1. Assignment 17:
Similar Products & Conventions
Topic: ‘Have video games evolved for the better or the worse’
Pamela Younes
Jodie Foster-Pilia
Abigail Menzies
Laura Cuk

2. Similar Products (docs I watched)

3. Abigail Menzies
Similar Products (Docs I watched)
Name of
documentary
TV
or
Film
Genre &
Mode
How
much
watched
Where
watched
Date
What I learnt from
this documentary
that I can apply to my
own
Last days of
Left Eye
Film
Expository
mode
All of it
YouTube
August
Use of handheld
cameras inside of
tripods to maintain
realism
Marley
Film
Observational
mode
All of it
DVD
August
Volume control is
used so the
background music is
faintly heard during a
interview
My tattoo
addiction
TV
Observational
mode
All of it
4oD
September
Zooming in on
archival photos (ken
burns) so the
audience focuses on
something in
particular

4. Abigail Menzies
Similar Products (Docs I watched)
One mile
way
Film
Performative
mode
All of
it
YouTube
July
Use of titles are to
introduce the interviewee’s
name and role/job
Food Matter
Film
Observational
mode
30
mins
Netflix
August
Natural lighting is used
instead of artificial lighting
to maintain a sense of
realism
Addicted to
pleasureSugar
TV
Participatory
mode
15
mins
BBC
iplayer
September
The presenter takes part in
experiments and interacts
with his subjects
Wal-Mart:
the high cost
of a low
price
Film
Observational
Mode
All of
it
Netflix
September
Statistics are presented in
bold text alongside a
voiceover that reads what is
on the screen
Good Hair
Film
Perfomative
Mode
All of
it
Online
movie
website
August
The presenter interviews a
variety of people from
different ages and
ethnicities so he has a range
of opinions

5. Abigail Menzies
Similar Products (Docs I watched)
Fastest man
who ever
lived: Usain
Bolt
Film
Participatory
Mode
All of
it
YouTube
August
In the beginning there is a
montage of interviews from
different people answering
the same question
Too Poor for
posh school
Film
Observational
Mode
30
mins
Netflix
August
Expert interviews are con
ducted in a professional
setting e.g. their office
Human
Swarm
TV
Participatory
Mode
All of
it
4oD
July
Variety of visuals are used
with cutaways
Biggie &
Tupac
Film
Observational
Mode
All of
it
Netflix
July
Use of establishing shots to
show the different locations
My big fat
gypsy
wedding
Film
Observational
Mode
All of
it
Netflix
October
Use of cutaways during
interviews so the
interviewee aren't on the
screen for long
Catfish
TV
Reflexive
Mode
All of
it
TV and
online
movie
website
August
Extreme close up shots are
used so audience can read
emails, text messages et.

6. Similar products (docs I've watched)
Name of doc
TV or
Film
Genre and
mode
How
much
watch
ed
Where/how
watched?
Date
What did I learn from
watching documentary
that I could apply to
mine.
Branded a which
TV
Participatory
mode
1
Television at
home
August
That public interviews are
very important, as they are
not planned and give a real
insight to a situation
Britain's Fattest
man
TV
Expository
mode
1
Television a
home
May
Many different shot such as
close-ups/extreme close-ups
should be us when someone
is talking(doesn’t become
boring)
Food unwrapped
TV
Participatory
mode
2
school, and
television at
home
August
Statistics are very useful for a
documentary to become
informative.
The man with the
10 stone testicles
TV
Expository
mode
1
Television at
home
September
Extreme close-ups should be
used to give audience more
information
The Human swarm
TV
Participatory
mode
1
School
August
Time lapsing should be used
to show time passing, this is
visually effective.

7. Name of doc
TV or
Film
Genre and
mode
How
much
watch
ed
Where/how
watched?
Date
What did I learn from
watching documentary
that I could apply to
mine.
Catfish
TV
Participatory
mode
6
Television at
home or on
computer
Oct/Nov
Handheld camera movement
is important in order that it
has that documentary feel,
and seems realistic.
The boy who's skin
fell off
TV
Expository
mode
1
Computer
at home
May
Incidental Music should be
used to set mood.
Africa
TV
Expository
mode
3
Television at
home
October
If music is applied when
there is a voiceover, the
music should be significantly
lower, so voiceover is clear.
koyaanisquatsi
Film
Poetic mode
1
School
May
Sometimes footage should
be shown in silence so
audience can interpret things
for themselves, without
being told.
Lady boys
TV
Participatory
mode
2
Television at
home
September
Expert interviews are most
definitely needed as they are
highly influential

8. Name of doc
TV or
Film
Genre and
mode
How
much
watch
ed
Where/how
watched?
Date
What did I learn from
watching documentary
that I could apply to
mine.
The iceman
TV
Participatory
mode
1
Television at
home
April
Scientific evidence is always
significant in a documentary,
as it is greatly influential.
Supersize me
Film
Participatory
mode
1
Television at
home
July
Doing experiments as a
presenter, helps to keep the
documentary fun
Peter Andre My life
TV
Participatory
mode
10
school, and
television at
home
Sept/Oct
There are always establishing
shots used to show were
peter Andre is, this
orientates audience.
Riots from wrong
TV
Participatory
1
school
July
Archival footage is good for
use of evidence.
Turtle boy
TV
Expository
1
Television at
home
January
Expert interviews are more
believable if they are filmed
in there professional
environment, i.e. surgeon in
hospital

9. Name of doc
TV or
Film
Genre and
mode
How
much
watch
ed
Where/how
watched?
Date
What did I learn from
watching documentary
that I could apply to
mine.
The boy who's face
fell of
TV
Expository
mode
1
Television at
home
January
Sound bridging to ensure
audience aren't just looking
at someone talk to camera
for long

10. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
1.
Sicko
film
Participatory
1
school
May 13
Case studies
2.
My big fat
gypsy wedding
TV
Performative
& Expository
5+
Home
11/12
Theme
3.
Catfish
TV
Reflexive
1
Home
2013
Realism

11. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
4.
Riot from
wrong
Film
Participatory
1
iPad
2013
Footage
5.
Catfish
TV
Participatory
6
Home
2013
Realism
6.
The boy who's
skin fell off
Film
Participatory
1
Home
2013
Sub topics

12. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
7.
Seven dwarves:
the wedding
Film
Participatory
1
Home
2013
Interviewing
8.
Thelma's gypsy
girls
TV
Performative
& Expository
5+
Home
2013
The message behind
this documentary
9.
9/11 the lost
tapes, 10th
anniversary,
falling man,
children of
9/11
Film
Participatory
1
Home
2013
Interviewing/case
studies

13. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
10. 16 kids and
counting
Film
Participatory
1
Home
2013
Message behind this
documentary
11. 15 kids and
counting
TV
Participatory
3
Home
2013
Footage
12. The Human
Mannequin
Film
Participatory
& Expository
1
Home
2013
Sense of realism

14. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
13. 999 what's
your
emergency
TV
Participatry
&
Performative
4
Home
2013
Case studies
14. Educating
Essex
TV
Participatory
3
Home
2013
Interviewing
15. The queens
mother In law
Film
Expository
1
Home
2013
Montage photography

15. Similar Products
Pamela Younes
NAME OF
DOCUMENTARY
TV or
FILM
GENRE & MODE
HOW
MUCH
WATCHED
WHERE/HOW
WATCHED
DATE
What did you learn from this
documentary that you could
apply to your documentary
16. The three day
nanny
TV
Performative
1
Home
2013
Case study

16. Similar products & conventions
Laura
Name of documentary
TV or Film
Genre & Mode
How much you
watched
Where/how
watched
1. Attenborough's Ark
Film
Nature &
Ecology
All of it
Plane
2. Shelter Me
Film
Social & Cultural
30 minutes
Netflix
3. Supersize Me
Film
45 minutes
Netflix
4. Food, Inc.
Film
Criticallyacclaimed
30 minutes
Netflix
5. The Blue Planet
TV Series
Nature &
Ecology
48 minutes – episode
1
Netflix
6. Indie Game
Film
Social & Cultural
43 minutes
Netflix
7. We Are Legion
Film
Political
20 minutes
Netflix
8. X Games: The Movie
Film
Social & Cultural
50 minutes
Netflix

17. Similar products & conventions
Laura
Name of documentary
TV or Film
Genre & Mode
How much you
watched
Where/how
watched
9. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey
Film
Social &
Cultural
All of it
Netflix
10. The Crimson Wing
Film
Nature &
Ecology
30 minutes
Netflix
11. Tom Dowd & the Language of
Music
Film
Critically
acclaimed
30 minutes
Netflix
12. Catfish
Film
1 h 27 minutes
School & Netflix
13. Bowling for Columbine
Film
1 h 59 minutes
Netflix
14. The Boy whose skin fell off
TV Series
15. Life
TV Series
16. Riot from Wrong
Film
Critically
acclaimed
LoveFilm
Nature &
Ecology
All of it
LoveFilm
All of it
School

18. Inspiration from Similar Products

19. Abigail Menzies
Inspiration from Similar Products
(The Presenter)
Conducts his
interviews in a
natural setting
for e.g.. a lab
The presenter is
participative throughout
this documentary and
takes part in various
experiment
Documentary: Good Hair
The presenter interacts with his
subjects and asks open questions
so the expert can answer in depth

20. Abigail Menzies
Inspiration from Similar Products
(Titles and Credits)
Use of titles and credits to Introduce the
presenters and filming crew
Name of the person is in bold so
it stands out
Titles boxes are similar to social networking chat
boxes this relates to the topic of the documentary
USE OF TITLES
Documentary: Catfish

21. Abigail Menzies
Statistics are presented
in white, bold writing
that is easy and clear
to read
Inspiration from Similar Products
(Statistics)
Statistics are
supported by a
voiceover
Background is slightly blurred
so it doesn’t distract the
audience from the text
Documentary: Wal-Mart: High Cost Of Low Prices

22. Abigail Menzies
Inspiration from Similar Products
(Expert Interviews)
Done at a mid
shot so the
audience
focuses on the
expert rather
than the
background
Name of expert is set at slightly
bigger font than his job title
Documentary: Food Matter
Simple font and graphic background so the
white writing stands out

23. Inspiration from similar products
Presenter
Happy, Fun, bubby presenter
keeps audience engaged
Camera Movement
Always breaks diegesis and looks
at camera, ensuring audience
feel involved
Inter titles
Inter titles used to
show who a person is.
Black text is placed on white
background so its clear to read
Documentary: Catfish
Fairly small, not distracting
Handheld camera movement
portrays a feel of reality and
also ensure it is more
documentary-like

24. Inspiration From Similar Products
Pamela Younes
He would
solve the
relationship
between the
Facebook user
and the
person on the
other side
Recording
their video
chat to see if
the Facebook
account user
account
Documentary: Catfish the TV show 2013
They show that they are
editing

25. Inspiration From Similar Products
Pamela Younes
Depends what
the crime is
and the police
and the fighter
fighter comes
Documentary: 999 What’s the emergency? 2013
The action
that happened
and the
problem
caused makes
it more
interesting to
watch to see if
it would be
solved
There case study’s make the
documentary more intriguing

26. Inspiration From Similar Products
Pamela Younes
The font of the
title makes it
seem happy,
exciting and
girly, which gives
an idea to the
audience what
the
documentary
would be about
The theme is
continuous on
all the
episodes on
this
documentary
Around the title it has a crown and bit of
material which represents the bride, s the
dress is the most important thing
Documentary: Big fat gypsy wedding 2011

27. Inspiration from similar products
• Attenborough’s Ark
Mode Theory:
David Attenborough is both participatory and
expository.
Mid shots:
Mid shot is used to show the
framing of the character.

28. Inspiration from similar products
• Crimson Wing
Titles:
Titles/captions were white and then changed to the colour white
then faded to black.

29. Inspiration from similar products
• Crimson Wing
Transitions:
The transition used in this clip was fade to black

30. Conventions of Documentaries
Individual & group

31. Abigail Menzies
Conventions of Documentaries
Conventions
Example from a documentary
Non- linear narrative
structure
•‘Food Matters’ isn’t structured in order, instead the filmmaker edits
this documentary so only certain parts of the experts interviews are
shown when it relates to the subtopic
Modern topics
•‘Food Unwrapped’ explores how the food we eat are processed and
are unhealthy, this is relevant as in contemporary society people are
concerned about what they eat
Background music
•Non-diegetic background music is used in ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’
to set the appropriate mood
Archival photos and
footage
•‘Good Hair’ uses archival photos and footage to support what is being
said in the voiceover
Archival photo
Archival footage of the
presenter and his daughter

32. Conventions of documentaries
Conventions
Example of Documentary
Montage Editing (editing)is used in intro to create
suspense as audience want to find out what it’s about
Catfish
Time lapsing (editing) is used to show time passing
The human swarm
Transitions (editing)used to distinguish when
documentary is going on a break.
Britain's fattest man
Rule of thirds(CAMSAM),the boy is placed on left side
of screen indicating that he feels quite distressed
The boy who’s skin fell of
Close-ups/extreme close-ups (CAMSAM) used to
reveal greater detail to audience
The man with the 10 stone testicles
Establishing shots (CAMSAM) used to orientate the
audience perhaps showing where an interview is.
Branded a witch
Expert interview is seen to be where they are most
comfortable (location) Surgeon was shown in a
hospital.
Turtle boy

33. Conventions of a Documentary
Pamela Younes
Conventions
Example from a documentary
Statistics
Supersize me uses statistics where it explains the amount of people
that eat the food. Also shows statistics through animations where
they can make the statistics easier to remember
Narrator
In my big fat gypsy wedding; cannot show a screen grab because I
cannot show the narrator. Its when the narrator asks Thelma about
her job and making the dresses. The narrator is unseen; behind the
camera
Presenter
Catfish uses a presenter where Nev presents the show by talking
about the relationships, what they are about to do, and what
happens after they met (if they go there separate ways)

34. Conventions of documentaries
Laura
Conventions
Example from documentary
(bullet points or image)
Conventions of mode theory
Attenborough’s Ark
Conventions of social actors
Bowling for Columbine
Conventions of titles/captions
Crimson Wing

35. Similar products & their conventions

36. Who is doing what documentaries?
Name
Documentaries
Pamela Younes
• Catfish
• 999 what’s the
emergency?
• My big fat gypsy
wedding
Jodie Foster-Pilia
• Branded a witch
• Africa
• Riot from wrong
Abigail Menzies
• Good Hair
• Human Swarm
Laura Cuk

37. Abigail Menzies
Similar products & their conventions
Convention
Use
Public
Interviews
Develop
Challenge
Explanation
This convention is developed as some public
interviews are done in the usual way in public
natural settings e.g. a barbershop, however
others are done in a professional studio
X
Done in conventional
natural setting
Done in nonconventional
staged setting
Statistics
Documentary: Good Hair
X
This convention is challenged as statistics are
not presented on screen so its viewable to the
audience but it is said by the presenter

38. Abigail Menzies
Similar products & their conventions
Convention
Use
Develop
Challenge
Explanation
Time lapse
(editing)
X
This convention is used in various ways to speed
up the process of things as well as to slow it down
Experiments
X
This convention is used and is done by the
presenter, who participants in different
experiments to support his topic
Presenter takes part in range of experiments
Cutaways
X
This convention is usually used when an expert
has a lengthy response, so the scene cuts to
different visuals that relate to what is being said
in the voiceover of the expert
Documentary: The Human Swarm

39. Similar products and their conventions
Branded a witch
Convention
Use
Develop
challenge
Explanation
Case studies
Their is one main case study
which is focussed on in this
documentary. It is interesting
to see how the case studies
develop
Archival
photographs
Archival photos are used
to give audience insight
into past
Inter titles
These are used to introduce
a particular person to
audience.

40. Africa
Convention
Use
Develop
challenge
Explanation
Voiceover
A continuous voiceover is
used to describe exactly what
is happening in the
documentary
Incidental
music
Incidental music is used in
Closeups/extreme
close-ups
Close-ups are used in this
documentary to reveal more
to audience as it shows
footage in greater detail
this documentary to set
mood, whether it is a calming
(slow pace)or aggressive(fast
pace)

41. Riot from wrong
Convention
Use
Develop
challenge
Explanation
Cutaways
In this documentary,
cutaways are used to refer
back to archival footage.
Handheld
camera
movement
Handheld camera movements
is used to give a sense of
reality.
Expert
interviews
Expert interviews are used to
ensure documentary is more
informative and perhaps
influential

42. Similar Products & their conventions
Pamela Younes – Green Level
Conventions
Use
Develop Challenge Explanations
Statistics

Catfish challenges statistics, as there is nothing
to point a fact about as he is just solving the
person who is at the other end of the facebook
chat
Narrator

Challenges it, as there is no need for a narrator
as there is a presenter throughout the whole
documentary
Presenter

Documentary: Catfish the TV show 2013
Always present, even when video chatting,
recording or even editing

43. Similar Products & their conventions
Pamela Younes – Green Level
Conventions
Use

Statistics
Narrator
Presenter
Develop Challenge Explanations

They do not use statistics in this episode
Narrator was present throughout the whole
documentary where they would explain the
situation in the background

There was no presenter used
Documentary: 999 What’s the emergency? 2013

44. Similar Products & their conventions
Pamela Younes – Green Level
Conventions
Use

Statistics
Narrator
Presenter
Develop Challenge Explanations

They develop this as they give a percentage
when compared with gypsys in different parts
of England, such as as comparing them if they
are still traditional
There's a narrator when they would ask Thelma
questions about gypsys and her dresses she
designs and the narrator asks the brides to be
and husbands

Documentary: Big fat gypsy wedding 2011
They develop it has there is also a narrator but
Thelma acts like a presenter as she talks to the
camera and tells the audience where she is
going and what she's doing

45. Similar products and their conventions
Laura - Green level
Conventions
1. Social actors
Use
 .
Develop
Challenge
 .
Explanation
Use – we will be using the
convention of public interviews.
Challenge – this convention will
be challenged because we may
not get an expert to interview.
2. Mode theory
 .
Use – expository mode will be
used at the beginning
Use – participatory mode will be
used when filming the presenter
in certain locations or when
doing interviews.
3. Titles/captions
 .
Use – we will use this
convention when we introduce
the presenter etc. Also this
convention will be used to
introduce the interviewees.

46. Your product (documentary) &
conventions

47. Conventions in our documentary
Conventions we
want to apply
Where in
documentary
Use
/develop/challenge
Inspirational
documentary
Voiceover
When we are
explaining our archival
footage of people
playing videogames
use
Africa
cutaways
To show supporting
archival footage (i.e.
super nannies
experiment on video
games)
use
Riot from wrong
Handheld footage
For public interviews,
may have to be done
quick.
use
Catfish
Composition
Expert interviews, think
about the placement.
use
The boy who's skin fell
of
Close-ups
When showing the
covers of video games,
or when someone is
talking
use
Britain's fattest man
Expert interviews
When we want to ask a
sociologist about the
effect of video games
use
Branded a witch