This student documentary uses several techniques to appear authentic and informative. It includes a montage of video game footage and music to introduce the topic. It also conducts interviews with the public to provide different perspectives and make the issues seem widely researched. The documentary aims to follow one person's experiences over multiple days to demonstrate a real situation unfolding over time.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB-GmKg3PDI

2. Strengths

This student made documentary uses many of the conventions present in the documentaries I have research. A stand out section of
the documentary was the montage of different video games along side music which parallels the action and a voice over. This
montage of images introduces the audience to the range of different video games available for people to purchase and play, the shots
they have chosen emphasise the violence that they stated they were going to look into therefore portraying their point clearly to the
audience, working to create the reliability and making the audience believe that the issue is real as opposed to an minor problem being
emphasised for the benefit of the documentary topic.
As well as this some of the camera work used connotes to the typical style of a documentary, for example – they use an interview style
shot where 1/3 of the screen is covered by the speaker, with a generic background in order to create a ‘professional’ finish. This again
makes the documentary more realistic causing the audience to feel well informed and therefore creating the realistic view that all
documentaries hope to achieve.
They also use a series of interview with the public (Vox Populi) by incorporating this into their documentary it allows the audience to
assume they have thoroughly researched the topic. It creates more reliability as the audience see what the general public think as
opposed to just professionals who deal with the topic

3. Strengths

This student also uses a large variety of shots, this captures audience attention.
Singular, long shots of the same thing would become increasingly boring therefore
losing the effect of the documentary. As well as this the range of shots are
conventional to a typical documentary style, interviews with the public along side
shots that allow the audience to understand the movements of the interviewer mean
that there is no confusion, therefore it is easy for the audience to understand and
comprehend making them more likely to watch it.
As well as this an interview with an ‘anonymous speaker’ causes the authenticity of
the documentary to become increasingly prominent. The use of this iconic
documentary shot causes the audience to believe that they have sourced people
who are effected and persuaded them to be featured therefore the insight into the
‘gaming world’ is increased.
Also, following a specific person also increases the idea of authenticity. ‘Day 1’
causes the audience to assume that this will be an ongoing section throughout the
documentary, by following the progress it further increases the insight into a real
situation and makes he documentary seem more ‘real’

4. What will I take forward?

During my production I will attempt to take forward many ideas from this
student documentary. The idea of an ‘anonymous speaker’ greatly increases
the authenticity, I think this will be a good feature to film in my documentary
especially due to the sensitivity of the topic. It will allow the audience to
believe I am looking at a real situation even if it is false.
As well as this I will try to incorporate a large variety of shots. This will again
increase the authenticity and allow to be more creative within the genre during
my representation of different ideas. It will allows me to focus certain points as
well as gaining an overall perspective of events therefore giving an overall
image.
I intend to take forward the Vox Populi style along side both of these. I liked
the idea of gaining an opinion from the general public in order to allow a
generalised opinion instead of just the professional (which I also previously
intended to include) allowing the audience to relate to the situation and think
about how they view the situation and how the documentary may have further
educated them therefore allowing a more informed opinion of the problem.

5. Newspaper Advertisement

6. Strengths

This newspaper advertisement has many conventions of a typical
documentary newspaper advert. The billing block at the bottom of the page
allows the audience to see who was involved in the production of the
documentary and the advertising. This increases the authenticity of the
advertisement therefore making it more appealing.
As well as this the use of the children images to replace letters allows the
advert to access a wider audience. It is appealing to a female audience due
to the use of colour (pink) and a female on the front however the use of these
images allow it to reach not only a more mature audience, but also be
appealing to a younger one. This therefore works in their favour, it allows
them to reach as many women/girls as possible promoting the documentary
further and creating more awareness of anorexia in all ages.
They also use a white background, this is done in order to emphasise the
image. It increases the awareness of the female body, especially when
emphasised by the blurred effect. This effect represents the idea the not
everything is as clear as it may seem. It gives the impression of her fading
away due to her disorder however she puts on the façade of a typical happy
teenager. This therefore increases the awareness of anorexia being a hidden
disorder, although it may not be obvious many girls are suffering from it.

7. Weakness

The Channel 4 symbol is positioned in the
corner in a very small size. This is a
weakness due to the typical convention of a
channel 4 advertisement, they clearly show
their logo to allow the audience to become
easily informed about where the show will
be presented, even if they are simply
skimming through the pages of the
newspaper.

8. TV Listings

9. Strengths

This newspaper advert sticks very closely to the conventions of a normal
channel 4 double page spread, we can clearly see the channel 4 logo
representing the channel it’s self, allowing people to instantly recognise
where to find this documentary. Also they have a very close match to the
typical channel 4 style font. This is again easily recognisable to the
audience reinforcing the idea that it is a channel 4 documentary.
Next we see the use of the colour scheme. Although Channel 4
occasionally change their house style they do usually use this blue,
therefore the audience can recognise from simply looking at the page
which channel is being represented.
After this they have incorporated the simplicity style. The image clearly
represents the documentary's theme. They have used the range of blocks
to make text stand out against the main image. They also use an image
with slightly unfocused; representing the driver vision causing them to
driver unsafely.
The lighting is typical of a busy road in the later evening to night hours
therefore showing how the younger generation are more likely to make
mistakes due to conditions, tiredness or being under the influence, all of
which would typically take place in the later hours of the day.
The article uses an interview style, this allows the audience to understand
how real the idea of dangerous driving is. By giving the response of
someone who has been involved in a situation it forces the audience to
understand the reality and causes them to assume the documentary will
be factual and unfeigned.
As well as this they advertise 4OD, this cohesive marketing/synergy
further increases their promotion of a documentary, this will therefore
increase their audience base and allow a wider range of ages to watch it
therefore pushing their message further into society.