable topics  Challenge - Not only brings
the issue of murder but ethics
 Text and psychology
 Develops -The text is in block
 Variation of long and white text which gives a
short cuts message of cold and clinical