Analysis of Documentary

New York: America’s Busiest City

Technical codes like camera movement and angles are crucial when creating a documentary. They encourage the demographic to engage with not only the visuals but the narration supporting it; thus why it is so important to capture the target audience’s attention in order to enable them to gain insightful thoughts regarding the documentary. Active audiences for all genres are impatient in the sense that they want to be entertained almost immediately and as a result producers have to adapt to this environment. Documentaries achieve this by setting the atmosphere of the documentary straight away by incorporating establishing shots at the start in an attempt to amaze and dazzle the active audience – especially a passive audience; they require even more engagement to feel satisfied. For instance: in this particular documentary we open on an establishing shot of the skyline which was of course: New York City. This immediately draws in the audience and engages them. This could be considered a generic convention due to the fact that majority of documentaries represent their professionalism through the use of these camera shots. Such shots could include Aerial shots (typically executed by a crane, drone or even helicopter) in this case a helicopter was used.

In addition, specific camera movements are implemented in order to transition the subject matter across horizontally to the demographic through the use of pans. Also, if the camera is moving vertically then a tilt is introduced and again helps get across the subject matter more smoother within the mis-en-scene. These technical codes are indeed generic conventions of documentaries as they create the illusion that the documentary is actually interesting! In relation to generic conventions, it can potentially link in with Steve Neale’s Genre Theory due to the fact that it offers “repetitive” elements that target audiences enjoy. Although this is just one aspect to his theory, it still applies to more than ever to modern day documentaries that are attempting to penetrate the market and appeal to certain psychographics.

Moreover, on the subject of camera techniques, it is important to take into account the shots utilised when conducting an interview within a documentary. Interviews are a dominating aspect of documentaries as they provide the audience with an ever gaining understanding of not only the background but the narrative as well. Thus why they are considered a generic convention of documentaries and must be executed to a high quality standard. This is done by using various camera angles, for example: extreme close ups, close ups, medium profile shots, two shots etc. These variations in camera angles collate and collaborate together to produce a good looking interview for an active audience’s pleasure. Furthermore, it is a significant aspect to note regarding the Rule of Thirds when conducting a specialist interview. It gives the interview a much more cleaner and elegant look when in the post – production stage and provides the audience with a sense of professionalism. It is also a generic convention within interviews to correspond with the Rule of Thirds. This has taken place in this documentary.

The editing process for a documentary is essential to get right in order to perceive what is expected. On the topic of interviews, a shot, reverse shot is incorporated in order to highlight the interviewer and interviewee’s differences and enable the target audience to visualise the interviewees’ reactions. Also, another editing technique that is present in this particular documentary is the cross cutting element where the narrative is split between different presenters representing and presenting different aspects of the documentary. Depending on the genre of documentary this is conventional in documentaries because it forms a link between the two aspects. In addition, documentaries are a realistic insight into the target audience’s interests. Therefore, the editing transitions are a simple cut because the human eye cuts as well, so it’s to emphasise the truth behind the narration. Cuts between scenes amongst documentaries are considered generic conventions. Although, one editing technique you could include is a fade to black if it is to convey an ending of something. And this has been done in this particular documentary.

The mis-en-scene in documentaries is especially important because it’s the first thing the demographic experiences and it must meet to their demands. The presenters demonstrate a lot of body language e.g. in this documentary all the presenters have a confident pose. This is to tell the audience how they feel about what they’re promoting and it definitely shows. Also, they have to be presenting on a location that is relevant to the voice over behind it. In this case, when the presenter is narrating Central Park in Manhattan; she is at the heart of it all. Location choice is crucial when shooting a documentary.

According to Blumler & Katz’s Uses & Gratifications theory, audience’s use media for a variety of reasons. Specific media texts provide a certain “function” for audiences and in this case, the documentary offers not only educational & informative aspects but a sense of entertainment as well. This is exactly what conventional documentaries provide for the audience, resulting in the primary audience becoming more intrigued into the documentary.

Another technical code is sound. Sound engineering is a very important part of the documentary framework that binds all the technical codes together to achieve an extremely desirable documentary. The first generic convention found in documentaries and in this one in particular, is the voice over. The crucial aspect underpins everything that is happening via a narrator; an element that goes hand in hand with this is the tone of voice. The tone of the intonation has to be spot on in order to emphasise certain aspects of the documentary – this is what separates the good, the bad and the ugly.  Fortunately, in this documentary the narration, voice over and tone of voice accompanied is well thought out and carefully treated. Another generic convention is the direct addressing to the target audience (also known as breaking the fourth wall). This is a convention of presenters to talk directly to the audience; due to the fact that it allows them to connect with their demographic and provide a sense of realism and escapism within the documentary which is exactly the case with this one. It helps the target audience to view the presenter as an equal or someone they can sympathise with – almost like you’re actually there experience the atmosphere for yourself!

Also, diegetic sound is present in this documentary and is considered a convention as it can set the mood and ‘atmos’ of the media text and the target audience can view a documentary scene as realistic.

In reference to Angela McRobbie’s Gender Theory, she believes that women are manipulated by the media into thinking they should act a certain way. She believes that the media try and socialise women into particular gender roles. However, this particular documentary challenges the boundaries of this theory as the main protagonist – the predominant presenter – is in fact a female. Thus why, it stretches the stereotypes surrounding women and revolving around this fabricated theory. As a result, this documentary does appeal to the female gender too.

The representation behind the documentary is clearly illustrated through the use of technical codes. The incredible camera work of the city represents it in a light that shouts ‘spectacular’! This is what the producers of the documentary is trying to achieve to its audience and is doing a fantastic job of it. In addition, through the sound elements the experiential aspect of it all really shines through. This is executed by introducing a sense of realism within the foundation of the documentary. These representations are what create the make-up of the documentary and really connote these representations through various technical coding.

I have talked about how the target audience are being engaged by the documentary throughout this analysis and it purely comes down to the technical elements demonstrated.

The narrative structure for this documentary is left closed with an explanation behind everything. This closed narrative is a convention of documentaries as they’re supposed to be informative thus leaving no stone unturned. This narrative structure, to a certain extent, can link in with Richard Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory due to this particular theory suggesting that audiences use the media to experience perfection which they can’t obtain from their real lives. The theory suggests that media texts that offer these “utopian solutions” to audiences will be the most successful. This is done by providing the audience with the educational and informative aspect of it all (exactly what this documentary offers regarding New York). Through these solutions, the main problems that audiences express are solved by viewing this documentary. Therefore, tying in perfectly with this theory.

Furthermore, the narrative links in with Tzvetlan Todorov’s Narrative Structure Theory as it suggests all media texts follow a very similar structure. The documentary opened up on equilibrium by introducing New York as a whole, subsequently starting a story describing the New York lifestyle. The disruption comes into play when it is faced with problems, for instance:  trying to maintain its enormity and proceeds to be a tough job. For example: the organisation behind events being held in Central Park etc. However, the battle for a resolution is won by introducing a new managerial organisational structure and things get flowing again. A new equilibrium is introduced through a new aspect of New York. Therefore, this documentary follows the generic conventions of narrative structure when concerning Todorov’s theory.

Archive footage has been implemented into this documentary in order to enable the demographic gain a meaningful insight into the past of New York. The producers aim was to spark intrigue and engage the audience more; depending on the psychographic, this will be achieved. Also, it adds a sense of realism to the documentary.

The genre of this documentary to a British geographical audience, it is considered to be travel. The sub genre of this documentary is urban lifestyle and this is signified through various techniques. One technique used to signify urban lifestyle is through camera angles (in particular a panning, medium, shallow focus shot) of a penthouse building in the heart of Manhattan and the types of clients and customers that buy it. Therefore, technical elements have been utilised in order to signify the type of sub genre – which is urban lifestyle.