We were tasked with creating a 5 minute documentary opening on a chosen topic, as well as a radio trailer and magazine article to promote it. Extensive research was conducted into the topic, audience, and documentary genres and conventions. The documentary argues whether being gay is innate or learned, matching the expository mode of presenting arguments and addressing the viewer directly. Various techniques were used effectively, such as establishing shots, interviews following rules of thirds, close-ups during voiceovers, and archive footage in a montage to introduce the topic. Reconstructions were also used innovatively. The documentary follows conventions while challenging some, such as using dramatizations.

2. We was given the task at the start of A2 to create a 5
minute opening to a documentary of our choice.
Along with this we were given 2 ancillary task.
These tasks were to create a radio trailer to promote
the documentary and an article in a TV listing
magazine to attract viewers. To make sure our
documentary was interesting and accurate we had
to do a lot of research into the topic, target audience
and the genre we chose and into the codes and
conventions of documentaries so our documentary
looked professional.

3. Dramatization
Actuality
Voice over
Realism
Narrative
Typical conventions
Mise En
Scène
Archive
Footage
Expert
interviews
Sound
Use of text
Reconstructions

4. Poetic
Expository
Performative
Modes of Documentaries
(Bill Nichol)
Reflexive
Observational
Participatory

5. According to Bill Nichols’ theory of documentary modes, our
documentary is most similar to Expositional mode. Just like
documentaries of expository mode our documentary speaks directly to
the viewer through the voice over and proposes a strong argument from
both sides. The argument in our documentary was “Are you born gay or
is it developed over time?”

6. COMPARING DOCUMENTARIES
Super size me is an investigative
documentary but was created in a
expositional mode. This is done by filming
using first hand footage. The documentary
also features montages, VOX pops, expert
interviews and archival footage. The main
aim of this documentary is to send a
message to the viewer just like my
documentary has a meaning behind it.

8. Here is our interviews. We used the
rule of thirds always while filming. The
rule of thirds is guideline which applies
to the process of composing visual
images such as design, film, paintings,
and photographs. This makes it more
professional looking and pleasing to
the eye.
As you can see Super size me also
uses the rule of thirds while filming.
We have both used the same
camera angle of a medium close up
because this Is the best camera shot
when filming interviews. We have
both followed the same convention
of a documentary.

9. In our documentary we wanted to use a
range of camera shots. Here is an example
of a close up. While this shot was playing
the voice over would be telling the
audience statistics about homophobia. The
purpose of shots like this is to keep the
viewer entertained and not get bored.
This is one of my favourite
shots from the documentary.
Here you can see in
Super size me they
have used extreme
close ups like we
have in our
documentary. While
this shot was playing
the voice over is
talking bout the
amount of calories in
each product.

10. In this interview we took into consideration of
the mise en scene. Here you can clearly see
that the interviewee is a student. We made
sure we filmed this in a class room to give the
impression he is a student. This is a useful
thing to do because student can relate to the
interviewee

11. In our documentary we used the convention
archive footage to create a sort of montage for
the beginning of our documentary. We did this
to show the topic of our documentary
(Homophobia/Homosexuals) is global and a
well known topic. We put together 2 iconic
celebrities who are known for being
homosexual and used the footage of
themselves talking about being gay.
In Super size me they have used the same
technique in a way. The beginning shows
children singing about fast food. This introduces
the topic very well and is clear.
I really like how we have used this technique
because it shows we have done our research
into the topic and because our documentary is
expository it shows there are a lot of conflicting
opinions from ‘normal’ people to celebrities.

12. We present a reason argument and address the viewer
directly through the voice over and the on screen
presenter. This means our narrative structure of your
documentary is rhetorical. I like how we have used an
onscreen presenter because it makes it more personal
to the viewer and creates a side of realism. The voice
over speaking directly to the viewer also keeps them
entertained and helps get the argument of the
documentary across well.
Here you can see that Steven
Spurlock is shown as the presenter
on screen. Our documentary is
similar by the way we talk to the
audience.

13. Here we have challenged a convention
that Stephen Spurlock does not use in
Super Size me. We have created a
reconstruction. In one of our interviews we
featured someone who was victimised
because of their sexuality. To be more
creative we filmed people acting out what
the interviewee was saying. This helps the
viewer understand what the interviewee is
going through.
I like that we have challenged this because it
doesn’t let the viewer get bored of more
interviews in our documentary. I feel this was a
nice touch for the ending of our documentary.

14. To conclude I feel that our documentary has followed the typical conventions of real documentary's and
has followed Nicholls mode of ‘expository’ very well because we give a strong argument and show
different ranges of opinions for and against the argument. We have used a wide range of camera shots
from extreme close up to an establishing shot. This makes the filming look more professional.
We have used statistics to show we have researched into the homophobia argument. This keeps the
documentary up beat and interesting. We have used conventions that Stephen Spurlock has used in
Super size me like the rule of thirds and extreme close up.
If I was re-doing our documentary I would like to use more graphics like Stephen Spurlock uses in super
size me because this make it more interesting.