This document provides feedback on several student documentaries. It summarizes techniques used effectively across different documentaries, such as the use of archival footage, sound beds, on-screen narrators, interviews, and stock footage. It also critiques aspects that could be improved, such as lighting, editing, representation, and subject matter. Overall, the document offers both praise and constructive criticism of techniques employed in student documentary films.

1. Student Documentaries
MeninismDocumentary
The mise-en-scene of the black hoodie conveyed mystery and a hidden identity for the
person. They also used a computer with the computer screen in the frame to show it is
archival footage. They also had good use of lighting during the interviews and background
footage because the people being interviewed didn’t get cancelled out by the light shining
through as with the group interview, they were to the side of the window although the
window wasn’t in frame because it was clear to be natural lighting.
The sound used was always in the background and wasn’t noticeable or too much, so it was
just a sound bed embedded within the whole documentary. And the person in the voice
over talked slow and clearly making it easier and nicer for the audience to hear and watch
with their clips because it wasn’t too distracting that we’d focus on the voice wondering
what they are saying.
The editing was seamless because no one was cut off mid-sentence and the lip syncing was
in time. The out of focus and slowed down footage behind the visual figure. Their shots
were always steadily so a tripod was used and the subjects were comfortably.
Clear captions and titles were used for the experts. The experts included the feminist group
and the teacher. Representation that the feminists, neutralist and meninist have different
viewpoints. It included their sub-topic of feminists as they are showing they are both equal
and have the same importance so there was a group interview with the feminist society.
They had an off screen narrator who talked slowly making it easier for the audience to hear
and understand them.
From this, we will also use the technique of showing archival footage from a computer
screen, with the screen in frame as it’s a good effect to add to our documentary especially
on social media and the competition between phone companies. We’ll also had the same
sound bed embedded throughout the documentary that goes with the subject of our
interview like a reporter kind of sound. Within editing, we’ll also try to make it as seamless
as possible and use a range of shot types. We’ll add captions of the experts in the bottom
left of the screen in white so it’s easier and more aesthetically pleasing to the viewers. We’ll
include the idea of slowing down out of focus footage of potentially people on their phones,
over shoulder of someone on their phone or of people’s feet as they walk and add figures
and facts on top of it.
@SELFIEdocumentary
Archival footage was used of the famous selfie taken on the music awards. This was a good
technique as it went with the topic and the video didn’t go on for too long.
Although the music was louder than the narrator at times, the editing was quite noticeable,
we saw the narrator's’ mic wire and the camera
man’s shadow, it went with the atmosphere and
mood of the documentary and the levels
changed for different purposes when necessary.

2. Student Documentaries
The cube transitions were also effective and it was something different and made the
documentary creative and interesting to watch.
The background footage was made out of focus and filmed with a handheld camera, they
also put text on top of this.
The vox-pops used were good as they knew about the topic and what to say, they were
happy and playful with their responses making the documentary more humorous and
exciting to watch. The representation of the vox-pops were shown in a negative as well as
positive like because they are young people so they were shown to taken selfies all the time
and the older people in the archival footage were shown to also take selfies, breaking codes
and conventions of older people being more mature.
They had an on-screen presenter and is shown during the interviews using a two-shot, to
show the relationship between the two as they have a conversation so both their body
languages are shown as they communicate in asking and answering questions. This allows
the follow-up questions to look more genuine.
Healthy eating documentary
With this particular documentary, sound levels were off and their titles were too long to
read with no capital letter or good grammar whilst on a plain black background. This makes
the viewers lose interest and unable to finish reading the information in time for a serious
topic that could’ve been made a little humorous on the topic like in ‘Supersize Me’. Also,
they’d put words over someone on a treadmill as he ran fast, distracting us from reading the
words as it’d confuse the viewer to think who or what they should focus on. They’d also
zoom in and out of people’s faces as they spoke unsteadily which didn’t go with what they
were talking about and didn’t look professional. The mise-en-scene used wasn’t good as a
plain colored wall was used and had the edges of the wall in frame, including how there
were too many computers behind the expert with bad lighting and nothing on the screen.
They also filmed the subject at a low angle, making her look vulnerable, which didn’t go with
what she was saying or her profession. They talk fast and never said much and the big mic
was visible. This means in our documentary we will use a clip in mic to avoid this issue. And
we’ll also make sure the background with the interviewee will either be neutral and go with
the documentary colour scheme or go with the relevant topic that is being spoken about.
Extreme parts had dramatic music, making it effective for the circumstances and more
intriguing to watch. An onscreen narrator was also used and was on shot with the
interviewee during the questions.
Who’s complaining
This documentary uses two on screen presenters, which is effective as they play off each
other well making it humorous and interesting to watch. They reference to their personal
lives allowing the audience to relate and trust them, showing them as normal guys. They are
also loud and witty which helps the audience keep focus and not get bored whilst listening
to them.

3. Student Documentaries
The editing wasn’t noticeable, they would remove them background music when the
presenters are on screen presenting and the editing of the DVD spinning went with the beat
with each move They also used cutaway shots when switching to the background footage.
The archival footage used was of the video games being played on screen. They’d also play
to the side of an expert interview with Julie while she talks about the specific game as there
was no computer in the back so this filled the space nicely as for the expert interview with
Nick, there was a computer being used as the GTA game cover was on it.
They also used vox-pops within college to see their views on gaming and represent young
people's naive as they were unaware of how much games they play. This was mainly upon
the young males.
Branded
There were two on screen narrators used and weren't shown during the interviews when
asking the question, which is still effective as we can focus on the expert/vox-pop and
potentially see their reaction to the question. This is a technique we can use.
They make comparisons of the products and isn't just focuses on the one.
The inclusion of audience with rhetorical questions will make them more involved in the
documentary to keep them listening and keep them intrigued with what's happening. They
also dumbed-down the documentary because as they would say most things the image will
come up, even in the interviews, like “sales”, “selfidges”, etc. They'd also use another
technique where, when they are saying facts about the topic, they use archival footage, like
of the Coca Cola manufacturing place, with news reporter’s type of music.
The sound bed was run throughout most of the documentary and wasn't noticeable as it
just went with the theme. No music was used during the narration but was used with the
vox-pops as it allows us to focus on what they are saying. The The deep focus on the Coca
Cola can was effective as it was aesthetically pleasing to the eye and was what the
documentary based on. They also used a clip in microphone for the formal interviews as it
was more clearer and didn't have to worry about the big mic being shown on the camera
screen. They also use animated statistics that had a cartoon man moving and lip syncing to
the narrator’s voice. Also using pan shots of the college as they talking about it to set the
scene.
Out of controller
An off screen narrator was used, which is still effective as you focus more on the shots and
interviews and their voice. Superimposed articles ere used to support what was said.
Cutaways for formal interviews and zoom out shots of shops that go with the topic. A sound
bed was used the documentary and statistics presented in relevant font that fit branding on
the background of the flashing controller. The stock footage included news articles and
sources of games and clips of it being played.
Social stereotypes

4. Student Documentaries
The editing was noticeable because their expert, Julie, was cut off at the start and the use
use of lighting was dark as they use the Lecture theatre as a location.
Archival footage of mean girls ran on too long and had their background music still playing
over the footage, and throughout the whole documentary and the gothic music video.
Therefore there wasn't a variety of stock footage but a lot of vox-pops.
Slow narrating was used which is a good technique so the viewer can understand what they
are saying clearly although in this documentary it was too slow.
Represents young people as victims and only older people were experts. Diversity is also
shown through the documentary.
FYI: Binge drinking
This documentary represents young people negatively because all vox-pops were shown to
drink alcohol as most of the questions were biased to them drinking like when they expose
them as binge drinkers. The vox-pops were all clueless as to how much they drink, showing
their immaturity and unawareness making a little comical as they'd laugh because they
didn't know and we'd laugh like how didn't they know. Therefore there are no objections of
stereotypes as young people aren't represented positive in some way to balance the
documentary out because no one said they don't drink and the older people are the wiser
ones as the experts were all older. Although there was no diversity shown as all the experts
and vox-pops were white, there was also no stereotypes in genders as both genders drank
alcohol and were both unaware about binge drinking.
Therefore, in our documentary, we will add diversity and show a positive representation on
young people to balance out the documentary. This will be done by showing other things
they do on their phones other than social media and how iPhones and phones in general
were forced upon them because they shown us how much we need them with the things
they have and do on one device.
“Real face of fb”
They had two off screen narrators. At the start of the documentary, the voice sounded tired
and too deep. Also the typing of a convo whilst an expert was speaking distracts us from
what they were saying.
The mise-en-scene was good with the Solihull sixth form home screen at the back of an
expert interview and putting their titles before they speak, whilst introducing. They'd also
transition to other clips as she speaks making it more interesting and the typing on screen
effect was intriguing too.
They represented Facebook negatively about their privacy setting and cyber bullying but
didn't even it out as much.