Genre Analysis

Analysed Documentaries

The Meth Epidemic

Type: This documentary is mainly about drug crime but also has a lot of investigation into the victims and addicts. It is also an informative documentary about the meth epidemic happening in America. It is mainly interviews of users but also contains case studies of Government measurements taken against it.

Camera:  

·        There are a lot of visual montages used throughout to help generate a more intimate experience and make you feel like you are on the front lines with them.

·        Also B-roll footage is used to help link all the footage together, images of chemists and medicine are used to add relevance.

·        Talking heads were used throughout

·        Abstract establishing shots and enhancing shots have been used at the start of sequences to represent USA

·        Hand held camera used for the majority of the action and footage, this helps the audience feel closer and more intimate

·        Rule of thirds used for the interviews with shots like close ups/extreme close ups/medium shots etc.

·        Reconstructions were also used to help visualise the story and narrative

Editing:

·        B-roll footage has been edited in to help make the documentary flow and better visually

·        Cross dissolves

·        Straight cut

·        Fade

·        There was a big emphasis on cut away to enhance the shots, making them more dramatic

Sound:

·        Sound montage was used

·        The documentary was driven by the narrator, also known as voice of God

·        Atmospheric sounds as a sound bed

·        Sirens signify criminal activity

Mise-en-scene

·        Drug paraphernalia

·        Talking head shots are external with trees/garden backdrop

Themes

·        Criminality

·        Addiction

·        Abuse – child/drug/self

·        Law/legislation

My Car is my lover

 

Type: This Documentary is an informative doumentary with investigation elements, it focuses mainly on the lifestyle of a few men and their interests.

Camera

·         B-roll footage of boys with cars – old footage

·         Establishing shots used frequently

·         B-roll footage of super cars as narrator talks

·         Extreme close ups of the inbox with emails

·         Long shots/medium shots/close ups/ extreme close ups of him cleaning his car and hugging/kissing it

·         B-roll footage of his own home movies he made

Editing

·         Zoom on map while he’s talking about his home

·         Name of the car ‘Vanilla’ is put on the screen next to an image of the car

·         Shot reverse shot from him and his lyrics when he’s singing a song about the car

·         Straight cuts used from him and the computer when he’s talking

Sound

·         Narration throughout

·         Voice of God

·         Digetic sound of his keyboard being played, synthesised drone creates uncomfortable atmosphere unintentionally, links in with the sensitive subject of the documentary

Mise-en-scene

·         Lota of pictures of cars throughout

·         The car ‘Vanilla’

·         Keyboard and the lyrics

·         Computer and the e-mails

Themes

·         Sexuality

·         Perversion

·         Auto-eriotica

·         Mechsexual

9/11

Type: This documentary is about 9/11 and the events leading up to it, it is an informative documentary that also has elements of crime/ investigation with a big part of it being historical.

Camera:

·         B-roll footage of Al-Qaeda at the start and camera footage

·         Rule of thirds apply

·         Medium shot for interviews

·         Establishing shot of World Trade Centre

·         Close ups and extreme close ups of terrorist paraphernalia

·         Zoom on interviews  

Editing:

·         Fades on B-roll

·         Subtitles on screen

·         Cross fades used on B-roll

·         Lot of straight cuts to change quickly

Sound:

·         Voice over of translation at the start

·         Narration throughout

·         Voice of God

·         Sound of planes

·         Non-diegetic atmospheric music

Mise-en-scene:

·         Men in suits

·         Terrorist paraphernalia – guns/planes etc

·         Enactment of people operating planes

·         Pictures of all the terrorists

Themes: Terrorism/crime/anger/devastation

Did Aliens Build the Pyramids?

Type: This documentary focuses on the conspiracy theory of that Aliens visited our planet years ago and helped the human race build such monuments as the Pyramids.

Camera:

·         Establishing shot of universe and planets

·         B-roll footage of cartoons/cavemen/monuments from around the world

·         Zoom on monuments

·         Long shots and establishing shots used on Pyramids to demonstrate the size

·         Pan left and right across monuments to also help show the sheer size

Editing:

·         Fades from monument to next one

·         Symbols move rapidly before changing to letters of the documentary title

·         White flashed between shots, represents a more science fiction style

Sound:

·         Non-diegetic atmospheric music – synthesised sounds to help add a science fiction feel

·         Narration throughout

·         Voice of God explaining who people are and what theories mean

Mise-en-scene:

·         Stone monuments from around the world

·         Earth/space/planets

·         Dig sites

·         Pyramids

·         Scientists

·         UFO Specialists

Themes:

·         Conspiracy

·         Aliens

·         Archaeology

·         Science

The Illuminati

Type: Conspiracy informaitve documentary

Camera:

·         Point of view shot of the helicopter cockpit, long shot of the desert in background

·         B-roll footage of Tibet

·         Long shot of the violence

·         Close ups of the people

Editing:

·         Black screen with white text

·         The words move and change accordingly with the narration

·         Straight cuts during the B-roll helps keep the flow and link shots

Sound:

·         Voice of God/narration throughout

·         Atmospheric sound of the wind for dramatic effect

·         Helicopter sound (diegetic)

·         Voices of people in B-roll

Mise-en-scene:

·         Black background with white text on

·         View of the desert from the helicopter cockpit

·         Images of Tibet and violence

·         Various shots of historical events, shooting of JFK etc

Themes: Violence, corruption, conspiracy

The Art of Russia

Type: This documentary focuses on artwork in Russia through various periods. It is an informative documentary but could also be classed as art.

Camera:

·         Extreme long shot /establishing shot sets the seen, shows how big Russia is

·         Close up of feet walking through the snow

·         Various shots of different artwork and architecture

·         Medium shots of the presenter talking while he walks

Editing:

·         Focus pull of feet/man walking

·         Straight cuts used to change shots

·         Fades to black/white

·         Words/names/titles added

Sound:

·         Voice of God/narration throughout

·         Sound of classical music

·         Sound of snow crunching

Mise-en-scene:

·         Snow covered land/plants

·         Man walking

·         Russian buildings

·         Paintings/sculptures

Themes:  Art, history, culture