The document discusses how a media student's documentary product uses, develops, and challenges conventions of real documentaries. It examines the student's use of interviews, camera shots, editing techniques, voiceovers, real footage, lighting, archive footage, graphics, and music. The student aims to create an observational documentary that is realistic yet engages their target audience of 17-26 year olds. They develop conventions by expanding techniques and challenge conventions by varying styles to appeal to younger viewers. Overall the student believes their documentary fits the genre through its form and substance.

1. Media Evaluation
Question 1: In what ways does your
media product use, develop and
challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?

2. In looking at inspirational texts and also from
development from AS level Media Studies I
have gained many skills in researching into my
chosen product to help me gain knowledge on
the conventions of documentaries and apply
them to my own text, including my two
ancillary tasks which are a double page spread
and a newspaper advertisement.

3. Documentary conventions
• Documentaries have many conventions to convey the type
of genre it is, in which my documentary is an observational
documentary. These conventions include:
• Interviews
• Camera Shots/ editing techniques
• The voice over
• Real footage
• Natural Sound and lighting
• Archive footage Camera Shots
• Non diegetic sound
• Graphics
• Reconstruction

4. Camera Shots/ Editing Techniques
• In my evaluation I tried to use both handheld camera shots
and I also used a tripod in my documentary.
• Use of Convention: The effect of the handheld camera In
my documentary was a main convention used in
documentaries I found as it helps to create a ‘realistic’ look
to the documentary and also makes the audience feel more
involved, which I thought was a major factor in my
documentary as it is from a observational view point.
• Development: Although the handheld camera was a main
element that I tried to use in my documentary I found that
at times the camera did look shaky so instead tried to stick
to the tri-pod to compose the shots and improve focus to
give the documentary more of a professional look to it.

5. Interview
• The use of convention: The use of interview in my documentary helped to give an
insight in to the individual that my product is based around. In looking at examples
of interviews in documentary I noticed that there is usually a main individual/s
that the camera focuses on with a background that relates to the location. I tried
to stick to this convention in using many different locations for interviews with
backgrounds which have a relation to the documentary and also composing the
individual so that the camera focuses on what they are talking about as well as
facial expressions, therefore conveying emotions.
• Development: In my documentary I also tried to use the focus of a background to
use a green screen to display the type of genre of my documentary so that it is
clear to my audience.
• Challenging: Many of the documentaries I looked at tend to use the same form of
interview such as voice over, or text on screen however in my documentary I tried
to use a rang of techniques to create a mixture and also appeal to my audience
more. I think style is of particular importance when appealing to the target
audience, in which case my audience is 17-26 years olds. A younger audience are
attracted to change from researching into my target audience and gaining
feedback and this is why I have challenged this convention in doing so.

6. The voice over
• Use of Convention: The use of this convention in my
documentary not only helps to stick to the genre of
documentary but also helps to give the audience
background knowledge and tie the story together.
• Development: I have also tried to use a voice over from
others in my documentary as a support to the main
individual which helps create more of an emotional
attachment to the documentary.
• Challenging: As well as voice over I have also
incorporated other conventions to give knowledge to
the audience as well as from the individual and also
through text on screen.

7. Real footage
• Use of Convention: Throughout the documentary we have
used ‘real footage’. The documentary is to appear true to
the audience. However in the documentary is was not the
intention to convince the audience that the footage is real.
This allows the audience to focus more on the words of the
individuals and the images on screen rather than the
representation of what is to appear to be true.
• Development: In using real footage throughout the
documentary this is how we developed this convention by
sticking to it.
• Challenging: The intention was to stick to this convention
through the portrayal of the camera, therefore I have not
challenged it.

8. Natural Sound and Lighting
Use of the convention: I have used natural
lighting and sound in my documentary to also
gain the effect of my documentary appearing
real by not adding artificial lighting.
Development: My documentary was ultimately
a performance based documentary as it is
based on the performance therefore I have
used background lights in my performance

9. Archive Footage
• Use of Convention: I have used archive footage
within my documentary as a way of character
building in my documentary. I have used this also
as a way of allowing the audience to gain more
background information on my main individual.
• Development: The use of editing techniques
allowed me to create a more professional looking
documentary which I have used in looking at
inspirational texts.

10. Non Diegetic Sound
• Use of Convention: The use of non- diegetic sound helped
to create an uplifting feel to my documentary as well as
fitting the theme of my documentary.
• Development: I took into consideration the use of sound by
expanding on my range of music in my product and
adjusting the sound levels to make it more effective.
• Challenge: I found that within my documentary the music
does not always compliment the music as a way of creating
a strong emotion within the audience. I wanted to reach
the audience in a way that would keep them engaged yet
also up-beat so I tried not to use music as a major
composing factor .

11. Graphics
• Using the convention: The use of graphics was a vital part of my
product in creating a professional and realistic looking
documentary. The use of a institution and production logo helped
me to base my documentary from the company that it is from..
• Develop: I tried to make sure that they fit to the genre of my
documentary, as many other documentaries are often based on a
particular channel within a company to fit a nice. For example
Cirque Du Soleil is based on SkyArts which is why I wanted to create
a strong TV channel to show my product and also that allowed the
audience to know what genre it is from looking at this.
• Challenge: Unlike other documentary I showed both my production
and institution logo’s at the beginning of my product. This was to
create a lasting effect on the audience and instantly this will tell you
what the documentary could be about. Also it allowed me to build
the documentary up to surround it magnification.

12. Conclusion
• Overall I believe that my documentary does fit
the conventions of real media products. I have
took elements of my product and developed
and challenged different aspects of my
documentary as a way of engaging my
audience. Observation being my sub –genre I
believe that my documentary style and
substance is appropriate to make it look
realistic and that allows the audience to be
entertained yet also informed.