3. Observational:
• The meaning of an observational technique, is when the documentary maker
follows a key/main person around, and observes the events that happen in the
persons life.
• They would usually use a handheld camera, to record footages of the persons life,
so the equipment would be informal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtbHLwgcDqc – I chose keeping up with the
Kardashian, to show how Rob is they main person, and how he is being observed,
as he’s talking about personal things, and opening up to his sisters.
4. Reportage:
• Reportage, is when the news or other general topics are being told.
• It can also be a journalists style of reporting and giving feedback.
• A technique a lot of journalisms use, they take a picture or a film, and they tell a
story, based on the evidence they have.
• For example: if a celebrity broke up with his/her partner, then the journalists
would find out more information, take a picture or a video, report back and write
something up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAsYALnF1g – In this following link, it clearly
shows, how the news reporter is giving information about Angelina and Brad’s
marriage, and how they’re getting divorced. The news reporter is reporting, and
letting everyone know.
5. Reconstruction:
• When you connect and put pieces of information together, to find out what
happened.
• When you re-create something.
• This happens a lot, for example: if someone has been murdered, then the
investigators would out pieces of information together, to find out what
happened, and why the person did it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03ytvjz/life-and-death-row-series-1-1-
execution - This documentary, is a perfect example, when it comes to connecting
and putting information together. It clearly shows, how the investigators, are trying
to add things up, and come to a conclusion.
6. Interviews:
• When you meet someone face to face, and they ask you a set of questions
related to a certain subject.
• It works two ways, either you interview someone, or someone interviews you.
• A lot of celebrity and movie stars get interviewed, for example: someone that
recently took part in a movie, would tell the interviewee information about the
movie, how the acting was, if they enjoyed it or not.
• Another example, in serious cases: when a person gets taken away by the police,
and has to give a statement and gets interviewed, they have to be honest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW0rBSxBFtA – In this example, it shows how
the cast from Harry Potter, are being interviewed. Each of them tell their own part,
as to whether they enjoyed it or not.
7. Documentary Research, Part 2:
What is meant by:
• Objective
• Subjective
• Biased
Is it okay for a documentary to be subjective and biased?
8. Objective:
• The meaning of objective is, when a person or a system, aims to achieve a goal or
a task, within a certain amount of time.
• An objective can also mean, a plan that’s been put together, and is required to be
met, within a time limit.
• Objective deals with facts.
9. Subjective:
• Subjective is what something is based on, influenced by a persons feelings or opinions.
• Subjective deals with interpretations.
Is it ok for a documentary to subjective?
When we first see a documentary, it’s clearly based on something. For example, if we look
at a documentary based of killing, then automatically we’d know, its based on murder and
police are going to be involved. I personally think, its okay for a documentary to be
subjective, because in the end, the documentary is going to follow a story, encountered on
a situation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07xst16/ambulance-episode-1 - in this
documentary, you can straight away tell, the subject is going to be based on ambulances,
hospitals and injured people.
10. Biased:
• The meaning of biased, is when someone has judged unfairly for or against
someone, or something.
• Showing an unreasonable to like/dislike someone, based on their personal
opinion of the person.
In my opinion, a documentary shouldn’t be biased, as it should show 2 sides of the
story, so it isn’t biased, and so the viewers can understand what's going on. For
example: If the documentary was based on a murder, then it is important they
show the criminals side, and also the person that got murdered, their family. If they
only showed the person’s family, then that would be biased, and very unfair. So in
my opinion, no documentary should be biased.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03jcdr7/life-and-death-row-series-2-3-
truth - We can clearly see from this documentary that it isn’t biased, they're
showing the boys family, and the 2 murderers, as their being fair.
13. Repetition:
• Repetition is when you copy something again, that has already been
said/written. A lot of advertisers, repeat the brand name in the advert
a number of times, to catch the viewers attention, and to tempt them
into buying it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHgGo5dNgeg – This example
shows exactly how it is repeated. In this advert “bacon” is mentioned
more than once, and that’s so it sticks in the viewers head, and they
might consider purchasing the item.
14. Reward:
• A reward is something you get given, for getting recognized and it can
be for a lot of reasons, you might’ve worked hard, achieved
something big, put in a lot of effort, or it might just be a prize. Some
adverts give out prizes, games gifts and all sorts of rewards. This is to
create excitement, and it encourages the viewers to participate, it
then builds a relationship between the viewers and the service.
https://www.itv.com/comps/competitions/paid/47/a_chance_to_win_
gbp40k_bmw_x3_a_luxury_break_and_amp_x_factor_final_tickets -
This link shows how X factor are giving away money and a few other
prizes, to attract more viewers
15. Slogans:
• A slogan is a short phrase used in advertising, and it has to be catchy,
to get the viewers attention, and so they remember it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyQ1TYmF6E – This advert is a
KFC advert. The slogan is “Finger lickin’ good”, the slogan is catchy and
they repeat it in the advert, so the viewers would remember the
slogan.
16. Taglines:
• A tagline is a catchphrase that is in adverts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyQ1TYmF6E – the Iceland one
is “that’s why mums go to Iceland's”
17. Guilt:
• The meaning of guilt, is when you know you’ve done something
wrong, so you immediately feel bad for it. Adverts use the guilt
technique, to play with the viewers emotions and tempt them into
buying the product they're promoting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJCD3ZJfrnk – this is a perfect
example, to show how guilt is used, this will then make the viewers feel
bad, and they’ll try to do something about it.
18. Aspiration:
• The meaning of aspiration is a hope or ambition of achieving
something.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs – this advert inspires
girls to feel a certain way. It'll inspire them and make them do better.
19. Sympathy:
• The meaning of sympathy is when you feel pity and sorrow for
someone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKvKXGMDc5E – there is a
collection of adverts here, that'll make the viewers feel bad and
sympathetic towards the people.
