Forms Evaluation

-> Documentary• Archival Footage and Photographs

• Archival materials include CCTV, newsreel footage, and even photographs. This presents a sense of realism, as it is tapping into the themes of post-modernism, where the media text acknowledges it is a media product by using other media products to get the message across

• Handheld Camera• ‘Wobbly’ camera shots are often attributed to documentaries. As cameras became more

portable and more affordable, filmmakers did more on-location shooting, and keeping the camera steady was somewhat difficult when it came to following the action. A portable camera meant you could film ‘on the move’, allowing for the public to be more at ease than with someone setting up a tripod, and filming from a set location

• Voiceover Narration• Voiceover narration occurs when a voice is heard on the soundtrack without a matching

source in the image. The voice often explains or comments on the visuals.

•Narrator• Conventionally, there is a ‘narrator’ character to lead the audience through the documentary.

This is usually a specialist in the field which the documentary is related to (e.g. Brian Cox, David Attenborough).

•Real People• All people inside the product are ‘real’ people, not ‘characters’ played by actors. These would

only be needed in a Re-enactment, where actors would be used to recreate a certain scenario.

Conventions Met• In our documentary, we

used hand-held cameras to obtain up close and personal footage not only of the civilians having a good time, but also of the police as they worked.

• The convention is most definitely met for ‘Real People’, as this was the only way to capture the truth of the Leicester Nightlife

Conventions Broken• Whilst we were given the opportunity

to use archive footage from CCTV cameras, we made the decision late on to break this convention. The reason for this was because we believed it would appear to provide the wrong conventions; it would either provide the appearance that the civilians were being monitored constantly, or that there is something expected to go wrong (due to the conventional use in BBC’s ‘Watchdog’ program to show criminals in action)

• We also decided against using a narrator in our documentary, opting instead for an experimental style of documenting where we would present the information visually, accompanied by background music associated with the clips.

-> Poster• Large Title

– This would be used to attract the eye of the audience in the area where the poster would be placed. The ‘tag-line’ would be in smaller text, and the credits even smaller at the bottom of the poster

• Bold colours– These would be used to make the title and ‘tag-line’ stand out

from the background• Picture

– Not only must the pictures be relevant and connect to the product, it must also be eye-catching so as to attract viewers to the film (background and foreground)

• The use of language also carries across a personal message which might persuade the viewers to go and see the film

Conventions Met• We created the poster, using images

directly related to our production. The use of the policeman symbolised the police force, whilst the Clock Tower symbolised Leicester.

• Additionally, the placement of the policeman standing before the Clock Tower in that stance indicates the power of the Police, as well as their duty to protect

• We also edited the poster to adhere to conventions of a Channel 4 poster, as Channel 4 was one of the major companies we decided to associate with the product with (due to their connection with short-documentaries already, such as 3MW {3 Minute Wonders})

Conventions Broken• The convention of the title

having the largest font was broken, as the ‘tag-line’ is visibly the same size.

• The colours are not ‘bold’, but what colours are shown in the poster represent Leicester at night

-> Radio Trailer• Good quality audio

– With the Radio Trailer, the lack of visual imagery means that the pitch is entirely dependent on the quality of audio, the ‘grab factor’, and the exploration of ‘why’ the audience should watch the product.

• Voiceover– Outlines the narrative.– Sometimes poses the questions that are addressed in the programme– Is sometimes used to tease the audience (Gives some information, but not everything).– Is appropriate to the programme.– The voice must be clear, and ensure that the audience does not get bored easily.– The voice-over must ensure the audience know the title and scheduling – channel name, day

and time – which usually comes at the end – channel name conventionally comes last; this is done on purpose so it is the last thing the audience hears so they remember it.

• MUSIC BED– A music track underneath everything. Conventionally, the music track is in sync with the

mood of the trailer, and easily associated with the product (e.g. the product contains the sound track used).

• Another convention is the use of extracts from the programme, to properly associate the trailer with the product, such as;– Snippets of interviews.– Key element is actuality footage

Conventions Met• A voiceover was used to provide

broadcast information, and to inform in other areas

• There is clear use of ‘actual footage’ through the use of the interview. However, this could be the only logical choice as it was one of the few ‘spoken’ parts of the documentary, due to it’s experimental nature of allowing the audience to be informed visually

• The interview was clear enough to hear, and to connect to the Police

• The music fitted the trailer, and also linked into the content of the actual product.

Conventions Broken• None of the vox-pops

featured in the documentary, which could count as breaking the convention of using footage from the documentary to completely used in our radio trailer

• The only footage used that featured in the documentary was the interview with the policeman