This documentary examines the history and popularity of caravanning in Britain through interviews and archival footage. It explores why people enjoy caravanning, tracing the tradition back to its origins. The documentary has a circular narrative structure that begins and ends in the present day while reflecting on different time periods. Interviews are filmed using techniques like the rule of thirds to make them more dynamic. Relevant objects in the backgrounds of interviews tie the subjects to the theme of caravanning. Archival materials, music, and narration provide historical context. Editing techniques like cutaways maintain the pace and flow of information.

1. Caravans A British Love Affair

2. Type of Documentary
• Mixed Documentary.
• Contains Interviews.
• Contains archive material.
• Contains observational footage.

3. Themes
• Main subject is caravans.
• Success.
• The history of caravans.
• Why people choose to go caravanning.
• Traditional British Holidays.
• Sense of Freedom.
• Sam Alper.
• Advantages of going Caravanning.
• Stories about Caravanning.

4. Narrative Structure
• The documentary holds a non traditional circular structure.
• The documentary starts in the present and ends in the present but reflects on different time
periods throughout the documentary.

5. Camerawork
• Interviewee’s off set from the centre using the rule of thirds to create dynamic and make the
documentary look more interesting.
• The interviewee doesn’t look at the camera and instead they look directly at the interviewer.
• Camera is positioned on an angle so that the interviewee holds a more open posture and looks
more relaxed and approachable.

6. Mise-en-Scene
• Peter Frost is located within a campervan as he is a caravan writer and therefore this is relevant to
him.
• This relevance is then carried through for Fiona Alper who is at home which holds a homely
relaxed feel. This brings a family theme into the interview and her big house shows that she was
married to someone who was successful.
• John Rawlings has miniature caravan figures as he is a regular caravaner. These figures link to the
theme of the documentary.
• Images anchor and illustrate the point being made in the documentary.

7. Sound
Non Diegetic Sound:
• Vintage music to set the time period at different points.
• A narrator is used to inform and guide the audience.
• Narrator uses standard English and is formal.
• An authoritive tone is used and the narrator is used to introduce concepts and interviews but to
also give exposition and to conclude.
Diegetic:
• Dialogue through the uses of interviews.
• Ambient sound of birds and outdoors.
• “Silence in a Caravan”. Music is lacking during this quote and this section of the documentary to
highlight the point and provide context for the audience.

8. Editing
• Questions are edited out.
• Sound bridge.
• Cutaways are used to add information and to keep the pace of the documentary.
• Observational footage uses cutaways to cover jump cuts.
• Cutaways are used in the middle of interviews when the camera goes out of focus and when the
interview is next shown it shows a different shot.

9. Archive Material
• Used to show progression of time and helps create a timeline for the audience.
• Historical footage is used to add in factual evidence for the documentary.

10. Graphics
• Interviewee’s name and relevance.
• Opening titles.
• End Credits.