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1. Existing Product Research

2. Documentary research 

3. Codes and conventions of a documentary  Such as any media product documentaries have their own codes and conventions. Documentaries often feature medium close-up shots of an interviewee being interviewed referred to as talking heads. Talking heads is a common feature in documentaries where the interviewee is the focal point against a typically plain background as not to distract the audience.  Documentaries often use direct mode of address to connect to an audience by looking directly at the camera however sometimes where applicable indirect mode of address where the subject is looking slightly off camera can be used often to create contrast. Similar to short films and even large-scale productions, cinematic establishing shots are used to set the time and location of the documentary this can also give the audience an insight to the documentary within the first few seconds. Documentaries often included elements similar to a short film such as reenactments these help the audience to visually understand what the documentary is discussing. The three main themes included in documentaries is fact, statistic and opinion all featured in nearly every single documentary as fundamentals to a product. Sound can be used in many different ways in a documentary. Voiceovers can be used to keep an audience engaged and reveal more information to what they are seeing this is determined as synchronous sound with the voiceover matching with what you see on screen, it can also be used as a technic to break up talking heads with footage to keep the audience engaged. If a voiceover isn't used, often non-diegetic sound is layered over footage whether it is a soundtrack or score it can be used to add emotion to a piece or keep the audience engaged without the use of consistent dialogue.   

4. Facts, Opinions and Statistics A typical convention of documentaries are facts, opinions and statistics. Facts by definition are statements that can be proven and have evidence to back them up and are vital to not only informative documentaries but every type of documentary. However, opinions are also vital when creating a documentary as it allows people to not only share their view but sometimes share what happened and their truth especially when using the talking heads format this creates a relationship between the people on screen and the audience establishing a personal touch to the documentary as people are allowed to voice their opinions just like you would be able to in a conversation. Statistics provide quantitative and qualitative data that can back up both facts and opinions as well as being impactful on their own.   

5. Talking heads  Talking heads allows for opinions to be voiced and shared with the audience, often giving the opinion of what the audience has just seen on screen providing an insight into the mind of the people involved. Talking heads usually consists of a medium close-up shot at an eye-level angle however these can vary depending on the type of documentary style. As you can see in the image above talking heads is typically conducted with a direct mode of address to the audience where the interviewee is looking directly into camera with a clean non-distracting background to focus the attention of the audience on the subject.  To engage the audience a variation of shots can be included to try and ensure the audience does not get bored when watching this can include Extreme long shot, Long shot. Mid-shot or medium shot. The mid-shot or medium shot generally shows the character from the waist to the top of the head(commonly used as the main shot for talking heads ), Close-up, Extreme close-up, High-angle, Low angle. Cinematography can be used in documentaries to aid in setting the scene and create a relationship with the audience. Camera angles can impact not only the quality of the documentary but the diversity and engagement levels of audiences. Cinematography

6. Katz's and Blumler Uses and Gratifications Theory  Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratification Theory suggests that media users play an active role in choosing and using the media. Users take an active part in the communication process and are goal oriented in their media use.  The theorist say that a media user seeks out a media source that best fulfills the needs of the user.  Uses and gratifications assume that the user has alternate choices to satisfy their need. DIVERSION-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP- PERSONAL IDENTITY -SURVEILLANCE EVALUATION  Katz's and Blumler Uses and Gratifications Theory can be applied to documentaries and is something to consider when I am creating my own. The audience may use the documentary as a diversion from everyday life but could also use it as surveillance as they can learn information. Although it is not as apparent as the other two the audience may be able to use the documentary for personal relationships as the documentary will focus on the digital world and social media it may become a talking point among friends satisfying that need of the user. Personal identity may also be recognised here as the user reflects on the impact technology and social media has on their life.

7. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs To better understand what motivates human beings,  Maslow proposed that human needs can be organized into a hierarchy. This hierarchy ranges from more concrete needs such as food and water to abstract concepts such as self-fulfillment. According to Maslow, when a lower need is met, the next need on the hierarchy becomes our focus of attention. Evaluation Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be something I can considered when creating my documentary as the modern media can be put in the safety level of needs as people check the news to become aware of their surroundings and safety level. Social media/technology can be associated with love/belonging as it is a way of connecting with friends and family and can be a way of increasing self-esteem confidence and creativity all linking back to the hierarchy of needs. 

8. Documentary theories  Bill Nichols’ seminal text Introduction to Documentary (2010) breaks down the documentary into six frequently cited sub-genres or "modes". “In documentary film and video, we can identify six modes of representation that function something like sub-genres of the documentary film genre itself:  poetic, expository,  participatory, observational, reflexive, performative. These six modes establish a loose framework of affiliation within which individuals may work; they set up conventions that a given film may adopt; and they provide specific expectations viewers anticipate having fulfilled.”

9. Poetic documentary is a subgenre of documentary filmmaking that uses avant-garde techniques to evoke a certain mood or feeling rather than prove a point through a traditional linear narrative structure. One of the poetic documentaries that I have taken the time to watch  was a Channel Five series, called, Extraordinary People. It is about certain people across the world who obtain unique qualities, physically or an extraordinary talent. The shows how the individual lives their everyday life and there is usually a few interviews with the individual, as well as with the friends and family of the person. Evaluation My documentary is a true story and even though it will have elements of a poetic documentary such as a narrative structure when telling the story of her life however it will include facts and the documentary will go on a journey with the audience to try and decipher what happened to her.

10. Expository documentaries include footage that supports and strengthens the spoken argument of the film, including stock footage, archival footage, b-roll, or re-enactments of historical events. Expository documentaries are heavily researched and constructed to inform and persuade. Evaluation  An example of an expository documentary is :The Dust Bowl (2012). Ken Burns’ historical account of this disastrous drought during the Great Depression uses photos and facts to supplement the causes and impact of one of the worst droughts to plague North American farmland. This documentary style is similar to the style I plan to have for my documentary.as I am doing a documentary about a historical event it will be heavily researched with re-enactments and archival footage to back up my points.

11. Participatory documentary itself is a form of film production that directly involves people and communities in a collaborative and inclusive filmmaking process. Here the process is of producing the film provides a platform which brings people together to explore issues, voice concerns, listen to and tell stories. The filmmaker tends to become the subject of the documentary. Actively engaging with the situation, they are documenting asking questions and sharing experiences. For example, the: Life of Michael Jackson by Bashir(2004) The subject of the topic is introduced by a montage of videos of Michael Jackson. A voiceover of the filmmaker/presenter is used in the background also to introduce the documentary. There is then one to one talk with the filmmaker and Michael Jackson, introducing the documentary type to be participatory. Michael Jackson is presented to be the subject due to having more focus on him, the presenter having a side of the screen and back towards the audience. Clips of Bashir with Michael Jackson are shown in his own home in his own personal cinema. This shows how the documentary is participatory as the presenter is getting involved with the subject instead of simply speaking about him. Due to this mode of documentary the presenter can speak to Michael Jackson on a more personal level recording clips of information which are more personal and emotional. Michael Jackson Martin Bashir Interview - YouTube Evaluation For my documentary I will be in front of the camera for parts and will record all of the voiceovers however I won't become the subject as the documentary will be heavily focused on the story of her life and her suspected hauntings ay the Sunderland Empire. 

12.  Performative documentary films focus on the filmmakers' involvement with his or her subject, using his or her personal experience or relationship with the subject as a jumping-off point for exploring larger, subjective truths about politics, history, or groups of people like participatory documentaries. Performative mode documentaries present an exaggerated version of the world, society, or event they depict.  Nick Broomfield  is arguably the most well-known practitioner of the performative mode/participatory mode documentary technique. English director Broomfield uses only himself and another cameraman on set. He also serves as the film’s primary protagonist. Broomfield’s films are as much about making a documentary as they are about the main story, offering onscreen reality that is small-scale and seemingly honest but always entertaining. This is especially true of Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, in which Broomfield includes footage that other directors would have left on the cutting floor. Evaluation This documentary is focused on the story of a ghost therefore has no  correlation to me the filmmaker therefore the documentary won't be classified as a performative documentary.

13. Evaluation My documentary will include re-enactments interviews and voiceovers and will be edited to help engage the audience therefore my documentary would not be able to be classed as an observational documentary. Observational documentaries eschew interviews, voice-over narration and a soundtrack, and instead present footage of real life as it unfolds. The effect is a documentary that tends to show, not tell, and invites each viewer to draw his or her own conclusions from the film. 1. Objectivity Observational documentaries try to show objective truth and reality from all sides, without having a specific opinion on the topic. The observational mode just observes, without providing any narratives. This allows the viewers to find their conclusion from the movie. 2. Minimalistic Equipment The equipment is usually minimalistic, so it is not disturbing the mood. The smaller equipment is what allowed the development of the observation documentary. This allows the filmmakers to follow events more naturally. 3. No disruption There are no interviews and no voiceovers - everything is as if you were watching events happen in real-time. The filmmaker is "not" there. Everything should be happening organically. 4. No reenactments Reenactments defy the basic notion of observation documentary -  realism. Therefore,  reenactments or second takes do not exist in authentic observation films as it would artificially impact the truthfulness the observational mode wants to show. 5. Long takes Mostly long takes without cuts are used. Again, this is to create a sense of reality. The takes are organic, simply following the flow of events. 5 rules of an observational documentary   Hoop Dreams (1994) Hoop Dreams is a 1994 American documentary film directed by Steve James. It follows the story of two African-American high school students, William Gates and Arthur Agee, in Chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players. Hoop Dreams was originally intended to be a 30-minute short film produced for PBS; the filming of the special led to five years of filming and 250 hours of footage.

14. Emphasizes the expressive nature of film, anti-realist techniques e.g., reenactments, expressive lighting, dramatic music; Voiceover (When present) is likely to be questioning and uncertain – rather than authoritative; Reliance on suggestion rather than fact. The reflexive documentary mode focuses on the relationship between the filmmaker and the audience, pushing viewers to reflect on their perceptions and re- analyse  their notions of truth. Evaluation  My documentary will include elements of a reflexive documentary such as reenactments and voice overs however is more informative than making the audience making the audience question their perception of the truth therefore although there will be elements of a reflexive documentary my documentary will not be classed as this. Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends (1998) This series follows documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux as he travels the world to chronicle his experiences with “strange” happenings or interactions with subcultures or people that the average viewer may not encounter. Extremists of many faiths, infomercial celebrities, survivalists, separatists, and even swingers are all represented in the series. By focusing on these folks, Theroux hopes to dispel false assumptions about them and provide a more nuanced understanding of their worldviews and practices.  Louis Theroux is a common face in documentaries on the BBC with a whole section of 78 documentaries dedicated to his work.

15. True Crime Documentaries Suzanne Morphew Nikki  Allan

16. The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems Bing Videos Between the space of 0:05 seconds and 0:30 seconds a non-diegetic score is used to build suspense and establish the theme of the documentary linking scenes from medium close-ups to establishing shots together aided by editing to create an engaging and dynamic opening hooking the viewer. Title Card  The title card sets the tone for the rest of the piece this title card drains the colour from the background of the documentary which allows for the title of the documentary to stand out from the background. This editing technique links to the title as audiences would expect it to be in colour  as that is what they are used to but uses this technique to throw the audience and set the tone for the rest of the documentary. Non diegetic score Sound bridge  Throughout the opening scenes there is a sound bridge between diegetic and non-diegetic sound as the woman above sets the scene it switches between shots of her talking to establishing shots with a voice over engaging the audience.

17. The Suzanne Morphew Case:  Nothing Is What It Seems Establishing Shot Bing Videos A common convention of both a documentary and a short film is shown here. The usual cinematic shots of a location is classified as an establishing shot this confirms for the audience the location of the documentary/short film and the atmosphere of the piece. Non-diegetic Sound  A common convention of documentaries can be heard  here. Throughout the documentary there is a re-occurring theme of the use of non-diegetic sound used where a voice over is used as commentary over archived footage to explain what is happening on screen.

18. The Suzanne Morphew Case:  Nothing Is What It Seems Bing Videos Inserts This is a relatively new technique used in documentaries where technology is used to create or animate archived footage not only to visually explain what is being discussed but in order to provide a different angle for the audience and change in scene familiarity this keeps the engaged in the documentary. Editing  In the documentary the editing feels very fast paced and usually cuts at the mention of a location name or significant detail for example in this scene just as the name Barry is mentioned it cuts to an image .This fast-paced editing technique helps to carry the documentary along preventing the documentary from dragging for an audience.

19. The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems Bing Videos A common convention of a documentary can be seen here. Talking heads is a staple for documentaries and can be recognised easily by the medium close-up shot, it is also a shallow focus shot meaning that the background has been blurred this is to focus the attention of the audience on the interviewee and not distract them from the subject however this is not a stereotypical talking heads set up as the interviewee is using indirect mode of address where the interviewee is looking to the side of the camera this may be to focus the attention of the audience not on the interviewee but the subject they are discussing whilst still visually engaging the audience. Another typical convention of a documentary is shown here the use of archived footage and photographs can be used to not only visually show the audience what is being discussed but evoke emotion from the audience making them more engaged and invested in the documentary. Talking Heads  Archived Footage 

20. The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems Bing Videos Evidence Reconstruction  In this frame we can see something that is common in the true crime genre, evidence is vital in not only a case but when used in documentaries can provide vital information and background to a case allowing the audience to see actual things used in a crime as well as feel as though they can start to piece things together themselves by being shown the evidence. Something that is less common than talking heads but is still a convention of documentaries are reconstructions, these can be used not only to visually show the audience what is being discussed but can be used as an emotional tool to connect and engage the audience with the story.

21. Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland |  ITV News Tyne Tees Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland | ITV News Tyne Tees - YouTube A typical convention seen in most documentaries is the use of archived footage this can not only be used to move the story along but in this case show the audience live reactions when they heard what happened as well as show the difference in time passing between now and then. Archived footage can and is often used as an emotive tool to connect the audience to a piece whether it is moving image footage or in this case a photograph of a newspaper.

22. Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland |  ITV News Tyne Tees Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland | ITV News Tyne Tees - YouTube Reconstructions  A common convention of a documentary can be seen here. Talking heads is a staple in the documentary and is the most recognisable out of the conventions. In this frame we can see a clear background as not to distract the audience and is a medium close-up shot. However, this is not a stereotypical format for talking heads as the interviewee is using indirect mode of address looking slightly off camera. This is interesting as even though the interviewee is looking slightly off camera archived photos are appearing as almost direct mode of address making the audiences focus drawn to the photos visually and her words audibly. Something that is less common than talking heads but is still a convention of documentaries are reconstructions, these can be used not only to visually show the audience what is being discussed but can be used as an emotional tool to connect and engage the audience with the story.

23. Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland |  ITV News Tyne Tees Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland | ITV News Tyne Tees - YouTube Non-Diegetic Voice Over The documentary opens with a non-diegetic voice over of the reporter speaking about the case which is a theme that continues throughout the documentary. This shows the audience that the person talking is not as important as the case at hand and therefore makes you focus on the case rather than the documentary maker. Personal Address During this section of the documentary a documentary theory can be seen. As the documentary maker is seen here it would be thought that the documentary would be classed as participatory this can add a personal touch to the documentary and connect an audience through direct mode of address. As for this documentary in particular the documentary maker is from the area of where the crime happened securing the links in the regional case and securing the regional audience that may have been lost if a different documentary maker was chosen.

24. Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland |  ITV News Tyne Tees Nikki Allen: The killing that shook Sunderland | ITV News Tyne Tees - YouTube Talking heads features heavily in documentaries, especially in this documentary. This creates a more personal feel to the documentary as it allows for the audience to hear and see the emotion from the people directly involved in the case and even though for each shot the mise- en -scene changes slightly the format remains the same. There is a running colour theme of blue deemed to be a calming colour  which could help the audience and the interviewees feel calmer when discussing the difficult topics. The typical shot set up for these talking heads interviews are a close-up shot with an eye-level angle where the interviewees are looking off camera and not directly to camera this creates a sense that there is a conversation happening between the interviewer and interviewee which the audience are able to view .

25. THE COMMONS CRIMINAL-BBC Documentary BBC iPlayer - The Big Cases - The Commons Criminal Here is a common convention of documentaries an establishing shot to be seen on screen to set the location of where the documentary will take place and an archived phone call played over the top which implements the truth in the documentary and helps the audience to understand what is happening on screen. Establishing Shot Archived phone call Archived Footage  Another typical convention of a documentary is shown here the use of archived footage and photographs can be used to not only visually show the audience what is being discussed but evoke emotion from the audience making them more engaged and invested in the documentary. As this is also a news report some people may be able to remember the story establishing further links to the story and audience response.

26. THE COMMONS CRIMINAL-BBC Documentary BBC iPlayer - The Big Cases - The Commons Criminal Inserts  This is a relatively new technique used in documentaries where technology is used to create or animate archived footage not only to visually explain what is being discussed but in order to provide a different angle for the audience and change in scene familiarity this keeps the engaged in the documentary. Title Card  A convention you will typically find in every documentary and what can be seen here is a title card. The title card sets the precedent for the remainder of the documentary whilst also securing main themes of the documentary as well as the genre of the documentary. This can be done by using iconography, images, wording or colours selected to name a few. This is also usually the image that the documentary producer wants the audience to think of when they think of the documentary created to make an impact on the audience. 

27. THE COMMONS CRIMINAL-BBC Documentary BBC iPlayer - The Big Cases - The Commons Criminal Archived Audio An archived phone call (archived audio) played over the top implements the truth in the documentary and helps the audience to understand what is happening on screen allowing the audience to not only see evidence in the case but hear it as well making them feel more a part of the story and gain their opinion of what is happening by being given this extra evidence. It also helps break up the documentary by including different voices and types of audio not only is the audience visually engaged but also audibly engaged in what they are viewing. Talking Heads A convention you will typically find in every documentary and what can be seen here is talking heads. Throughout my research I have found that talking heads (a medium where typically someone involved in the story,  or a professional would discuss the story from their point of view found especially in True Crime however is found in most documentary style products) is a convention that I would argue makes a documentary what it is, talking heads feature in nearly every if not all documentary/informative media and is the convention that is found most regularly which is something I will definitely include in my own product.

28. Short films 

29. Connect  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpOSIYHxAaE At the start or equilibrium of the short film we can see the main character seen above is lonely and isolated especially in this frame where no other people are in the frame. The theme of loneliness is portrayed in many different ways in the scene as not only is she alone, but shallow focus is used to signify that she doesn’t really fit into the world around her aided by bokeh lighting to intensify the feeling of being an outcast from the rest of the world she lives in. In this scene she is also off center perhaps suggesting that although she is the main character in the short film her place in society is not a main role reflected by the camera angles used making her even more of an outcast.

30. In this scene sound plays an impactful role in aiding the story along. The score throughout the short film plays a vital role as it is a silent film the score reflects the emotions of the character and tells the audience how she is feeling. In this scene specifically the technic of a sound bridge has been used to link diegetic and non-diegetic sound together with no cuts this helps the short film to flow and matches the style of editing and camera work you seen on screen.

31. 3:04 / 5:01 RED Connotes- Red is one of the most complex colours when looking at what it connotes, it can connote a range of different feelings and emotion such as love,  danger, passion, confidence attraction and many more. It is a colour that can be seen in many different ways but for this short film I believe that it connotes  attraction with a sense of wanting to be loved. Blue connotes- The character wears a blue cardigan throughout the short film symbolising    tranquility, dignity, and decorum this is a direct juxtaposition to her surroundings in the film with the bus full of people pushing and rushing to get home. This could also link back to the running theme that she feels isolated from the rest of the world as everyone is presented so differently to her we see this real portrayal of isolation and separation between her and the world she lives in.   White connotes- Seen in her costume is elements of white which connotes purity innocence and simplicity but also can connote something darker such as the feelings of emptiness and blankness. This could reflect that these are her thoughts of the world she lives in but also how she feels as we know she is lonely shown to s through the cinematography of the scene it could suggest along with the red used on her costume that to fill the emptiness she wants to feel and have a connection with someone, so she is not so alone. Headphones- In the scene she is wearing white retro headphones this further removes her from the world created by the filmmaker suggesting she has different outlooks or enjoys different things than everyone else making her even more of an outcast and creating the clear on-screen vision of isolation and the sense of not belonging .  Colour- She is the only person presented in bright colours this reinforces the theme of isolation but also the theme of change suggesting she could influence people to change and appreciate every moment. The rest of the characters are dressed in dark or muted tones of neutral colours whilst the main character is in two staple primary colours this choice in costuming is a further separation between her and the rest of the people in the scene reinforcing the theme of isolation and loneliness. Isolation- Isolation is a theme that is continuous throughout this short film, and we can see another visual representation of it here with the use of a wide shot we can see that no one is around on even near here again solidifying the isolation she feels even on a packed bus. Pulling Apart The Scene 

32. Evaluation  Researching  documentaries and short films has allowed me to develop my knowledge of conventions of short films and documentaries as well as understand the reasons behind why they are included. This research has also allowed me to see that a documentary doesn’t need to follow the stereotypical boundaries and conventions and shows that I can bend the conventions not only from a stylistic/cinematography point of view but from an emotive side as well. As my documentary will be based on a true story not only do I intend to use archived footage of what it was like for her when she was alive, but I also intend to have reconstructions whilst also developing my range of camera angles and shot sizes in order to make a dynamic and engaging piece whilst not forgetting to tell her story in an emotive way that the audience are engaged in the piece.