The document analyzes two TV documentaries that will air on Channel 4: Lifers and Body Shock. Lifers explores the daily lives of prisoners serving minimum 15-year sentences and how they feel about their crimes. Body Shock profiles a 27-inch tall man and his daily life since being recognized as the shortest man by Guinness World Records. Both documentaries use conventions like establishing shots, natural lighting during interviews, titles, and intervals/breaks to structure the stories and keep viewers engaged.

1. Assignment #4: Analysis of a TV
Documentary.
By: Luara Pires

2. The TV documentaries will be doing.
Lifers ( Channel 4) Body Shock ( Channel 4 )

3. Lifers
• What it is about?
Lifers is a documentary about prisoners in Gartree Prison in Leicestershire that get the
minimum of 15 years in prison and how their daily life is , and it shows what goes in their
head and how do they feel about the crime they committed.
• What channel is it on?
Channel 4.
• Who is the target audience?
16+
• What time is it on?
22:00 pm
• Where is it shown?
Britain.
• Who made it?
Tim Wardle ( director)
• Production/distribution/exhibition?
Produced by : Century Films
Distributed and exbited : Channel 4.

4. Body Shock
• What it is about?
On each episode shows a different person and a different story , on this
specific one is about a 27 inch man , show he's daily life and how he's life has
changed after he entered the Guinness book for the shortest man on earth.
• What channel is it on?
Channel 4.
• Who is the target audience?
16+
• What time is it on?
22:00 pm
• Where is it shown?
Britain.
• Production/distribution/exhibition?
Produced by : red back until 2006 – now : Ark Media.
Distributed and exbited : Channel 4.

5. Conventions of TV Documentaries.
-Handheld camera -Interviews with the public
-Voice over -Titles
-Commercial intervals -Supportive images
-Archival footage -Experts Interview
-Steady cam -Natural Lighting
-Background music -Point of view shot
-Clear aim of documentary -Quotes material
-Presenter -Purpose of the doc. (edu,per,info)
-Style (participatory or conservative)
-Talking head -Establishing shot
-Special effects -Statistics
-Ambient sound -Preview before break
-Structure -Montage editing

6. Lifers convetions.
• Establishing shot
Establishing shot used to show where the place and what it is.
Comparison with Body Shock: They both use
establishing shot to set a place, in Body shock is
to show the place where the 27 inch man comes
from.,

7. Lifers Conventions.
Interview with experts.
Interview with experts.
Used to prove evidences, and to makes point
stronger.

8. Lifers conventions.
Titles.
Give information.

9. Body Shock Conventions.
Structure.
They introduce the story first Then title comes up.
Comparison with Lifers: They both have the
same structure, Lifers also start by introducing
the story then the titles come up.

10. Body Shock Conventions.
Natural Lighting
Natural lighting in the
setting.
it gives you a real and natural feeling of the setting.
Comparison with Lifers: They both have the
same lighting, Lifers also use natural lighting
only to transmit the real message of the place.

11. Body Shock Conventions
Interview with experts.
Interview with experts.
you can rely on the information you are getting, and also
it proves points.
Comparison with Lifers: They both have
interview with experts. Lifers shown
psychologists, where body shock shows the
director of the Guinness World Records

12. Body Shock Conventions.
Intervals/ Breaks.
Intervals/ Breaks.
It reminds you the name of the documentary you
are watching and keeps you wanting to watch
Comparison with Lifers: They both have
intervals and ends the same way with the name
of the documentary and usually at a very
enthusiastic point of the documentary.

13. Channel 4 Documentaries.
It can be seen that channel 4 documentaries usually
begin the same way :
• by introducing the story then having titles
• have intervals the same way
• Uses voice over.
• Looks for experts opinions.