- The opening needs to capture the audiences' attention as quickly as possibe
- The central question of the documentary has to be posed at the beginning in order to communicate to the audience what the programme is about
- E.g: Why is Britain the teenage pregnancy capital in Europe? Will we survive a double dip recession? Are University fees exclding a genration from higher edcation?
- Some quick snippets of interviews with good responses can also draw an audience in
- Incidenta music or even a soundtrack, relavant song should usually accompany the opening sequence during some visual montage. Te music must not however override the voice over.
- Titles are all important; you need to announce the title of the documentary in some dramatic form. The name f the show should burst onto the screen
Fly on the wall
This is when you film real people as they do real things focsing on their lves. In terms of documentary you may be able to film things like people having a genuine conversation about issues relevant to your topic, a live sporting event, following an individual around as they do a job etc
Voice over
Most docmentaries have a voice over, a narration of what the programme is about, giving key information and intrducing the topic of debate
Grapics
Documentaries often uuse graphics with written text. Maps, drawing, still photographs can be incorporated into the open sequence through jpeg files. Graphics shuld also appear as a banner at the bottom of the screen when showing who your interviewee is and what they do for a living. e.g: Andrew Mitch, conservative MP
Interviews
An expert interview with someone has ample knowledge of your topic and can give a clear insight ito isses is vitally important. This could be a real expert, parents, students etc
Vox Pops
This is more of a random interview with ordinary people on the street woth a handheld camera, with a microhone popping up asking what they think about your topic
Talking head
A shot of someone talking directly to the camera as a presenter of the docmentary could also be used. This is called 'talking head'. The talking head is the authority figure and presents the facts
Music
Music is critical for the opening sequence but the sound of the song or music shoutld not dominate and override the sound of the voice over.You need to balance sound and imaes very carfully and fade them in appropriately.
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