Checklist Help!

The bullet point numbers correspond to the number on the checklist in the area you are looking at. Research

1.You should have researched at least 5 different documentaries of different genres. You should

screenshot areas of interest from the documentary to match your analysis. Focus on: CONVENTIONS of the documentary you are watching, comment on use of sound - music, voice over, consider how the narrative is told, consider the use of editing, text, transitions, shot types and mise -en-scene.

Also, research 3-4 documentaries from the same genre - you think you would like to make.

2&3. You should have researched at least 4 magazine listings DPS and newspaper adverts. What are the conventions of these? What can you say about the size of the text? The positioning of the images? The size of the images? The use of colour? The location of the logo (advert)?

4. Have a record of your group meetings. This could be a screenshot of your group chat about your documentary, this could be a video, this could be a sound cloud or a film on YouTube. It could be in the

form of a production log where you explain WHAT YOU did in your group - a running commentary.

5. This is where you analyse the conventions of each category, you should use screenshots of typical conventions of this style of documentary. Your analysis should explore the use of camera, use of editing techniques, use of sound, use of miss-en-scene, how the narrative is told and the TV channel

that favours this style. You could also consider the typical genres of documentaries that are made with this category.

6. Research at least 2 or 3 different institutions that make documentaries. Find out:

How do they target their audiences? Who are the audiences that watch their documentaries? How do you know? Use YouGov lite? What are their core values?

How are these values shown in the documentaries that they make? Which institution matches the type of documentary that you would like to make?

Why would this documentary match the values of the institution?

7. For ONE episode of a documentary that you would like to recreate - from your chosen category and genre, analyse in detail, consider the following:

The use of sound The use of editing The use of camerawork The use of miss-en-scene

How the story is told - the narrative How the audience is targeted. The category of documentary.

How this matches the institution that you think would show your documentary.

8. Audience research - you should have uploaded a questionnaire you created on survey monkey. As part of your research, for the documentaries you researched of the same genre, find them on

YouGove lite UK. Look at the typical demographics of an audience - how does this compare to your own results? What about the interests of an audience? etc.

9. Questionnaire analysis. As part of your analysis, you should include a graph or pie chart etc. - survey monkey does this for you! You MUST analyse HOW you will use these results to inform the decisions

linked to your planning. What are your thoughts with regards to the results? Do you think that you asked a wide range of ages, gender and a large number of people? Do you think the results allow you to make sound decisions? If so, why? If not, why not?

10. Upload the video of you and your group asking questions to potential audiences.

11. Analyse how the responses of the people you questioned help you to make a decision about what an audience expect from a documentary.

Planning

1. Layouts of your DPS and Poster. Either hand draw these or complete this on the computer. Think about the positioning of text, images, logos etc. Explain why you've made these designs, how do they

match the conventions of a DPS or poster? Which design do you prefer and why?

2. Shot list of the film – your projected filming schedule. This is to enable you to film your documentary

effectively, second by second. Once completed, you should analyse what went well and what changes

you made and why.

3. Storyboards for documentaries. You should have at least 2 drafts and 1 final storyboard. Explain

what you’ve decided to do and why. What changes did you make along the way? Why? How did this

help you to structure your documentary? Why?

4. Mind-map of your ideas – analysed linking to audience and institution. What are your initial

documentary ideas? Which is your least favourite? Explain why this is the case. What is your favourite?

Explain why this is the case. What element of your research helped you to make this decision? Why?

5. Scripts (if needed) Have at least 1 draft and 1 final version of your script. What are your characters

going to say? How are they going to interact? Remember: a documentary is fact based, therefore what

you include in your script, should be accurate!

6. Hand drawn copies of adverts and dps. You should create a design of each product. Your drawings

do not have to be perfect. They can be outlines of images or stick people. The idea around this is to

show that you are considering the placement of key conventions. Explain your ideas, what you will or

won’t keep and why.

7. Casting/auditions – analysis of reasoning and decision making. Here you should have 5 or more

photos or filmed auditions that you analyse. You must explain why each person matches your

expectations for the documentary or do not. Say why they suit the roles for your documentary. Ow do

they match codes and conventions?

8. Photoshoots – magazine and advert. Have a range of images that you analyse, explaining why they

will match or won’t match the conventions of your dps/advert. Analyse why they do match codes and

conventions. Explain which images you will use and why.

9. Research into costume. Create a mood board. Create a series of images that represent your ideas

for costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions of your documentary.

Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don ’t. Link

to audience expectations of your genre/style of documentary.

10. Research into location. Create a mood board. Create a series of images that represent your ideas

for costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions of your documentary.

Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don’t. Link

to audience expectations of your genre/style of documentary.

11. Research into props. Create a mood board. Create a series of images that represent your ideas for

costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions of your documentary.

Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don ’t. Link

to audience expectations of your genre/style of documentary.

12. Your institution – logo/name etc. Analysis of reasoning/decision making and links to typical codes

and conventions of institutional logos. Create your own logo/production company name. Analyse why

this logo/production company name (or series of logos/names – choose one) follow the conventions of

logos created by real institutions. Explain the aims and values of your institution and why a channel like

ITV or BBC would show YOUR documentary on their TV channel.

13. Consideration of shot types – take images of your subject/location. This is so you are creating a still

image plan of your documentary. You should analyse your reasoning for each shot – link to the

expectations of an audience and an institution.