1. Evaluation
Jessica Parker

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media
products
For my media A2 course I have to create an opening 5 minutes for a television documentary with the topic of my own
choice. Alongside this I also had to create 2 ancillary tasks also linked to the documentary which was a radio trailer and
a double page spread.
Before creating my documentary I researched Bill Nicholls theory of documentary modes. The different types and
styles of documentaries are poetic, participatory, per formative, observational and expositional. The documentary style
and type that is most similar to the documentary that I have created is expositional. This is because in our
documentary we speak directly to the viewer proposing a strong argument against binge drinking. We did this by
proposing a strong argument throughout the script informing the audience of the negative effects of alcohol. The
voiceover we used was very factual, this was because of all the statistics we used.

3. Documentary
I believe that the documentary created has many of the typical codes and conventions seen in a real documentary such
as a voiceover, professional interviews, vox pops and reconstructions.
Voice of God Voiceover with Detailed Research
My media documentary presents information about underage binge drinking through the use of shocking statistics but
also detailed research through the use of a voice over which offered the audience information about the topic. This
included a real definition of what binge drinking was as well as informing the audience of the harmful effects that binge
drinking has on the body. Throughout the documentary we used shocking statistics to shock the audience about
underage binge drinking, one of the most shocking statistics we used was ‘It is estimated that 10% of 12-year-olds say
they have used alcohol at least once. By age 13 that number doubles. And by age 15, approximately 50% have had at
least one drink.’
Professional Interviews
Another common convention in documentaries that we used was professional
interviews. We used professional interviews in the documentary as we wanted
to authenticate the views expressed in our documentary from a professional
point. In our documentary we interviewed a professional police officer, a
college chaplain and a health and social care teacher. Throughout these
interviews they expressed negative views towards underage binge drinking.
Also when interviewing the professionals we placed them in a correct setting
with computers in the background etc, but also asked them to look at the
camera during the interview, this is seen in real documentaries such as
supersize me.
Professional interview seen in Professional interview seen in
supersize me my documentary

4. Documentary
Reconstruction
Towards the end of our documentary we used a reconstruction based on a case study given during the interview with
the police officer. The reconstruction consisted of a girl getting followed through a park while she was drunk which later
led to her getting raped by those who followed her. We used a reconstruction to create a sense of realism towards the
audience, which would enable them to empathise with the girl but also see what the effects of underage binge drinking
can lead to in severe cases. We indicated that the footage used was a reconstruction by using a tag saying
reconstruction but also edit the lighting effects on the camera but also blurring the footage.
Vox Pops
Throughout the documentary we used many vox pops of people who attended Solihull sixth form, as we wanted to get
their views and opinions and binge drinking. The students spoke directly to camera about their views and opinions on
binge drinking after being prompted by the film maker before filming. We also used a range of students of both sexes
but also between the ages of 16-19 years old to see if the opinions varied. We used vox pops like the ones seen on
supersize me which consisted of a mid shot/close up of the individual. This close up/mid shot was used throughout our
vox pops.
Vox pop from my documentary Vox pop from supersize me

5. Documentary
Archival Footage
Throughout the documentary, towards the beginning we used archival footage. Archival footage is archive footage which
is inserted into the documentary for added detail without the need for additional filming. We used archival footage of
people that are going out and drinking as this related to our documentary of underage binge drinking.
Range of Shots
Another common convention seen in documentaries such as supersize me were the use of a range of shots using the
camera. This included shots such as close ups, medium close ups, establishing shots, long shots and a panning shot.
Most of these shots were took using a tripod for smooth and steady movements making our documentary look
professional. However some of the shots we used a handheld camera to create a sense of realism.

6. Double Page Spread
I believe that the double page spread for the ancillary task has many of the codes and conventions found in a real TV
magazine such as a headline, columns, grab quotes, images and drop caps. For our double page spread we used
several TV magazines such as radio times and TV choice for our research.
Main image
Caption
Headline
Stand first
Smaller images
Drop cap
Grab quotes
Columns

7. Double Page Spread
Masthead
My double page spread has a masthead that is placed on the left hand side of the two pages placed over the main
image. We included a masthead as all TV magazine articles have one that are either the title of the documentary or
are based on the character. The headline is a large san serif font that is seen in most TV magazines to draw the
reader in to the article. The headline says ‘How much is too much?’ which is the title to our documentary so it anchors.
The san serif headline that is placed over the main image is seen in most TV magazine such as radio times.
Headline from my double page spread Headline from radio times double page spread
Drop Cap
Another conventions seen in our TV magazine is that we have used a drop cap, this is because a drop cap is seen in
nearly all TV magazines to start off the article. We have used a drop cap in our double page spread as its common in
most TV magazines such as radio times and TV choice as it shows the reader where to start reading.

8. Double Page Spread
Main Image
The double page spread also has a main image of young people that are out drinking in a club etc, we decided to use a
still image from the documentary as most TV magazines use images in their double page spread from the documentary.
This image was used as we wanted to grab the readers attention but also relate it back to the topic of the documentary
and article. The main image takes up a lot of space on the double page spread so it can be seen but is also used to
attract the readers to read the article.
Smaller Images
My double page spread also has several smaller images which were taken from the documentary as within radio times
and TV choice the images are taken from the documentary. The smaller images of are of students that took part within
the documentary but also of one of our professional interviews with the police officer. We took images from our
documentary so the readers are able to see who they are going to hear from within the documentary.
Grab Quotes
Throughout the article we have used grab quotes the quotes that we have used may appear to be shocking towards the
reader to grab their attention but to also break the article up. We have used grab quotes such as ’90,000 crimes are
attributed to drink.’ We decided to use grab quotes like this to grab the readers attention so that they will want to read
the article which will encourage them to watch the documentary, this is very common in TV magazines.

9. Radio Trailer
From listening to a number of radio trailers such as the Italian grand prix on radio 5 live and last chance we noticed several
common conventions such appropriate much and sound effects, extracts from the audience and are for a short period of
time.
Extracts
Throughout the radio trailer we used an extract from the documentary of the police officer but also students. The extracts
we used were only a couple of seconds long but created an effective feel in the radio trail. We decided to use effective
extracts within our radio trail as we wanted to grab the audiences attention so that they will want to watch our documentary
but will also know what to expect when watching the documentary.
Scheduling Information
At the end of the radio trailer the scheduling information for our documentary is given by saying ‘Tune in to channel 4 at
9pm this Thursday to really see how much is too much.’ This informs the listeners of the time, date and the channel that
the documentary will be shown on. This is given so that the listeners know when the documentary is on so that they can
watch the documentary. The scheduling information is very common in radio trailers to inform listeners about the
documentary.
Music
For our radio trailer we used the same music out of the documentary. We used the same music out of the documentary as
we thought that it was effective so it would catch the reader’s attention, but we also wanted the documentary and radio
trailer to anchor in some way.
Length of Radio Trailer
From listening to a number of different radio trailers were we noticed that the common length of a radio trailer lasted
between 30-45 seconds. For our radio trailer we made sure it was about 33 seconds this was because it was long enough
for us to say what we needed to say, as we included a couple of interviews from the documentary but also used shocking
facts about binge drinking. We did this so we could sell the documentary to the listeners/

10. I believe that my all three of my media products, the 5 minute opening of a documentary, a radio trailer and a double page
spread use most of the common forms and conventions of a real media product. We decided to use the most common
conventions rather than develop or challenge the forms of and conventions of real media products as we wanted out
products to look as professional as possible, and I believe by using as many as the conventions seen in real media
products makes our products look professional.

11. How effective is the combination of your main product
and ancillary texts?
Our main product was a documentary that was based on binge drinking, and the ancillary texts was to create a double
page spread and a radio trailer. We had to make sure that the double page spread and radio trailer linked as this is what
would sell our documentary to our target audience. Our target audience for the documentary, radio trailer and double page
spread was targeted at teenagers and young adults that go out and binge drinking. We decided to use this age group as
our target audience as we wanted to know how much they really knew about the effects of binge drinking, but to also
shock them.
Radio Trailer
For the radio trailer we included extracts from the documentary such as an extract from the police interview but also an
extract from a students who binge drink. From listening to the radio trailer the audience will be able to recognise these
extracts from the documentary meaning that they will link and combine well. Also the music that we used in a radio
trailer was similar to the music that was used in our documentary, the music used will attract the younger audience. I think
that the radio trailer sells the documentary to the audience well as it shocks the audience with the statistics used but
directly tells the audience what to expect through the use of extracts.
The radio trailer will be broadcast on Capital FM which means that it is targeting the right audience because Capital FM’s
target audience varies between the ages of 12 years old to about 20 years old. Also it is broadcast all over the UK with
7.1 million listeners meaning that our radio trailer will be heard by teens all over the UK in places such as london,
manchester and birmingham. This radio station fits in well with the documentary as the documentary will also be broadcast
on Channel 4 which targets a similar target audience to Capital FM. Also the main components of the radio trailer such as
voiceover, ambient sounds and extracts combine and link well together.
I believe that the radio trailer and the documentary linked well together
this was because they were both very similar as the music used, as well
as the extracts used allowed listeners to hear directly what was in the
documentary, as well as both being broadcast to the same target
audience. This shows that the combination of the radio trailer and
the documentary went well together.
The map shows where Capital FM broadcast all over the UK

12. Double Page Spread
For the double page spread we used images that were from the documentary the main image we used was of a group
of young people that are out binge drinking. We used this shot for the main image as it is very eye catching but also the
younger generation are able to relate to it. The smaller images were of interviews that would be recognised in the
documentary for example one image was of the police officer we interviewed. Using images like this for the double
page spread linked directly to the documentary as the readers are able to see directly what will be in the documentary.
For our double page spread we used a simple layout with a limited colour pallet that would be expected from Radio
Times which made the topic that the documentary and the double page spread was based on seem more serious.
This meant that our documentary was quite plain and less appealing to our target audience as the colour pallet used
was very basic compared to TV choice. This may mean that when our target audience looks at the double page spread
they may not want to immediately want to watch the documentary.
Although radio times attract an older audience aged between 15-44 years old
we still decided to use it to publish our double page spread this was because
it contained articles that were aimed for many different TV channels such as
BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 3, Channel 4 and ITV. This meant that the magazine was
still aimed at a range of people it was still appropriate to use to publish our
double page spread.
Out of all of our products we feel that the double page spread let us down the most in the
combinations between our different products. This was because we needed to use a more
serious approach meaning that the layout and colour pallet we used was less aimed to our
appropriate target audience for it to be published in Radio Times magazine. But I believe
that it still linked well with the documentary as the images were directly taken from the
documentary and will be easily recognised.

13. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
From the research and planning stages at the beginning of the documentary production we used questionnaires to find out
what people from our target audience would want to see in the documentary about binge drinking. We asked a range of
males and females between the ages of 15-19 years old which was our target audience.
From our research before creating the documentary we found out that 60% of people aged between 15-19 would expect to
find documentaries on channel 4. This helped us when choosing what channel to broadcast our documentary on as 60%
of our target audience said they would expect to find documentaries on channel 4 which was our chosen channel due to
this research.
Also from the research before the production of the
documentary 70% of target audience said that they
would prefer to see real footage in the documentary.
We did this through the use of a reconstruction and
archival footage. The remaining 30% said they
would like to see statistical research and
researched narration which was done in the voice
of god voiceover which contained many stats and
facts.
Another thing that we found out from our audience research before creating the documentary was that 80% of the students
said that a documentary on alcohol will help raise awareness, this is because there aren’t many shows on binge drinking so it
will help raise awareness. However the remaining 20% didn’t think that a documentary on binge drinking will help raise
awareness. After creating the documentary, double page spread and radio trailer we made another questionnaire to see how
successful our products were to the target audience.
10
5
0
Yes No

14. Documentary
We asked the target audience if they thought the reconstruction in the
documentary was successful. 90% of the students said that the reconstruction
was successful as it was realistic as well as the what binge drinking could lead
to was also shocking. The remaining 10% of students said that the
reconstruction was not successful as it did not work well.
We also asked the students what they thought went well in the documentary.
40% of students said that the alcohol shots at the beginning worked
well, where as 20% of students thought the archive footage was successful.
Another 20% of students thought that the montage of images went well as its
related to the topic and 10% of students said the vox pops went well and the
remaining 10% said the statistics went well as they informed them.
We also asked the students having watched the first 5 minutes of the
documentary would you watch the rest of it. 100% of students said that they
would watch the remaining documentary after watching the first 5 minute
opening. From the feedback given from the target audience I believe that the
documentary was successful this is because all of the students said that they
would watch the documentary but also thought that the reconstruction, archive
footage and the montage at the beginning worked well.

15. Double Page Spread
We asked the students if the space was used well in the layout of the double page spread
and also asked them why. 80% of students said that they layout and space was used
well, they said the double page spread looked realistic and professional as well as being
clear. The remaining 20% of students said the double page was to spacious and that there
should be less images and more text.
Another question we asked about the double page spread is what could be
improved. 50% of students said that they would not make any
improvements, 20% of students said the spread needed more text and the
remaining 30% said that they would change the font and size of the article text.
We also asked the students after reading the article and looking at the spread
would they watch the documentary. 100% of students said that they would
watch the documentary. These results show that the double page spread was
successful as the students said that the spread looked realistic and
professional as well as saying they would watch the documentary after reading
the article.

16. Radio Trailer
We asked students what they thought worked well on the radio trailer. 30% of students
said that it sounded realistic, 30% of students said that they like the extracts of
interviews that were used from the documentary, 10% of the students said that they
thought the scripting used was successful. Another 10% of students said that they
liked the statistics and facts used about binge drinking and the remaining 20% of
students said they liked the music used.
We also asked the students what they thought could be improved on the radio
trailer. 60% of students said that they would make no improvements where as 20%
of students said they would include more vox pops and extracts from the
documentary, 10% of students said that they would have made it longer and the
remaining 10% of students said they would improve the sound levels.
Another question we asked the students about the radio trailer was after listening to
the radio trailer would they watched the documentary. 90% of students said that
they would watch the documentary whilst the remaining 10% of students said
they wouldn’t. I believe that from the audience feedback that the radio trailer has
been successful this is because most of the students had said they would watch the
documentary after hearing the trail but a large proportion of the students wouldn’t
make any improvements to it.

17. How did you use new media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages?
Research and Planning
For the production of the opening of our documentary and our ancillary tasks it was very
important to do research and planning into the topic of binge drinking. A lot of the planning
that we had done such as story boards for the documentary and drafts for the double page
spread we had done by hand, but we included them into websites such as prezi. For the
documentary storyboards we included possible shots that can be used.
When researching the topic of our documentary we used numerous websites on the internet such as news websites to
look at the most recent statistics on binge drinking. The news websites that we used were BBC news, the guardian and
sky news. By using these websites when researching the topic of binge drinking we found very useful statistics that
were used in our documentary.
We also needed to research different TV channels that could air our documentary
we did this through the use of different websites. The different TV channels that
we researched we BBC, ITV and channel 4. From researching the different
channels we looked into their remits and decided that channel 4 was the most
suitable channel to air our programme, this was because this channel was aimed
at our documentary target audience.

18. Research and Planning
During the research we also needed to watch documentaries that were of a similar topic. We did this as
we wanted to see the different conventions that were in similar documentaries but to also see how they
were structures. For us to be able to watch similar documentaries we used several online programmes
such as youtube, 4OD and BBC iPlayer. By using these different websites we were able to access
similar documentaries.
To upload all of our planning and research we used slideshare and prezi which allowed us to upload our
work using different technologies by embedding them into the blog which is blogger.com. We uploaded all
of our work including our storyboard and drafts which allowed us to put all of the groups idea’s together as
we each individually uploaded work onto the blog. We was then able to go back to the work that was
uploaded on to the blog such as statistics and then use them in the script.
Uploading our work from prezi to blogger
We had to click on embed and then copy the code so it
could be placed into blogger.
After creating a new post by clicking on the pencil
we had to click on HTML then copy and past the
code from prezi.

19. Research and Planning
We then had to save the post and then publish it
for the prezi presentation to work on the blog.
Overall prezi presentation on the blog.
Filming
After carrying out our research and planning and uploaded all of our work to blogger we began filming. For our filming we
used a Canon HG20 Camera which allowed us to film our footage but we could also take still shots. On the camera we was
able to edit the lighting settings but also able to use manual focus and zooming shots which allowed us to focus our own
shots which allowed us to create shots like this.
Throughout the documentary we used a variety of shots such as handheld
as the camera was light and easy to carry but for more professional shots
we used a tripod to give us smooth but still shots. The tripod was extremely
useful during vox pops and professional interviews when the camera
needed to be kept still, but allowed us to create shots such as pans during
the opening of our documentary.
Shot during the reconstruction where we edited
the lighting but also the used manual focus
making the shot blurring creating realism.

20. Filming
During the vox pops and professional interviews we needed to use equipment for recording the sound and for this we
used a direct microphone that was plugged into the camera but also a pair of headphones plugged into the camera
allowing us to listen to the recording, as we needed to listen for back ground noises. For our script we recorded it in a
quiet room where there would be no background noises.
Editing
After filming the footage we needed to get the footage off the camera and on to the apple iMac, this was done by
copying our footage off the camera in to our media drive. After putting all of the footage onto the iMac we needed to
transfer the footage onto final cut express which is what we used to create the documentary. Final cut was easy to
use when creating the documentary as we could edit shots to how we had planned to. We did this by log and
transferring the clips that we was going to use.
Transferring our footage onto final cut express
We began the log and transfer by clicking on to file
which then allowed us to click on log and transfer.
We then selected the footage that we wanted to put on to
final cut by dragging on to the log and transfer screen.
We then selected all of our footage which we added to
the queue meaning that the footage will be added on to
final cut.
Our footage now on final cut express.

21. Editing
Throughout the documentary to ensure that the clips joined together smoothly we used several edits that were on final cut.
The edits that we used were mainly cross dissolves as the shot dissolved nicely into the next shot allowing the
documentary to run smoothly.
Adding effects to the documentary
To add effects to the documentary we had to click on effects which
was just above where are different shots were kept. After clicking on
effects a whole list of different effects came up and we had to click on
video transitions.
We then had the choice of different effects that we could use and we
decided to use dissolve, so after clicking on dissolve we had a choice
of different effects that we could have chose. We decided to use
cross dissolves.
After clicking on cross dissolves we were able to drag it and place
them where we wanted to. In this shot there are several cross
dissolves that were used and are seen as white which the arrows are
pointing to.

22. Editing
At the opening of the documentary we used a montage of different images of alcohol. We did this to create an effect whilst
the voiceover was explaining the harmful effects of alcohol.
Before After
Creating a montage of images
To create a montage of different images we had to save several
images and log and transfer them in the same way as we did the clips
so they were in our sequence of images and clips called untitled
project 1.
We then had to select the image that
we wanted to use just by clicking on
it. We then to edit the images by
editing the size but also the angle we
had to click on motion. By clicking on
motion it meant that we could edit our
images.

23. Editing
By clicking on scale it allowed
us to change the size of the
images either making the
bigger or smaller.
By clicking on rotation we were
able to rotate our images to
whatever angle we liked by
moving the arrow.
By clicking the anchor point along the timeline on the right meant that
we could choose how long we wanted each transition to take just by
clicking the anchor point. This meant we was able to decide how long
it would take for an image to rotate etc.

24. Double Page Spread
For our double page spread we used the program Adobe Indesign, which was easy to use because I had used this
program before when creating my preliminary task.
Adding a drop cap
To add a drop cap to the article we had to look
for the drop cap tool in the menu at the top of
the page.
To create the drop cap we had to change the
number on the drop cap menu. To change the
number we clicked on the up arrow to size
number 2 which was appropriate for our
double page spread.

25. Double Page Spread
For our double page spread we decided to add a grab quote as it is common in TV magazine but also to shock and grab
the readers attention.
Adding a grab quote
To create a grab quote we had
to select the warp tool on the
toolbar.
By clicking on the warp tool on the toolbar
allowed the quote to warp around the text.
This meant that the quote wasn’t covering
the text and went around the text nicely.
Before selecting the warp tool
After selecting the warp tool

26. Double Page Spread
For our double page spread it was important that we split our article into columns. This is because columns are very
common in most TV magazines but also separate the article making it easier to read.
Adding columns
To separate the article in to columns we had to select the
column tool on the toolbar at the top. This then allowed us to
choose how many columns that we would like to have on the
page.
We then decided how many columns that we wanted to have
on each page, on the first page we decided to have 3 columns
and on the second page we decided to have 2.

27. Double Page Spread
For our double page spread it was important to add images to the spread. This was because we wanted to grab the
readers attention using images.
Adding an image
To add an image for the spread I had to click the
box with the cross inside. This then enabled me
to draw a box to the size I wanted where the
image would be placed.
I then clicked place which allowed me to select
and open the image that I wanted to use.
Final image on the spread.

28. Radio Trailer
For our radio trailer we used Garage band which was easy to use as we were able to add extracts from our documentary to
include but also we had the choice of lots of music to go in the background. When creating the radio trailer it was very
simple as we used extracts from our documentary and recorded a voiceover. After creating the radio trailer we exported it
and then was ready to play as an mp3.
Choosing the music for the radio trailer
To choose the music for the radio trailer we needed to click on
the eye to bring up he choice of different music.
This then bought up a large menu of different types of music, we then
clicked on the genre ‘dark’ which bought a large selection of music.
For our radio trailer we used chordal synth pattern 21.

29. Radio Trailer
For our radio trailer we needed to cut the voiceover into different sections which would allow us to insert extracts from the
documentary. We wanted to insert extracts from the documentary so the audience would know what to expect after
listening to the radio trailer.
Cutting the voiceover
To be able to cut the voiceover we had to listen to
where we wanted to cut, after selecting where we
wanted to cut we had to click it. By clicking on it, it
selected where we was going to cut the
extract/voiceover.
The red line shows where the voiceover/extract will be cut, for it to be
cut we had to hold down command and T, and then click the red line.
This then cut the voiceover allowing us to insert the extracts into the
radio trailer.

30. Radio Trailer
Another thing we had to do for our radio trailer is to edit the sound levels. This is because we wanted our sound levels to be
constant throughout the radio trailer.
Altering the sound levels
To alter the sound levels we had to select track volume on
sequence one because the sound levels on sequence one
were not constant.
This then allowed us to click on the blue and
add blue dots. We then moved the blue dots
up and down, we moved them up to make the
sound louder and moved them down to make
them lower. We moved the dots around until
the sound levels were constant.
By moving the blue dots allowed us to have constant sound levels throughout
the radio trailer.