Task 2 - Research into existing products - Louis Theroux Behind Bars

Begins with establishing master shot in framing, which is unusual as this is usually used in films. Second shot shows Louis and a prisoner talking about his 521 year sentence. This makes the viewer want to carry on watching the film as they want to find out what the prisoner did to get that sentence. Title of the BBC indicates that the documentary is likely to be good as most BBC documentaries are well produced. Music as Louis enters quite soft and light, distinguishing his type of character from the criminals. Quick cuts showing a montage of the criminals and how the guards run the prison.  He asks questions to people which are simple such as “why am I wearing a bullet proof vest?” This is because he is acting through the audience, so he must address as many questions as he can in order to inform the audience. Handheld camera shows realism as the criminal is talking to Louis about his conviction, indicating it is a very serious crime. Fade to black is another technique used by films which has been used in the documentary to show a passage of time.

The separation of races shows that it rough in the prison and that racism and discrimination does happen. Organisations in the prison suggest that there is a lot of conspiracy. Also, the prisoners judge one another by looking signs of weakness and target weaker prisoners, and restrict their freedom and treat them like slaves.

Louis Theroux asks simple questions to people who he is interviewing in order to extract as much detail as he can, in order to give as much infromation as he can to the audience.

Task 2 - Research into existing products - A very British Gangster

What is a documentary film?
[From Wikipedia]
A documentary is a nonfictional motion picture, and is inteded to document aspects of reality.
Cinema Verite
This means "truthful cinema" which is a style of documentary combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinemaic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking povacative stance towards its topics.

There are subtle yet important differences among these terms. Direct Cinema is largely concerned with the recording of events in which the subject and audience become unaware of the camera's presence. Operating within what Bill Nichols, an American historian and theoretician of documentary film, calls the "observational mode" direct cinema is essentially what is now called a fly on the wall documentary. Many therefore see a paradox created by drawing attention away from the reality of the camera and simultaneously declaring the discovery of a cinematic truth.

1. What TV Channel is it broadcasted on?


2. What is the Title of the documentary?


3. What type of documentary is it?

• Historical: The Rise and Fall of the Egyptian Empire
• Biographical: The Life of Sir Stanley Matthews
• Investigative: The truth behind the disspearance of Madeline MCann
• Artistic: The Work of Van Gogh
• Wildlife: The anatomy of the Blue Whale
• Political: The New Labour years
• Drama documentaries: Margeret Thatcher
• Realiyu TV: The Kardishians?
• Celebrity: David Beckham's new tatoo
• Scripted Reality: TOWIE

4. What type of style of documentary is it? Think in terms of:

• Narrative structure: (Linear/Non-linear)
• Editing (fast, slow, dissolves, fades, superimposing etc)
• Voice-overs (narration, register, tone, mode, of address)
• Archive footage (type, style, place, time-period)
• Graphics (pie charts,images)
• Text: (captions, subtitles, banners)

5. What is the subject matter/ content of the documentary?


6. What are the messages and meanings behind the documentary - What is it trying to communicate to the audience?


Research into existing products:

A Very British Gangster - Directed by Donal MacIntyre

Establishing master shot showing the city of Manchester, making it look more like an official film, not a documentary. Music changes to an urban style such as garage. Stereotypically music heard from people in streets. Switches to a shot showing an underpass showing that gangsters are the underbelly of society. Slow motion gives them a sense of superiority and power. CCTV footage indicates the police's point of view suggesting he is under surveillance be being a fugitive. Cutaway to hands showing his gold rings and bracelets. This exemplifies his high status by indicating he is rich and has money. Rock music makes him appear abit more of an old fashioned style of gangster. Also shows that he is a rebellious character aslo, which shows how is not afraid to break the law. Cutaway to news report shows a sense of realism and how serious the situation is with the events in the film. The use of the handheld camera makes it feel more realistic which surprises the audience as events which have occured in the film, a sane person would not have thought they were real. The POV shot allows the viewer to see through Dominic's eyes and see how he views the rough streets of Manchester. They try make Dominic seem more human by trying to make the audience sympathetic. This is shown by things such as him discussing about his bad childhood because, when the audience about he a very rough and violating chldhood, they sympathise for him and don't judge him in the same way. Crane shot used, which is unusual for a dcmentary as it makes it more like a film, which can dramatisise the events.

Goes by Manchester tradition to support local boxing clubs. Talks about how he had a rough childhood where Dominic would be involved with much violence, like he was growing up in a ghetto. This is shown when bad events which he talks about happen to him, such as when he was raped at 13. However Dominic is confident to do this as he is very open about the subject and is not hessitent when talking about his past traumas. This because he knows he is highly superior, so no one would judge or try to insult him as people don't want to get on his bad side.