Assignment #4 Analysis of a TV DocumentaryKauana Labaldi 13V

Big fat gypsy weddings.

Information:• Released on: 18 February 2010 • Created by: Jenny Popplewell• Run time: 49mins• Channel: 4• Available to watch: www.channel4.com – 4od Target audience: • Age: 15- 30• Class: middle class• Gender: female • Ethnicity: all

Conventions of Documentary• 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, satirise, shock, satisfy, provide

voyeuristic pleasure and for propaganda purposes Characters are often hyper real, exaggerated stereotypes

Conventions used:

• Side shot to show people and include the place

• Mid angle

• Establishing shot• High angle• Showing the place• Close up angle

Conventions used:

• Side shot• To show bride• Mid angle

• Interview• Mid shot• Rule of third