The document analyzes several documentaries based on their visual and technical elements. Most were single narrative and linear, but some had open endings. Shots included close-ups, mid shots, and long shots, with some handheld camera footage. Mise-en-scene varied but related to the topic. One documentary about supersizing used colors and imagery that referenced McDonald's. Documentaries contained both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. Fast pacing through cuts was used to show time passing and action. Many included archive materials as evidence. Graphics included subtitles and credits in white text.

1. Eloise Hatton

2. The majority of my documentaries which I
analysed came across to be mixed, however
some were self reflective.

3.  Most of my documentaries were single
stranded, linear and had a closed narrative.
However, some can still have open endings.

4.  Most of my documentaries featured close
ups, mid shots or a long shot. A long shot can
also be known as an establishing shot, this
shot usually anchors the meaning of the
documentary by giving the audience a full
view of an object, person, action or scene. In
addition there is also some footage of hand
held camera, this is less professional however
it usually makes the documentary more
about the individual behind the camera.

5. Mise-en-scene is different,
however the use of mise-en-
scene usually relates to the
topic/storyline within the
documentary. For example,
one of my first documentaries
I studied was ‘Supersize me’
which is filmed in America.
Featuring at the start of the
documentary was an
American flag, this evidently
allows the audience to
recognize where the
documentary is being filmed.
Here I have taken a clip out of
‘Supersize Me’. The colours to
highlight certain parts of the text
have the connotations of McDonalds.
This links into the topic as the
doumentary is not just focusing on all
fast foods, but specifically
McDonalds.

6.  Each documentary has a range of non
diegetic and diegetic sound. Diegetic sound is
when something on screen creates the noise
such as a person or object and you can see it
happening. Non diegetic sound is sound such
as background music etc.

7.  As usual, a lot of cuts have been used
throughout each documentary, however I
have also noticed a lot of fast paced editing.
Fast paced editing represents the passing of
time and also to show action.This was
strongly represented in the documentary I
covered ‘FemaleChinese Bodyguards’.

8.  Many documentaries use archive material to
back up their information they’re providing
for their audience within the documentary.
Archive materials can be videos, newspaper
articles, magazines, graphs and statistics etc.

9.  Each documentary I
studied used graphics.
They usually featured
subtitles, name and
job title.They were
continuously coloured
white.The title and
credits are also a form
of graphic.