This document analyzes and compares the techniques used in three documentary films: "The World's Strictest Parents", "Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends (Wrestling)", and "Rooney: The Man Behind the Goals". It examines the narrative structure, themes, genres, representations of subjects, camera shots and angles, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene of each documentary. The deconstruction finds that while the films use similar techniques like establishing shots and interviews, they differ in aspects like the use of presenters and narration. The analysis will influence the author's own final documentary project by choosing to use only narration instead of a presenter.

1. Main task deconstruction 1 – World’s Strictest Parents

2. “The worlds strictest parents” is a BBC documentary that focuses on troubled UK
teenagers being sent to live with “strict” families all over the world in a bid to change their
attitude and behaviour at home. According to Nichol’s theory “The worlds strictest
parents” falls into the mode of observational with elements of expository; this is because
although there is no presenter and the behaviour of the subjects isn’t influenced there is a
narrator throughout the documentary. The documentary series can also be described as
reality television as the subjects are taken out of the comfort zone to create situations for
the documentary.
Narrative, Themes, Genre and
Representation
In terms of representation the teen subjects are initially always represented as being
rebellious, disrespectful and with little ambition where as the parent subject are
represented as being disappointed with their children or unable to cope with their extreme
behaviour. The narrative then changes the representation of the teens from the beginning
of the show by the subjects admitting that they have done wrong and changing their ways
for the better after their experience abroad with a “strict” family.

3. Camera shots & angles, editing and
sound
“The world’s strictest parents” makes use of various camera shots and angles. The
beginning of the show makes use of Establishing shots with text to introduce the
audience to where the teenage subjects live in the UK, this shot is again used for
the same purpose when the teens go abroad.
The first segment of the documentary episodes also uses
close ups whilst interviewing both the teenage and adult
subjects of the show. These shots are followed by long
shots of the teenager’s new family introducing the audience
to them.
Fast editing techniques are also used to create a
montage style introduction to each episode
highlighting the misdeeds of the teenagers. These
techniques create a fast paced documentary style.

4. Camera shots & angles, editing and
sound continued…
Non-diegetic sound is used in the form of music over the introduction
to create an atmosphere that suggests how rebellious the teenage
subjects are. A narrator’s voiceover is also used to outline to the
audience the ins and outs of what is going on throughout each
documentary episode.

5. Mise-en-scene
As “The world’s strictest parents” is a observational
documentary all mise-en-scene is natural. The clothes
that the subjects are wearing aren’t influenced by the
filming of the show and the facial expressions,
positioning and lighting is all natural. The filming
locations can also be described as natural because
they are filmed in places such as the home and local
area where the subjects would be found in a day to
day basis.

6. Main task deconstruction 2 – Louis Theroux’s weird weekends
(Wrestling)

7. Narrative, Themes, Genre and
Representation
“Weird Weekends” is a BBC documentary series presented by Louis
Theroux in which Theroux investigates out of the ordinary American
sub cultures. The show spanned 3 series from 1998 to 2000.
Each episode shares a similar narrative beginning with a “teaser” clip from
the documentary; in the particular episode I am using as an example
Theroux covers Professional Wrestling with the “teaser” clip being two
wrestlers becoming offended as Theroux doesn’t know who they are.
These “teaser” clips serve to grab the attention and interest of the
audience, compelling them to watch on.
A short introduction animation then follows before the episode begins. Theroux
then conducts a series of un scripted interviews with many subjects relating to
the theme, for example wrestlers, that are unaware that they where going to be
interviewed. This direct style gives the documentary series an authentic feel as
the subjects haven’t pre thought their interview answers. Theroux also
throughout the show gets involved with the subculture, giving the audience an
“inside look” into the sub culture, for example Theroux attends a wrestling
academy in this particular episode.

8. Narrative, Themes, Genre and
Representation Continued…
In terms of representation of interview subjects, “Weird Weekends” and
Theroux don’t have a specific way of representing the subjects due to the
fact that each episode covers a different group of people and due to the “off
the cuff” nature of the interviews it would be impossible to construct a
representation of an interview subject without knowing who they where prior
to the interview. For example in this Wrestling episode Theroux doesn’t
know the wrestlers prior to interviewing them on the spot, therefore the
wrestlers construct their own representations of themselves.

9. Camera shots & angles, editing
and sound
The first part of each “Weird Weekends” episode features camera
shots such as: Establishing shots, Close ups, Mid Shots, Tracking
shots and Two shots. These shots are edited in a fast paced
manner to begin with to set the scene and location for the
audience. Theroux then begins to interview subjects and less
editing and cuts are apparent.
The establishing shots, much like “The Worlds Strictest
Parents”, serve to establish location to the audience. The
use of two shots are frequent when Theroux initiates
interview situations; these shots show the reaction of the
subject to Theroux and their initial body language towards
him and vice versa. This is in contrast to “The World’s
Strictest Parents” which uses less two shots as there is no
presenter included in the show. The shot then transitions
without editing from a two shot to a close up of just the
interview subject, with this being done without editing it
gives the documentary a sense of realism as it reinforces
how natural and spontaneous the interviews are to the
subjects.

10. Mise-en-scene
For much the same reasons as “The Worlds Strictest Parents” the
Mise-en-scene included in “Weird Weekends” can be described as
natural, meaning the producers of the show had no direct impact
on the actions or appearance of the subjects. Although in some
instances like in the “wrestling episode” the presenter, Louis
Theroux wears appropriate clothing when he is joining in with the
sub culture he is investigating; in this episode he wears wrestling
or gym attire when training at the wrestling academy. This may be
classed as Mise-en-scene in terms of costume.

11. Main task deconstruction 3 – Rooney: The Man Behind The Goals

12. Narrative, Themes, Genre and
Representation
“Rooney: The man behind the goals” is a 2015 BBC sports documentary focusing on the
career and life of professional footballer Wayne Rooney. The documentary differs from the
previous two I have deconstructed as it is a stand alone documentary rather than a series.
Much like “worlds strictest parents”, “The man behind the goals” according to Nichol’s
theory would fall into the observational mode of documentary film making as it sets out to
observe the current life of Wayne Rooney and also his previous achievements. The
documentary also has a narrator and presenter, Gary Lineker, although Lineker isn’t a
documentary film maker by profession like Louis Theroux he has expert knowledge on the
subject of the documentary and fills the role of presenter as well as Theroux.

13. Narrative, Themes, Genre and
Representation Continued…
In terms of narrative “Rooney: The Man behind the goals” can be described as non liner
as it features many interviews and “archive footage” throughout that is presented in a
montage or used to illustrate the subject on an interview conversation. The new footage
that includes the presenter and the subject is presented within a liner narrative as the
subject takes the presenter around his home and his hometown.

14. Camera shots & angles, editing
and sound
“The man behind the goals” uses close ups and
medium close ups when interviewing subjects.
Like “Weird Weekends”, “The man behind the
goals” also uses two shots with the presenter
Gary Lineker and the main subject Wayne
Rooney. “The man behind the goals” like both
previous deconstructed documentaries uses
establishing shots when the narrator is telling a
story, this is also a rare example of non-diegetic
sound being used within this documentary.
“Rooney: The man behind the goals” uniquely not only uses close ups when
interviewing subjects. Close ups are also used to highlight significant personal
belongings within the main subject’s home. This technique differs from the two
previous documentaries in the frequency it has been used; this is because “The
man behind the goals” is a documentary focusing on a career and life story
rather than only taking a small snapshot of the subject’s life, it is instead
looking to paint a full picture.

15. Camera shots & angles, editing
and sound continued…
In terms of editing “Rooney: The man behind the goals” uses montages
frequently to show significant moments from Wayne Rooney’s career.
Other than the use of montages the documentary many makes use of
straight cuts from interviews, to montages or back to the tour with both
presenter and subject.

16. Mise-en-scene
Once again like both “The world’s strictest parents” and
“Louis Theroux’s weird weekends”, “Rooney: the man
behind the goals” being an observational documentary
doesn’t make use of Mise-en-scene as all the scenes are
filmed in settings that could be described as “natural” to
the subject, such as the subject’s home.

17. Conclusion: How my deconstructions will influence my final project
In conclusion these deconstructions have improved my knowledge of the techniques
used to create a successful documentary. In my final project rather than featuring a
presenter I am going to include a narrator only, like “The world’s strictest parents”. I
have decided to use this technique in an attempt to have the subject’s tell their stories
without the need for a presenter, making the documentary come across as realistic
and hard hitting as possible.
In terms of camera shots, like all of my deconstructed documentaries I am going to make
use of close ups and medium close ups when interviewing my subjects and to highlight
significant objects to that person relating to the subject of the interview. Establishing
shots are also essential in creating a successful documentary as demonstrated in the
above texts to establish location and context.
Making use of a narrator also means that non-diegetic sound is very important to give
brief context to the subject of the documentary via dialogue from the narrator. The
narrator as well as the diegetic dialogue from the interview subjects will create the story
and context for the audience.
Finally as my documentary will also be an observational one all mise-en-scene will be
natural and unaltered. This is to create a real and natural feel to the documentary; however
interviews will be taking place in relevant locations to the subject again to ensure the
documentary conveys true stories with the interview subject also feeling comfortable
enough to contribute.