Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is a British observational documentary produced by Fire Cracker Films for Channel 4. The documentary is a series looking at the world of gypsies and Irish travellers in Britain's society today. It shows how ancient traditions have met modern fashions in an ostentatious culture clash in the world of 21st-century gypsy and traveller weddings.

Throughout the documentary there is a narrator, explaining what is happening and who the audience is watching. Short interviews are carried out but whilst they are in their natural environment, for example (Episode 1 Part 2) a 13 year old boy is questioned whilst getting his hair done at the hair dressers, although we can hear him being questioned it still looks natural because of this. Basic editing techniques are used through out making also making the documentary seem more natural.

A series of non diagetic sound is played which is almost fantasy like, which may portray that they are living in another world. They all most certainly stand out with the girls who parade into church in enormous dresses that sometimes weigh more than the bride herself.

 

Michael Moore – Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore produced the documentary ‘Bowling for Columbine’ in order to try and reveal why the tragic Columbine High School massacre took place in the first place and why other acts of violence and gun crime occur so much in America. The style of documentary used in this case was expository as it is an informative, educating piece but also interactive as Michael Moore interacts with people in the film as well. By being proactive in the documentary he is able to get more involved and actually try to make a difference, a good example of this is when him and two surviving students from the Columbine High School massacre go to a largely known supermarket ‘Kmart’ complaining about the sale of ammunition, eventually ending in the supermarket agreeing to no longer sell them anymore; a very good achievement. He is also able to show viewers that in Michigan he is able to sign up to join a bank to receive a free gun! Showing just how easy it really is to own a gun in the USA.

Michael Moore uses the stereotypical view of black men in his documentary but challenges this by showing different viewpoints. Michael Moore is operating in the interests of the Columbine victims, we are able to see this because the whole documentary is based on finding out what the cause of gun crime is due to the occurrence of the Columbine shootings.

Michael Moore uses editing in this documentary to create meaning. He does this by using fast edits, such as the fast edits of previous news channels talking about different acts of violence and gun crime in America, this implies the chaos and also shows the extent oh how many shootings are occurring which Michael Moore is trying to portray as too many. He also uses a montage of clips of CCTV from the Columbine High School massacre itself with a voice over of the many calls received by police from parents and even teachers inside the school fearing for their life, this shows the intensity of the shootings, the audience is almost brought into it feeling a sense of fear as well. Michael Moore even uses animation in this documentary to show where the start of gun crime began in a strangely humorous way; he is even able to show the start of racism in this brief animation.

The narrative does not simplify the complex issue of why gun crime is occurring so much in the USA. It may even open up different views that people had never thought of before, making it much more complex in fact! Michael Moore shows that the sales of ammunition in the barbers to the songs of Marilyn Manson being the cause of the Columbine Shootings two very different view points yet all brought into one documentary.

The end of the documentary does give a false sense of closure as he leaves the little girls picture on the grounds of ?????’s house, showing he has made a point but does not show a clear reason for why these shocking events have happened in the United States, but has just shown the different opinions of why, leaving viewers still questioning the same thing at the end of the film; Why did the Columbine High School massacre happen? What made Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris commit the horrific crime?

The Boys Who Killed Stephen Lawrence

 The Boys Who Killed Stephen Lawrence is a documentary that was broadcasted on BBC 1 in July 2006. The documentary informs us about the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the suspected killers Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, Neil Acourt, 27 and Jamie Acourt. It is an expositary and interactive documentary as it educates and informs the audience, whilst the film maker Mark Daly is also involved throughout.

The documentary consists of many techniques in order to put the case across to the audience. It includes secretive surveillance footage of the suspects which display them fooling around with knifes which gives the audience a bad first impression of them. Interviews are carried out throughout the documentary including individuals such as police officers, friends and Duwayne Brooks, Stephen Lawrence's friend and witness of the murder. whilst Duwayne is explaining the night in question in his own words, reconstruction footage is played with the use of similar looking actors. After the reconstruction of his murder, real crime scene photos are displayed followed by real images of Stephens dead body focusing on his wounds, this conveys the true reality and horror of the crime to the audience. Real police interviews questioning Jamie Acourt and Neil Acourt are used during this images of the weapons used are shown. Maps are used when explaining the suspected whereabouts of each individual on that night to clearly demonstrate this to the viewers. Mark Daly includes past interviews of the suspects on television which effectively shows inconsistency in their statements of where they actually where on the night Stephen Lawrence was murdered. Past documents are also shown stating previous statements made which proves that all of there stories are inconsistent.

Overall it is clear to see that the use of each of these techniques and the way Mark Daly portrays them makes the audience believe that his views are correct, after watching this documentary it made me believe that either Gary Dobson, David Norris , Neil Acourt or Jamie Acourt murdered Stephen Lawrence that night.

                                     

Educating Essex

Educating Essex is a fly on the wall documentary as it records teachers and students in their natural environment over a period of time. The documentary focuses on Passmores Academy secondary school in Harlow, Essex. The show follows a group of GCSE students and there teachers, during the crucial year of there education. The school was fitted with 65 fixed cameras, from the corridors to the canteen, and from the headteacher's office to the detention hall. Recording with the fixed cameras lasted for seven weeks which was then edited down into a seven part series.


Episode one starts off with diagetic sound of the school bell followed by  a high angle shot giving the audience a general overview of the students and setting. A mid shot is used to show a teacher telling off students regarding their uniform, as he is the first member of staff we see it conveys to the audience that this could be a main important character within the documentary. A narrator is also present throughout the documentary when necessary. A brief long shot of the school field is used to display to the audience the setting again before a jump cut to a student and teacher, it is very fast paced at the beginning allowing the audience to see more in a short space of time. 


Most of the editing seems to be very basic to make the show as natural as possible, many interviews are filmed of students and teachers which allows the audience to see how each individual feels and sees each situation through out each episode. 


All of the techniques used all contribute to making the documentary as realistic as possible rather than staged, i believe that this has been done well.

Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents

Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents  is a fly on the wall documentary aired on BBC3. It follows teenagers going on their first holiday abroad under the belief that they are getting away from their parents but they are yet to find out that their parents are actually going to the same destination and watching footage of them partying and spying on them throughout the whole duration of their holiday.


I watched an episode from series 1 on iPlayer, this episode was based in Kavos focusing on two main girls in the group Beckie and Chelsea. The programme begins by showing random clips of other episodes showing the nightlife and how hectic it can be on a teenage holiday. A voice over is present through this and introduces the programme. The main girls are then introduced by cutting to short clips of them talking to the camera which then cuts back to shots of the nightlife. I noticed a slow motion editing technique was inserted just as the parents were introduced by the voice over along with a sheriff/cowboy type non diagetic sound, indicating that they are in charge and had control. They also uncluded a split screen effect to enable the audience to see what the teens and parents are doing at the same time. The voice over is present through out the whole programme and introduces the girls in more detail, mid shots of the girls talking to the camera before they have left for Kavos along with shots of them with their parents at home allow the audience to get to know the girls and parents more and see what their relationship is like. After this there are mid shots of the parents speaking to the camera, text appears at the bottom stating their name and whose parent they are to make it clear to viewers. The voice over then introduces the rest of the group and names are shown at the bottom of the screen again so the audience does not get confused. When they arrive to Kavos and enter their hotel room non diagetic sound of party music is played which helps to set the scene. Throughout the documentary mainly jump cuts are used.

I personally believe this is an interesting documentary to watch for both teenagers and parents, the documentary is set out well and informs the audience of what is going on at all times which i think is good and would be good to incorporate into the documentary we decide to create.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xz23r/Sun_Sex_and_Suspicious_Parents_Series_1_Kavos/

Supersize vs Superskinny

 Supersize vs Superskinny  is an expository documentary series in  in which two extreme eaters one very overweight and the other severely underweight swap diets in an attempt to change the way they view food and eating. The two candidates are paired together and brought to a feeding clinic, and live together for five days, swapping diets all supervised by Dr Christian Jessen. A narrator is present throughout most of the show explaining what is happening and going on. Dr Christian Jessen is very much involved in all goings on, he plays a part by interviewing the candidates and advising them on how they should be eating in order to maintain a healthy life style. A series of different camera angles and zooms are used to show the over or under wieght bodies of each candidates. I found that there were many close up on each of the candidates faces whilst eating the opposed diets this shows viewers how they are feeling.                  
                                               

9/11 The Lost Tapes

9/11 The Lost Tapes is an expository documentary revealing to the British audiences newly released audio recordings offering a unique insight and moving perspective on 9/11 and the fateful minutes that changed America forever.

The documentary begins with an establishing shot of the twin towers before the tragic incident, this then cuts to a long shot of New York including a flying plane, a voice over is also present to introduce it. Right after this archive footage of real recordings of the twin towers burning is shown. Non diagetic sound of panicked people talking is heard on top of this as the camera jumps from different shots of people on phones, large satellite dishes etc. Reconstructed footage of services answering phones is shown along with the non diagetic sound of scared people again. There is a mid shot of a man talking to the camera which is then cut to shots of fighter planes. After this there is a shot of another man but a close up which shows more emotion, during this non diagetic powerful on edge music is played when the shot changes to the twin towers falling the the ground this music fades out. Much of the rest of the documentary consists of mid shots and close ups of interviews, a voice over to explain goings on, reconstructions and real audio from the devastating day the world trade center was destroyed. In my opinion this documentary is more suited to older people, but it is extremely interesting and informative.

Life Of Rhyme

Life Of Rhyme is a personal and interactive documentary starring Mc artist Akala, it explores British MC culture and its unique contribution to spoken word and poetry, be it via rap, jungle, drum and bass, garage or grime.

It begins with and over the shoulder shot of Akala followed by a series of close ups, low angles shots, long shots he then begins to rap as he does the words come up on the screen to make a statement. It then cuts to archive footage of two famous grime artists after this it cuts to a series of different artists sharing their views on Mc culture and what it is briefly, below each artist text is used to show the audience their names, this is effective as the audience see views from many different people. Close up and mid shots of Akala are then used when he is explaining who he is and what he has done. After this we see previous footage of his concerts, where he has been etc. A two shot of two teenage boys rhyming and a long shot of three boys at a bus stop (one rapping) is shown followed by a mid shot of a young boy explaining why he is a poet, this shows the point of view from the young generation. Filler shots are used such as a close up of a London bus pulling away and establishing shots of a house. The documentary also includes interviews by Akala. Akala really gets involved in the documentary giving his own opinions along with other artists i beleive this works well and shows another side to Mc culture and could change the views of people with negative thoughts about it. Click to watch