Ancillary Tasks: Poster finished product

This is my finalalised poster i decided not to change the colouring/shading of the face and i also changed the sizes of the titles, finally i added a showing date and time and the sub title 'H.C.T.V documentary'.

Ancillary Tasks: Poster 2nd draft

I needed to improve my poster in order to make it stand out more i decided to change the font and add the H.C.T.V logo and have indicated a place for the web address to be shown. i also tryed to edit the shading/colour of the person in the posters face.

Ancillary Tasks: Poster 1st drafts

I went out to take my image for my poster and changed my initial idea as it did not come out as well as planned i used another image i shot (see image left).

With my image chosen i had to edit it to make it look like a poster i used the photo editing programme GIMP 2 in order to do this this was my first draft. (see image right).

Ancillary task: Poster

There where two Ancillary tasks to be completed both a poster and radio trailer both with the purpose to advertise my product. This was my initial idea for a poster image.

Documentary analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UljzJoCwLO4&NR=1

I have chosen to analyse a short extract of the 2009 BBC documentary ‘WOUNDED’ the documentary is the first look at the recovery and rehabilitation of severely injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan, the documentary uses a number of devices to captivate the audience including cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing, I am going to be analyzing these elements in detail.

The cinematography used in the documentary is very detailed and captivating for the viewer, the way the shots are put together blend and show the continuity of the documentary for the audience, the choice of shot is also very important for the documentary as certain cutaways and interviews are shot to show the extent of injuries or the speed in which a soldier is brought to a hospital(see figure 1 left) . The documentary opens using footage shot by a soldier presumably a camera attached to his helmet this gives the viewer an idea of what it is like to be a soldier in Afghanistan and the way it blends in with the on screen text also builds tension for the viewer as they are expecting something to happen.The following shots show the rapid journey of the soldiers trip from Afghanistan to a selly oak hospital mostly mid shots are used for this as a mid shot gives the audience a sense of the location as well as the people within it. The following shots are mostly shot in the hospital showing Andy Allan’s first few moments in the hospital and how he is being treated (see figure 2 right), these shots blend with the voiceover well and also show the audience how the soldiers are treated whilst in hospital, close ups are also used in this part of the documentary for example the loose close up on the soldiers severely burnt face, these shots give the audience an idea of the extent of the soldiers injuries and the service they are doing for the country. The interviews that are shot in this short sequence are all shot well and all apply the rule of thirds with exception to the interview which contains two people, they are also shot taking into consideration of the location or why they are there for example the soldiers interview is shot with a loose close up in order to show that he has lost his arm or the shot of the nurse with a hospital bed behind her (see figure 3 left) .







The main use of mise en scene in wounded is lighting and character placement and props the main props are things such as hospital equipment which are included in the shot to give the audience an idea of the location and surroundings.Character placement is vital for shooting an interview, the rule of thirds in applied well within most interviews and all are shot well, with character position in places to show detail and presence(see figure 4 right). The lighting used is mostly natural light for the cutaways and the interviews seen as most are outside on a fairly sunny day or in a well lit hospital.

Sound is a key part in any documentary as the voiceover and score music often carries and allows the documentary to flow. The documentary does not open using the voiceover as the on screen text is enough to keep the audience to engaged, once the voiceover enters the documentary it is very informative and formal, the voiceover is key in explaining and getting the point of the documentary across to the viewer. The voiceover also blends well with the shots and interviews and gives good detail as to what is happening and for example is very informative of the soldier’s injuries. The non diegetic sound is delicate but yet noticeable within the documentary it connotes a feeling of seriousness and sadness. The diegetic sound is also good within the documentary for example the sirens of the ambulance and the sound of heart monitors in the hospital add to the detail of the documentary as well as the shots. The interviews are all recorded well with the sound being clear for the audience.

Editing is key in bringing the piece together this documentary has blended the shots and sound together well and the juxtaposition of shots is very good throughout and the whole thing flows, the opening of the piece is edited very well with the on screen text and the footage shot by a soldier sharply cutting in and out(see figure 5-6 left), This keeps the audience engaged and builds tension because they are expecting something to happen. My only criticism of the editing is that there are no on screen titles of people that are interviewed, even though the voiceover informs the viewer of who they I think it is conventional for a documentary to have on screen titles to appear. For the most part the editing is sharp and flows naturally throughout.




I think that the documentary applies all elements of cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing well and has a steady and natural flow as well has being informative and detailed in its narrative.

Doucumentary analysis 'Danger men'

Documentary analysis
Danger men channel 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjdsVQO9x0Y

I am going to analyse a five minute extract from the channel 5 documentary, ‘Danger men’ a documentary based on the RAF jet fighter pilots' display team. Preparing for the toughest flying exam in the world. I’m going to be analysing the various aspect within a documentary such as cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing, I will analyse these aspects in detail throughout this essay.

The cinematography within a documentary predominantly deals with the interviews and cutaways within it. The cutaways and interviews are shot and put together in an excellent fashion in order to blend the documentary together in order to create continuity. The documentary captures all interviews well applying the rule of thirds throughout, many of the interviews shot within the five minute sequence are relatively close to the persons face as there is not an awful lot of the background shown as it may not be relevant(see figure 1 left) . The cutaways used in this opening 5 minute sequence are mostly of the red arrows in training this is good because it shows the profession the documentary is based on in action and gives the viewer an Idea of the dangers involved, some of the shots used for the cutaways are quite breathtaking at extreme heights with the red arrow team doing intricate formations and movements through the sky (see figure 2 right). The majority of the shots are long and mid shots as it is difficult to get a close up on a jet, there are some effective close ups included of the pilots in the cockpit during flight this gives the audience an idea of what its like for the pilot.

Sound is a vital part of any good documentary as it carries the documentary throughout, the voiceover is key in any documentary, in this 5 minute sequence the voiceover is very formal and descriptive and supplies the audience with a lot of information keeping up a fast pace which also keeps the viewer intrigued. The score music in the documentary is also good, in the opening parts the score music has a fast pace to it as it matches with the on screen shots with jets flying through the air and when the documentary slows down so does the score music in order to make it flow and also shows continuity. The diegetic sounds are also quite effective in this documentary such as the sound of the jets engines and the squad talking to each over whilst in the air this gives the viewer an idea of what it is like being a red arrow.

Mise en scene is also important in documentary, the key parts of mise en scene in this documentary is lighting, character positioning and props. The only most evident props being used throughout is the red arrow jets and RAF planes (see figure 3 left). The lighting is very good throughout the documentary with everything being well lit and a number of shots and interviews being shot outside using the natural light of Cyprus, the only exception to this is the parts of the documentary inside the class room when the projector is on. Character positioning is also very good within the documentary with all interviews taking into account location and surroundings and applying the rule of thirds.

Editing is key in bringing the piece together this documentary has blended the shots and sound together well and the juxtaposition of shots is very good throughout and the whole thing flows showing continuity. The documentary is cut very sharply and is conventional in the way that it has on screen text supplying the viewer with the name of interviewees (see figure 4 right), there is also an effective animation of the world zooming in onto the location where the red arrows train in Cyprus. Overall the editing is very sharp and faultless making the whole piece flow and blend together.

I think that the documentary applies all elements of cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing well giving the documentary continuity as well as being informative and descriptive throughout in its narrative and detailed and effective in some of the shots it supplies to the viewer.

Links To Other Groups Blogs and Website

These are the links to the other group members blogs and the group website:

Dan's Blog

Sean's Blog

The Group Blog

and The Group Website