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Introduction to the Advanced PortfolioLearning Objective: Am I able to explore documentary conventions within real media texts?
+Your brief
To make a five-minute extract of an original television documentary, to be submitted with two of the following:
1) A 30-second radio advert for your documentary
2) A newspaper advert for your documentary3) A double-page spread about your
documentary, from a TV listings magazine.
+Research – Real Media
Yup, this again…but MORE! This time you are going to film you talking
about your real media research, as a ‘Top 5 Documentaries’ video.
The purpose of this is to get used to talking in from of the camera naturally. A new requirement from the exam board…
+Getting Used to the Camera
The point of this task – as well as successfully completing your research – is to get used to creating a confident video diary.
When you produce your evaluation you must be confident and clear throughout your evaluation. The challenge you need to master is NOT READING OFF THE SCREEN/A SCRIPT WHILST FILMING.
If you look like you are reading from a script for the main task evaluation you will be marked down. It might feel cheesy, but you must be able to discuss your work as if you are having a conversation, not reading off a sheet of paper.
A tip is imagine you are talking to one person about your work – they know nothing about media studies so you must be approachable and explain it to them step-by-step.
+Look at the experts…
Have a look at these presenters talking to the camera…they will have prepared and practised ahead of filming. So appear natural and not stilted when speaking.
Brian Cox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOqR1Csv7yg
Charlie Brooker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8MjoB3vgv8
Homes Under the Hammer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngNEPySNs14
+Conventions refresher
Can you recall any general documentary conventions?
+Documentary Conventions
Voiceover – Usually authoritative – allows audience to assume they are an expert on subject or that they’re opinion is the ‘right’ one.
‘Actual’ Footage – Documentary is non-fiction so must include footage which has captured reality in some way. The audience must believe they are watching a ‘real’ event.
‘Natural’ Lighting and Sound – build up sense of reality. Archive footage – Aids authenticity and provides
additional information.
+Documentary Conventions
Interviews with ‘experts’ – May contradict the overall view of the documentary but can be quickly contradicted by the docu’s ‘voice’.
Use of titles – Reveals time, dates and locations quickly. Sound – Non-diegetic sound provides flow between
scenes but helps to further influence audience at particular moments.
Editing and camera – Capture emotions of situations but used in a way to influence audiences POV. Use of continuity editing.
+Documentary types…
Can you remember what each type of documentary is like? What is their purpose?
① Reflexive② Expository ③ Observational④ Participatory⑤ Performative
Can you think of any
real documentar
y examples?
+Top Five Challenge
You will need to research (watch) five different documentaries and analyse:
① What type of documentary it is② How it follows/break conventions③ Who is the target audience? How does
the documentary appeal to them? Effect them?