Mind Map for Documentary Film

Here I looked at ideas for what the coursework will be. I had 2 ideas for the basis for my coursework. I realized that I definitely wanted to do a Mockumentary based film, however I decided I wanted to be smart with my cinematography, which the Philomena Cunk basis allowed this to a further degree than The Office basis, meaning that I chose to do that, however I mentioned it in more detail within the mind map posted here.

Documentary Conventions

Compilation films

Compilation films are Documentaries which comprise an assembly of archive images such as news reel footage. This is often mixed with voiceover and is common to overlap with talking heads interviews to give context and insight into what is going on. Often there is a Voice of God running through what is happening on screen.

Example: The World at War, Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, Bowling for Columbine

Interview/ Talking Heads

Often used when the subject of the Documentary is still alive, or it can mix with Compilation films, this type is where testimonies are recorded about people, events, or social movements, and this is used to stir emotions and get an insight from those involved or their to witness about how they saw it and their opinion on the subject.

Example: 7 Days that shook the Weatherman, Micheal Jackson's Boys, I love 1980

Direct Cinema

Often referred to as 'Fly on the wall', this type of Documentary is usually shot from a distance, with minimal interference from those who are making it, so we get a real slice of life. Always used in Nature Documentaries and often spoofed in mockumentaries

Example- Meerkat Manor, Nothing to Declare, Blue Planet

Docusoaps

Fairly new, started with Micheal Apted's Up series, chronicling the lives of children at different intervals to see how they've grown. Has elements of documentary making, however is like soap in that it is very mediated. It makes sure to used juxtaposed characters in order to provide good viewing.

Examples- Dog Whisperer, Wife Swap, Supernanny

Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe

This is the latest in a series that Charlie Brooker has done in one form or another since 2006. In it, he analyses what has happened in the world since the last episode, previously in the past week and now in the past year. He has done a series specifically looking at news, and a special for the 2015 UK election. He ensures that there is no bias, which he does through insulting everyone equally. In that, we get a mostly equal representation, however the fact that Charlie Brooker can't stand the conservative party mean that we do get a somewhat harsher representation of them. It is mediated in the fact that the editing takes place to mean that they use a clip to evoke humour, since the Documentary is done through compilation, with talking heads segments.

Documentary Types (Class)

Here I have a list of Documentary types, featuring examples, which was analysed by the entire class. It offers a look at examples of each types, and also a hint into the broad range of types of Documentaries on which my coursework can be based on.

Contrast in mediation throughout the duration of a documentary

I looked at 2 differing screenshots from SuperSize Me, and the ways the mediation differs throughout the documentary. Here, I note that the documentary changes in the amount of mediation it has throughout the duration, with the first example early in the documentary showing a large degree of mediation compared to the later scene which is further along the duration of the film. This shows that throughout a documentary, the amount of mediation is certainly liable to change.