Here is all of my research for my crime documentary opening project
First of all before I delve deeply on how crime documentaries are being made and how does it affect the audiences, I researched on what is crime documentary and the general knowledge about it. Based on a site from Edusites GCSE these are the conventions that would create a good crime documentary.
Below is a list of conventions applied to Documentary film making – it must be remembered that not all conventions apply to all film texts:
- Hand held Camera - encoding realism and ‘truth’
- Narrative Voice Over - leading the audience into a preferred reading
- Vox Pops and Interviews with experts / witnesses / participants
- Often a shorter running time than non-fiction feature films
- Intercutting / Parallel Editing linking key scenes
- Use of Archive footage to support filmed scenes
- Surveillance (information) decoded by audience (e.g. about McDonalds in Supersize Me)
- Mediated culture – documentaries select and construct, thus encoding opinion and subjectivity
- Selective editing crucial to constructing meaning
- Often point of view with encoded ideology, preferred meaning
- Use of Establishing Shot and Close Up
- Observational, Interactive, Reflexive, Expository in format
- 3 act structure, closed investigative narrative
- Often single stranded, linear – one subject is often the topic
- Exploration of narrative themes, messages and values
- Different purposes – to entertain, inform, educate, satire, shock, satisfy the audiences
------------------------------------- Analyzing crime documentary opening research ------------------------------------------------
1) The Final: Attack On Wembley
1. What sub-genre of crime documentary would you categorize this?
This documentary would be classified as sport-crime documentary, it shows mostly about the overcrowding and people forcing access without tickets to watch once in a lifetime football game.
2. Who is the largest audience?
Football fans / sports enthusiasts in general mostly young-adults or adults that is really interested with the homecoming of England football team.
3. What typical documentary conventions were used?
Non-diegetic suspenseful sound, through interviews being shown, shot of the location (establishing shot).
4. Did this opening conform or subvert the conventions for this genre?
Conform as it starts with establishing shot of the stadium and it shows the location where the action is taken place giving audiences an immediate understanding of the topic.
5. How does it create suspense using the following:
- camera: Quick cuts, which emphasize pace and energy on how excited the people are going into the stadium.
-sound: Non-diegetic sound of scores that is building tension
-mise-en-scene: there is a clip with CCTV footage which shows the uncontrollable crowds.
-edit: Dissolving, to show connection between scenes usually in the setting then changes place when someone is having an interview.
6. What parts of the opening did you find inspiring?
The establishing shot of the landscape, anecdote of the location then blank screen with the title of the documentary.
1) Worst Roommate Ever
1. What sub-genre of crime documentary would you categorize this?
Thriller and murder documentary
2. Who is the largest audience?
People who are fascinated with thriller or horror movie and enjoyed watching mystery that slowly reveals the truth about a deep or hidden secrets.
3. What typical documentary conventions were used?
establishing shot of the house, narrators voice (ND sound of the victim talking), drones overall setting, pictures being shown to highlight mysteries and create hermeneutic codes.
4. Did this opening conform or subvert the conventions for this genre?
Establishing shot of the house, which familiarized audiences of where the scene is taking place and it also starts with an anecdote from the main character that is non-diegetic sound which creates mystery and anticipation.
5. How does it create suspense using the following:
- camera: Zoom in, on specific person on the pictures highlights their importance and encourage audiences to pay attention to the little details.
-sound: Lots of ND from the clicking cameras, eerie music that creates tension.
-mise-en-scene: Dull lighting to creates realism, creating a mysterious atmosphere, and setting the mood for the unfolding narrative.
-edit: Match cuts, provide a smooth transition between scenes, creating a sense of continuity and fluidity in the narrative.
6. What parts of the opening did you find inspiring?
I find it inspiring when the clip starts with a J-cut it creates uncertainty and curiosity for the readers of what is actually happening in the scene.
3) What Jennifer Did
1. What sub-genre of crime documentary would you categorize this?
Violent and murder crime documentary
2. Who is the target audience?
- People who are fascinated with thriller or horror movie and enjoyed watching mystery that slowly reveals the truth about a deep or hidden secrets.
- People who are educated and wanted to learn about psychological things and how people thinks might be interested on how the movie will go and unveils.
3. What typical documentary conventions were used?
The clip uses establishing shot of the house to gives information about the setting and where the event is taking place at to let the audience be familiar with the surroundings, moreover, narrators voice (ND sound of the victim talking), drones overall setting, pictures being shown in quick cuts to highlight mysteries and create hermeneutic codes.
4. Did this opening conform or subvert the conventions for this genre?
It conforms the conventions of a crime documentary, the trailer starts with an establishing shot of the house, which familiarized audiences of where the scene is taking place and it also starts with an anecdote from the main character using non-diegetic sound which creates mystery and anticipation. Additionally, the include of real footage adds authenticity and helps ground the documentary in reality. This is also supported with the mise-en-scene of moody and dark lighting which often used to create a sense of danger and mystery.
5. How does it create suspense using the following:
- camera shots / angles: zoom in, on specific person on the pictures which highlights their importance and encourage audiences to pay attention to the little details.
-sound: uses of ND sound from the clicking cameras, eerie music that creates tension.
-mise-en-scene: dull lighting to creates realism, creating a mysterious atmosphere, and setting the mood for the unfolding narrative.
-edit: match cuts, provide a smooth transition between scenes, creating a sense of continuity and fluidity in the narrative.
6. What parts of the opening did you find inspiring?
I find it inspiring when the clip starts with a J-cut it creates uncertainty as the audiences could only hear the sound which enhances curiosity of the readers of what is actually happening in the scene and also from the uses of slow zoom in to the house to create suspense. Moreover, dynamic movement, slow pans and tilts can guide the viewer’s attention to critical details, creating a sense of discovery and anticipation. This technique helps to build suspense by gradually revealing information.
4) The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
1. What sub-genre of crime documentary would you categorize this?
Allegation and crime
2. Who is the largest audience?
Individuals concerned with child welfare, systemic failures in social services, and legal reforms might be particularly interested in this documentary to understand the issues and advocate for change.
3. What typical documentary conventions were used?
establishing shot of the city, pictures of the character in an album form.
4. Did this opening conform or subvert the conventions for this genre?
Establishing shot of the environment, which familiarized audiences of where the scene is taking place and the use of suspenseful music (ND) and editing techniques such as quick cuts heightens tension and drama, a standard approach in the genre to keep viewers engaged and create a sense of urgency or outrage.
5. How does it create suspense using the following:
- camera: Close-ups, the trailer often uses close-up shots of interviewees to capture their emotions, which helps convey the gravity of the situation and create an intimate connection with the audience. The intensity of facial expressions and emotional reactions adds to the suspense.
-sound: The use of voiceovers from interviews or court recordings adds authenticity and weight to the narrative.
-mise-en-scene: The settings depicted, such as courtrooms, crime scenes, and family homes, are chosen to reflect the documentary's themes and immerse the audience in the world of the story.
-edit: montage, the use of montage sequences allows the trailer to present a condensed and impactful version of the story, providing just enough information to intrigue viewers and leave them wanting more.
6. What parts of the opening did you find inspiring?
dynamic Movement, slow pans and tilts can guide the viewer’s attention to critical details, creating a sense of discovery and anticipation. This technique helps to build suspense by gradually revealing information.
5) The Guilty
1. What sub-genre of crime documentary would you categorize this?
Crime Thriller
2. Who is the largest audience?
Psychological Thriller Enthusiasts: viewers who enjoy psychological tension and character-driven narratives will find this film appealing due to its focus on the protagonist's mental and emotional challenges.
3. What typical documentary conventions were used?
Music and scores, soundtrack often includes tense, minimalistic music that underscores the film’s emotional and dramatic moments. The score’s use is sparing but effective, heightening key scenes and intensifying the suspense.
4. Did this opening conform or subvert the conventions for this genre?
Conforms, The film uses a claustrophobic and confined setting—the call center—to build tension. This mirrors the genre’s convention of using limited spaces to enhance suspense and create a sense of entrapment.
However, there is also a reason why this trailer could subvert the convention of a documentary because instead of relying on physical action sequences or visual spectacles, the film prioritizes dialogue and verbal exchanges.
5. How does it create suspense using the following:
- camera: the film frequently uses close-up shots of Officer Joe Baylor’s face, capturing his reactions and emotions with intense detail.
-sound: Mostly depending on ND sound with the uses of a minimalistic diegetic sound of a fast pacing thrilling scores to prepare the audiences with what is going to happen.
-mise-en-scene: Dim lighting, in an office which shows how serious the condition is, plenty of computers and other devices that has to do with the police and investigating cases.
-edit: Plenty of dissolved scenes to indicate that a time has passed between the two scenes. Moreover, montage cuts is being used to show the rapid succession of images and scenes quickly which conveys a sense of urgency and intensity, mirroring the high-stakes and fast-paced nature of the emergency response depicted in the film.
6. What parts of the opening did you find inspiring?
Opening of the documentary starts with a chaotic mise-en-scene which prepares the audiences to the unfolding scenarios and lots of close ups being used to really pictured the details such as headphones, computer screen filled with codes and information, and also close ups of the actor's eyes which shows the emotion and intensity of the scenes.
-------------------------------------- additional brief research --------------------------------------------
1. American Vandal
I added this to my research because the technical elements in this documentary really inspires me as it really captures the audiences attention with their uses of establishing shot at first and interviews which builds suspense by introducing intriguing perspective and clues about the crime. This way, it often leaves the audiences with questions and makes them intrigued to watch the documentary. Moreover, this documentary also uses great technical elements such as the uses of ND thrilling and build up scores which really emphasize the emotional impact as it can evoke fear or anxiety while intensifying the drama of the documentary. Additionally, this documentary is also great at building tension such as the uses of gradually increasing the volume of the documentary and this creates a sense of urgency and can make an investigative or dramatic scenes more impactful.
2. Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia S12 E5
I added this to my research since it also supports the stereotypes of crime documentary movie with fast paced opening and quick cuts mostly being used in the scenes to conveys urgency and tension and this is usually used to keep viewers at the edge of their seats as this technique helps to hold the audiences interest and prevent the narrative from being boring.
Moreover, as I researched deeply on how to create a great opening crime documentary, my research revealed that a documentary film consists of the following five elements: (John Corner)
1. mise-en-scene: to provide viewers a clear understanding of a message through lighting, props, and nonverbal cues.
2. Interviews: these are essential for establishing how the audience feels toward the subject matter and verifying the opinions presented in the movie.
3. Dramatization: Use ND sound to heighten the suspense around the crime and help establish the scene's interpretation.
4. Exposition: Documentaries include voiceovers, commentary, and narration to make sure that viewers are understanding the preferred/dominant reading (Stuart Hall).
5. Observation: consist of the subject matter film.
Additionally, this is my research on how to actually record a sound and this has helped me to not make a mistake on my project during our progress.
Self reflection: Doing research for my crime documentary opening was fun however also tiresome as this is taking along time to do particularly we need to really pay attention on the little details such as how these technical elements create the conventions of a crime documentary. Despite of that, these research has helped me a lot to give me a bigger picture on how I want to make my crime documentary to look like and what feelings I wanted my audiences to feel when they are watching. I also understand more deeply on how audiences encode the messages that the media trying to tell through the technical elements and with this I learned how to make it as real and natural as possible so that my documentary would look professional and trustable.
