LO2 Task Documentary codes and formats
Documentaries also contain many features to them that show the different techniques that have been used in the factual programming. These codes and conventions are things like using archive footage, expert interviews, expositions and other key conventions. These points have been looked in more detail through analysing a documentary and finding all the conventions that have been used.
Documentary Analysis:
The documentary that I chose is called, Honda presents: ‘Living With Robots’. From the start of the documentary it is clearly shown that the documentary is all about robots and how they have been developed through time from being simple tools for any ordinary human, to being highly sophisticated equipment that can be used to do intricate tasks, like surgery and other operations. The information that is given about the documentary at the first 1:00/1:30 minute is called the exposition. This section of the documentary is known as the hook of the documentary and is responsible for attracting the audience and making them want to see more. An example of the exposition is, a fishing rod and fishing line with a hook. The start of the video is known as the bait and is put into the sea (audience), and is played until the fishes (audience) hooks on to the fishing line, then after the audience is hooked the rest of the video is there to reel in the audience in, slowly but definitely. The documentary has a good balance, because the start of the video explains the opinions of the general public and how they see robots as ‘the bad guy’ and as a take over the world attitude. However, this is the only part of the documentary, which shows the bad views about robots, after this they just go on to say how robots can be extremely helpful with human interaction and how they have developed robots to help with common household chores.
The documentaries exposition conveys the video to be quite accurate as it tells us how we have been living with minor robots all the time in our daily lives, which is a good point for the documentary as the exposition is the most important part of getting the audience interested. As you go through the documentary there are different archive footage that have been sourced from hospital scenes that use robots in the surgery room and scenes of some movies with robots being developed through different stages. These clips are very useful in giving the audience an understanding of how developed robots really are, and the difficulty in making only one section of the robot. These clips are also used to represent some of the robots that have been created over time. The overall feeling of this video to me is that it is biased. My reason for this is because the people that are interviewed throughout the documentary are all people that have been directly, or very closely, affected by robots. For example, at the start of the film they show many interviews with people that are related to sci-fi movies, and they explain their views on robots, there is also one interview with a cardiologist, this also shows that the documentary has included interviews with experts. This is good for the video as it gives the audience a sense of reassurance as there is an expert saying that robots are good, and also that expert is a surgeon, whom people know as saving people’s lives, and the audience would then think that if he agrees with the concept of robots he must be right. This is also one of the downfalls of the documentary as there are very few, if any, interviews with ordinary people and what they might think, and the interviews that are done with random people only say good things about robots.
In the documentary there is also a sense of actuality. The actuality/realism in this documentary is that the concept of ‘Living With Robots’ is already plausible as some people have already experienced living with robots and have explained the success in the operation. There is also a possibility of the documentary having reconstructions. Reconstructions are when actors/actresses are used to re-create a scene of particular importance. At the start of the documentary there is a voice over that is used to tell the audience about how our ancestors first picked up a rock and used it as a tool for daily living, and the person/object that they use to show our ancestor picking up the rock is by using one of the most advanced and human like robot ever made, ‘Asimo’. This is a very clever technique that is used as it shows that this extremely advanced robot can behave just like the first group of humans to walk the Earth and behave kindly and gently. This gives the audience a bit of understanding of how the robots can be the same as us humans and completely harmless.
This documentary is factual. The reason for this is because it is very informing on the specifications of the robot and how the robot was made to move by studying the human body and the bi-pedal system, which allows us humans to move. Other facts were also shown like how the actually making a robot is an action of high precision, accuracy and dedication. In the documentary there is a part, which points out how we need to work with robots and other electronic things to allow for smooth operations and successful outcomes.
Documentary formats:
Documentary format expository:
This is used to speak directly to the viewer, often in the form of an authoritative commentary, by adding voice-overs, proposing a strong argument from the commentator’s point of view. They are often rhetorical, and try to persuade the viewer. (They may use a rich and imposing male voice.) The (voice-of-God) commentary often sounds objective and omniscient (all knowing.)
Documentary format observational/ poetic:
This is used to attempt to simply and spontaneously observe lived life with a minimum of intervention (little interaction with subjects and allow them to live without scripts.) Often, this form would avoid using voice-over commentary, rehearsed dialogue and music, or re-enactments of events. The form aimed for intimacy, and revelation to create ordinary life situations for each individual human character.
Documentary format reflexive:
This is used to create a relationship between the filmmakers and their subjects. (See through the eyes of the filmmaker.) They are usually the main character in their own film.
Documentary format Interactive:
This mode wants to engage with individuals more directly without reverting to classic exposition interview styles. It allows filmmaker to account for past events via witnesses and experts whom viewer can also see.
Documentary format performative:
This is used to stress a subjective experience or emotional response to the world. They are seen as very personal, unconventional and might include hypothetical re-enactments of events designed to make us experience what it might be like for us to possess a certain specific perspective on the world that is not our own.
