Evaluation

1)      In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge codes and conventions of real media products?

My chosen genre for my media product was documentary. I chose to do a documentary because I have never made one before and I frequently watch them so I knew the basics of a documentary. Genre is a French term that means ‘type’. There are two main reasons for genres in media. One is for easy classification, and the other is for audience sign posting. Every documentary is different; however most follow the same codes and conventions as the rest for the audience to acknowledge that it is a documentary and not a movie or simple TV programme. The only documentaries that will stray from the codes and conventions and challenge them will be mock-documentaries, which basically are a mocking alternative to the usual documentary for example Borat. The codes and conventions of a documentary that many documentaries stick to and use are narration. In most documentaries there is always a narrator or voice over to tell the story and inform the audience of what is going on, or what is going to happen next. Another convention of a documentary is having reconstructions. Often in documentaries, they are made after a time has passed or an event has passed, therefore to give the audience a true reflection of what happened, reconstructions are made to give a better visual understanding. Also, documentaries are inclined to having titles and music throughout. They use diegetic and non-diegetic sounds in the documentary. For example in ‘supersize me’ they use childish music to undermine McDonalds. Also, the use of archive footage and still images is another convention of a documentary. This adds authenticity to the documentary and also gives extra information of which the film maker may not have been able to find themselves. Documentaries also tend to have interviews and vox pops. A vox pop is a quick 30second interview with someone about the topic in the documentary. An interview would be a longer segment in the documentary in which the presenter would sit down with an expert. These are important in documentaries because it gives the audience a different perspective on the topic from someone else’s point of view. When I chose to do a documentary I researched many different documentaries to get a good idea of how my media product should be like. I looked at documentaries like the one on madeleine McCann, and a documentary with Conrad Murray who allegedly was behind the death of Michael Jackson, and a documentary on Amy Winehouse’s career. All three documentaries were on different topics but all shared similar codes and conventions. For example, all three documentaries had a voiceover/ narrator or a presenter.  All three documentaries had interviews and vox pops with different people. The madeleine McCann documentary had a reconstruction of the night madeleine was taken, described by the voice of her mother. It was clear after watching these documentaries that I had to have a narrator/voiceover and some sort of interview in my documentary because they were important. Therefore, when it came to making my documentary, I decided to have an interview with a professional who knew about the topic I was documenting on, to give a better understanding and a broader view of my topic. Also, as well as having narration in my documentary, I used myself as a presenter to present information to the audience. I presented statistics and factual information which I also found was a convention of a documentary. Therefore I believe I used the codes and conventions of a documentary and did not challenge them. I did this because the topic I had chosen was quite a known topic and I didn’t want to make a mockery of it, I wanted to showcase my own view and give my own twist on the topic and I thought sticking to the codes and conventions would be the best way to do so. In doing this I hoped that anyone who would watch my media product would understand the topic in more depth.

2)      How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

I chose to do a magazine article and a poster as my ancillary texts to go with my documentary media product. As a fan of JLS I looked at how they marketed themselves. Although they aren’t documentary makers, they have an interesting design concept to promote themselves in a unique and recognisable way. Each member of the band has a colour assigned to them from the moment they stepped on our screens. They have stuck with these colours and it is how they are recognised as a 4 piece and individually. I wanted to use the same concept/theory for my own media products. I aimed to use the same colours and design theme on both the magazine article and poster so it would be recognisable to those who would see it. In the end I decided to go with different colours, but I kept the same concept with the channel 4 logo on both ancillary texts and the same information written in the same way on both texts. I decided to do it differently to the way I had originally planned because I didn’t want it to be too repetitive, which was something I hadn’t thought about beforehand. I wanted the ancillary texts to look new and fresh and eye catching. I think the combination of both my ancillary texts and media products works well.

3)      What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

From my audience feedback I found that they quite enjoyed the documentary. Some of those who watched it said they found it interesting because it was on a topic that hasn’t been covered before and they had never seen it explained in such a way. In some documentaries that I have watched, I have seen them do interviews however they have hidden and changed the voice of the recipient they are interviewing for their safety. I thought this was an interesting segment to have as part of a documentary on something that is so hidden in society that I decided to use this in my own documentary. The feedback I received was positive and I was told it was a clever spin to my documentary. I was told it gave my documentary a true feel to it which made it more believable and touching.

4)      How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

The technologies I used for my media production was the internet, an apple mac computer for which I used final cut pro and pages, a video camera, and YouTube converter. I used the internet to do my research on other documentaries. I found different documentaries on the internet and watched them which influenced my planning also as I found what I wanted to put in my own documentary and how I wanted to present it. I used final cut pro on the apple mac computer to edit my media production on final cut pro. It is easy to use and made the editing process simple and easy which allowed me time to try different things to make my documentary better. I also used software on the apple mac called pages which allowed me to make my ancillary texts. It gave me templates and blank options which I then edited and made my own, added my own information and text, my own pictures and created my own magazine article and poster. I used the video camera to construct my media product. It took around 6 sessions to shoot the whole of the documentary. I was familiar with the video camera anyway having used it the previous year to film the trailer I produced. I used YouTube converter to convert a video I thought I wanted to use as part of archive footage. Although I didn’t use the video, I still used the YouTube converter which was a new experience for me as I have never used it before. It was quick and easy.

Documentary : Conrad Murray - The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson

Why i chose this documentary?
I chose this documentary because i found the michael jackson death trial very interesting and i believe this documentary highlight a different side to the story.

Textual Analysis
The establishing shot of this documentary is of Dr.Conrad Murray in the court. The only sound is of the jury talking and a few background sounds. The camera does not move at this stage, it is stable and fixed onto Dr. Conrad Murray. There are no pans to see around the room.

After this shot there is some narration which we have established in a key part of documentaries. There is also archive footage of the day michael jackson was found dead and taken from his home in an ambulance, just to set the scene along with the narration.

In this documentary we have been introduced to the narrator of the story. In the other 2 although there were narrators, we were never aware of who they were. This is how documentaries can differ.

Also during this documentary there is evidence of a two shot. This is when there are 2 people in the frame being filmed.

Doing interviews in a setting like this is also a common element of a documentary. 

Furthermore as the clip goes on there is a shot reverse shot of both the interviewer and Conrad Murray.

Genre

The genre of this doumentary can be many different things depending on how you view the topic. That can be the same for most documentaries. For example this documentary has been placed under the genre's of 'Crime', 'News and Politics' and 'Society'.

Audience

I think this documentary captures the interest of most people. The story was so big around the world and michael jackson was such a big celebrity that it almost affected everyone in some way therefore a documentary like this is for everyone.

Documentary : Amy Winehouse-The Girl Done Good

Why i chose this documentary?
I chose this documentary because i thought Amy winehouse was an amazing singer and this documentary captures that and i felt it had the conventions of a documentary.

Textual Analysis
The establishing shot of this documentary is of 'archive footage' from 2007 in london when amy winehouse did a show. Archive footage is the term given to a clip of footage thats used in new documentarys but was filmed years prior to it. Therefore it was 'pulled out of the archive'.

There is also archive footage of amy singing in 2007.

Archive footage is a key convention to making a documentary as it shows the documentary maker has taken a  keen interest in their topic and done some background research to allow its audience to develop a better understanding. 

In the first 30 seconds of this documentary the makers have already used another key convention of a documentary which is Vox Pops. These are quick snappy interviews with just one or two questions with people about the documentary topic. 

This documentary also has a superimpose which is where a layer of photos have been put together and fade into one another to combine various images. In the picture below you can see the top picture fading into the picture behind.

At 2.28 music starts to play which initiates the introduction to the documentary is over and the title is shown which means the documentary is beginning its flow. This incidental music is an important part of most documentaries as it alerts the audience.

Another sound we hear in this documentary is 'narration'. This has been apparent in all the documentaries i have analysed on my blog which reassures me that it is a widely used convention for any type of documentary and is an important factor. 

The editor of this documentary has also used many fades to show the passing of time through the journey of amy's life.

Genre

This documentary has been placed under the Music genre. This is fitting because it is about a musician. However i would also place it under an autobiography type documentary because it looks at other aspects of amy's life aswell as just her musical career.

Audience

As this documentary is about amy winehouse its safe to say you would probably have to be a fan of hers to watch this documentary however the fact that it covers wider issues about amys life other than just music means it opens up to a number of different people i.e those who feel they can relate to her.

Documentary : Madaeleine Was Here

Why i chose this documentary?
I chose this documentary because the story of Madaeleine McCann has been of a great interest to me and it is a TRUE story that many find intriguing.

Textual Analysis
The clip in this post is just 10 minutes out of the 48 minute documentary on Madaeleine McCann and her family. This particular clip has been filmed in and around the family home in places such as the local farm where Madaeleine and her parents and siblings would all go. There is no dim lighting or special effects on this documentary, although it is a touching documentary it has been kept very natural to show their true colours.

The establishing shot of this clip is of the moon which we realise after is a slight reconstruction of what happened the night Madaeleine was kidnapped. There is a voiceover throughout the pictures of the hotel etc which is Madaeleine McCanns mother. Both a voiceover and a reconstruction are key components to making a documentary. 

There is a kind of superimpose in this documentary where the editor has taken shots of different objects related to madaeleine in some way and put them together with the voices of the other children. For example there is pictures of paint, and teddy bears, all one after another.

There are many zooms when it is a one shot of the parents talking. The camera goes close enough to the face to see the whole expression and this paints the true reality of what they are feeling.

Throughout the documentary there are seamless cuts there is no sharp editing. The video flows throughout in a smooth manner.

In this documentary we hear dialogue. We hear the McCanns talk about their daughter in interviews, we hear news reporters talk and also various others. Another sound we hear is the narrator. A narrator is another key convention of a documentary.

Genre

This documentary has been filed under the 'Crime' genre. This is because what happened to madaeleine was a crime. However if it was upto me i would put it under a  true story type genre because i believe everything in this documentary is true and it makes it more effective on the ears when people hear it is a true story.

Audience

The audience for this documentary can be anyone who is able to understand it. It isnt a specific group in society. Some may find it more interesting than others but everyone can watch this documentary is isnt tailored to a specific group.

Short film: TEETH

Why I chose this video?
I chose to use this short film as one to analyse because during watching it, I found it highly amusing and comical and thought it would be a good film to use.

Textual Analysis
This film is shot on a lake and it has just two men and a boat. The lake is empty apart from these two men. It is a real life location. The men are old, and are dressed in hats, blazers, generally dressed as a stereotypical old aged man. They are on a boat and are both holding fishing rods in their hands. The film is shot in black and white. There is no sense of daylight, or colours, it is a very simple film.

The establishing shot of this film is of the lake. It looks so calm and beautiful, the water is slowly moving, giving us a clear feeling of the peacefulness of the area. 

Then it goes to show the title of the film, and then to another master shot of the two men in their canoe on the lake looking out. 

From this shot it goes to a zoom in of one of the man's faces as he sneezes. Then it switches from two shots to single shots as it shows the back of one man and the other man giggling. The two shot allows us to see the proximity between both characters and how they are interacting with one another. As the man has just sneezed, the camera moves to the right a little and shows the edge of the canoe and the man's teeth lying on the side. As the man moves, the canoe also moves, and the following shot is from a low angle looking up as the teeth steadily drop into the water. 

Also near enough midway through the film, there is a dissolve into a blackout which dissolves into another motion picture. This implies a passage of time.

There is also a two shot near the end of the film when the man tries to wear another pair of fake teeth but realises they don't fit him.

Although there is no real written dialogue for this film, it still has sound. It isn't a silent film because the characters laugh and make noises that help us to understand how they are feeling. For example, the man who loses his teeth sneezes, and we hear this. Also, when his friend laughs, we hear this, so we know how they sound. Throughout the whole film there is a soft music playing in the background. The music doesn't stop even when we hear the diegetic sounds of the men sneezing and laughing. 

Genre

The genre of this film is fiction. I believe this is a story that has been retold over time therefore it could be a real life film? My interpretation of this film is that it is about 2 friends who have gone fishing and end up in a comical adventure.

Audience

I think the audience for this film is any age category. I showed this to my younger sister who is 14 and she enjoyed watching the film, as much as I did, so I don't think there is an age barrier for the audience. It is a popular film with over 200,000 hits on you tube. 

Context

The film was made in 2008 by Divamedia in association with the Irish Film Board. It was directed by John Kennedy and Ruairi O'Brien and edited by Phillip Cullen. 

Short film: MEMORIES

Why I chose this video?

I chose this video because I think for only being 2 minutes long, it gives off such a powerful vibe that you want to keep watching. Its very moving and cleverly put together.

Textual Analysis

The location of this film is in a normal street. It seems to be a cold wintery day as the character is wrapped up in a coat. The guy is dressed normally, trousers and coat, he looks like a normal man. During the film there are props in the form of undeveloped picture reels. Although the video is in colour, it is very drained so it is near enough black and white. The colours are very miserable and makes the film feel cold and depressed. 

The establishing shot of this film is of the main character at the zebra crossing. He is walking alone with his hands in his pockets, he seems very shut off to the rest of the world. 

During the film there is many different shots. There are low angle shots looking on the floor when the man picks the picture reels up from the ground. There are also zoom in's, when the camera focuses in on a point, for example in the film, the camera zooms in on the characters eyes. There are many other single shots of different things as the film goes on, for example of the guys house, and the nature around the house where the picture reels lie, and inside the home there are different shots.

The editing is very seamless in this video, there are no sharp cuts, it has all been put together smoothly. There are many dissolves in this film as the guy has flashbacks when looking at the picture reels. The editing has been cleverly done to show this pastime of thought through the fading in and out. 

The picture below shows the fade which represents the flashback.

There is also something called a dissolve in this film. This is when, the editor has blended a mix of images, over each other to imply the day has passed. This happens about a minute into the film when the guy has found more and more picture reels. 

The only sound in this film is the sounds of the music and the diegetic sounds of the natural background e.g. cars, wind, walking. There is no dialogue in this move which makes it more interesting to watch because you sort of make up your own dialogue in your head as you watch. 

Genre

This film is a fiction film, it has been written by the director who made this film up. My interpretation of this film is that it is about a man who has nothing but memories in his mind of certain things and they come back to him when he looks through old photos but then the memory disappears again. It could be due to an illness the character has.

Audience

This film was made by students however it is such a captivating story line that the audience for this film could be any age. It is not solely aimed at students. I think those of an elder generation, or even those who know of someone experiencing what the character experiences, would like this film. It is quite a popular film. 

It has 176,212 hits on you tube.

This film was also nominated and won the 'winner of best fiction award at the altered images student post production festival in London 2010'. 

Context

This film was made in 2010, and was written, directed and edited by a student from Buckingham university, who goes by the name of Radoslaw Sienski. 

Short film: SIGNS

Why i chose this film?

I didn't know where to start looking for short films, so I went on youtube and hoped for the best. This was the first film I clicked on. After watching it I thought, this would be a good film to analyse.

Textual Analysis

The location of this short film is set in america. The setting seems like it is a busy place, however the main character isn't part of that busy hype. Throughout this film, he is more of a nobody rather than a busy body. It is a real life location, it is set in 2 main settings, one being the guys apartment, the other being his workplace, however there are snippets of other settings e.g. on the tube to work, and in a park on a bench. The guy wears the same grey suit everyday, which shows his life is very repetitive. The lighting is pretty dim all throughout the film.

The establishing shot of the film is of the guy in the bed. It is an aerial shot, meaning it is shot from above. It shows the guy in bed by himself spaced out as he just opens his eyes. Straight away we are given the inclination that this is the main character. During the film, the main guy meets a lady, who works in the next building, just below his office. He can see her through his window when he looks down and she see's him when she looks up. This is shown through the camera angles used. There are high angles and low angles to represent the distance between them both. 

I suppose the props they use in this short film is the pieces of paper that both characters use to write on as they communicate with each other through the windows. The paper plays an important role in this short film, as it is how the message is shown.

The first few shots are seamless, as they switch from watching him get out of bed, to getting ready, eating breakfast, and then on the way to work. They all follow one another in a clean order. There are no fades or slow motion pieces in the film.

This film has been very clever with sound, as the only sounds that are used is the background music that has been edited in, and the sounds of everyday life and other characters. The two main characters, the guy and the girl, do not have any dialogue however they have the biggest parts to play. The director has thought of another way for them to convey their message which is through writing on paper. I thought this was very clever and it made the film more interesting to see what they would say to each other without the use of words. Also, the background music has been edited to play along with the sequence of the film. For example at the start of the film, the music is very slow and boring and suggests that the guy is also very boring. However, as the film progresses and his life gets interesting, he meets the girl, the music starts to pick up and get happier.

Genre

I think the genre of this film is love. It is a short film about communication and being able to find love when you least expect it if you just follow the 'signs'. 

Audience

Through doing some research on this film I came across a Facebook page for this short film. It seems that this film is widely known and enjoyed by many, even those of a different origin. As there is no dialogue, there isn't much of a need to understand English I suppose, just watching the film through you can understand the concept.

Also this film has 105, 157 likes just on Facebook which shows its popularity. On you tube it has over 7 million hits.

Below is some of the reviews and ratings that audience have given this film after watching it.

Context

This film was released in March of 2008. The studio used was 'radical.media and publics mojo productions'. It has been described as a sweet film about communication and finding love when you least expect it. It stars actor Nick Russell and actress Kestie Morsaai.

This film was directed by Patrick Hughes who also helped with the screenplay alongside Karl Fleet & Nick Worthington. Patrick Hughes also has his own feature film out, his first, called 'red hill'. It was produced by Victoria Conners-Bell.

Final Proposal

The final proposal for our documentary has been slightly altered after considering the feedback from the demographic research and also further research about our previous topic found that arranged marriages weren't completely bad but in some cases they were promoted by the individuals, which encourages us to alter out topic to a more controversial subject which was 'forced marriages'.
Our final idea is based around the concept of 'forced marriages', we will aim to create an investigative documentary.
Forced marriage is a topic that is widely known amongst the UK, if not the world. But yet, it remains 'hidden' within society and although it is a topic that springs a lot of interest, there aren't many who would take the time to investigate the lengths of which it can go to. The question we pose is why?
This documentary will aim to look at the concept of forced marriages, digging deep to find the effect it has on the individual and wider society. We will aim to construct a non-bias documentary on this topic interviewing professionals with in depth societal views and individuals that have been involved in forced marriages themselves.
During the documentary the audience will gain an insight into how forced marriages are undertaken from a reconstruction. We'll aim to capture the communication undertaken between the families involved and also the journey to the airport for the victim of such a tragedy, aiming to finally show the victim seek help from the many officials who can help to stop this crime.
To gain a wider understanding of the matter we will also use constructed Vox pops and un-constructed Vox pops to see what society thinks of the concept.
By the end of this documentary the audience will be well informed of the concept from the range of techniques we are aiming to implement, ensuring we follow the documentary codes and conventions set out by the industry.

storyboard

Storyboards are an essential tool when producing a media product, whether it is a film, documentary, music video or any other media texts, as storyboards enable the producers to visualise their product, it also enables the producers to see what actions they need to take to achieve their product (locations, camera movements and angle etc). However it is to be noted, storyboards don’t have to be followed by the letter, as to improve their product, the production team may see it necessary to change some aspects or add some aspects to the storyboard.


Initial story board idea..



Final story board idea

The Script

Opening titles:

Forced marriages occur when either or both participants have been pressured into entering matrimony, without giving their free consent.

It's not the same as an arranged marriage, which may have been set up by a relative or friend, but has been willingly agreed to by the couple.

Over the past few years, force marriages haven’t gained much publicity, but yet the topic is widely known by many societies, yet have you heard anyone “openly” talking about the topic.

The answer to that is a, simple no. During the course of this documentary we will be investigating the concept of force marriages and the hidden impact it has on society and you as an individual.

We’ll look at law being passed through the House of Lords in an effort to stop such marriages taking place, but do the same laws apply when the marriages take place outside the EU?

The government has taken initiatives to ensure that victims of such crimes are able to seek help from the British embassies that are within the countries abroad.

Advertisements and online videos, funded by the foreign common wealth office’s forced marriage unit, have been created in the bid that British citizens are aware of the help available to them if they ever become victims.

Currently the foreign and commonwealth office has made proposals to provide a prevention service, thus not requiring a British nationals being “rescued” from a forced marriage abroad. But are these criminals finding their way around the law by undertaking their forced marriage within the UK?

Interview (Bal Gill):

What cultures or societies are more likely to put their children through a forced marriage?

No parent would want to put their child through intentional pain, so what benefit do the parents feel a forced marriage has?

What is the international community doing to prevent such marriages taking place, and in your professional capacity, do you feel these prevention  measures are actually going to work in the long term?

Do you personally feel that these type of marriages should continue as it’s part of the culture of the participants or do you feel that such marriages have horrific impacts on the individual and their children and why?

Thank you for your time Mr Gill.

Vox pots

Hello can we ask you a few questions?

What is your understanding of arranged marriages, and forced marriages?

Do you feel that the two topics are underestimated or over estimated in regards to the impact on the individual and society and why?

Here are a few statistics for you to think about.

Nearly 40% of the cases dealt with by the FMU concerned people under the age of 18.

Women and girls were the victims in 85% of the total cases.

The UK's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) received 1063 reports of possible forced marriages between January and August 2009 – an increase of 25% on the same period in 2008.

Why do they happen?

People force others into marriage due to a range of factors such as preserving wealth and family reputation.

"Parents may have made a promise when the child was young and they feel they can't let the other family down," says Sue, from Central Manchester Women's Aid.

"The victim's parents may call their children selfish and they are told they are bringing shame on the honour of the family."

Many victims are subject to emotional blackmail and physical threats. A number of them may be forced to marry a member of their extended family, for example, a cousin.

The UK's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) has outlined the following reasons why people coerce others into matrimony:

To control unwanted behaviour and sexuality, and prevent ‘unsuitable’ relationships, i.e. with people outside their ethnic, cultural, caste or religious group

To protect perceived cultural or religious ideals

Family ‘honour’ or long-standing family commitments

Peer group or family pressure

To ensure land, property and wealth remain in the family

To strengthen family links

To assist claims for residence and citizenship

To provide a carer for a disabled family member / reduce the ‘stigma’ of disability

You may be asking why do people actually travel abroad, knowing they are going to be forced into a marriage.

Some young people, especially of South Asian background, are tricked into visiting their family's country of origin for a holiday, only to find that there are plans to get them married there.

They may be isolated, have no access to money, telephones or their passports, and their movement will be restricted.

The local British embassy will get involved if the victim - or someone they know - informs them or the UK's Forced Marriage Unit about their situation.

Making the contact may involve some risk for the victim hence under-reporting is fairly common.

Therefore visitors are recommended to leave details of their passport, flights and overseas residence with a trusted friend in the UK and contact the Foreign Office before they travel.

Even though they are abroad, victims still have the right to legal protection as the people forcing them into marriage may be in breach of the law in the UK and other countries.

One of the main impacts on the victim is isolation, which is considered a mental health problem which can lead to many other mental health problems and physical health issues.

 People who are being forced into marriage face many problems.

Privately, they may feel frightened, lonely and withdraw into themselves.

This can lead onto mental and physical health problems including depression, eating disorders and self-harm.

They may develop poor attendance and performance at their workplace or educational institution.

Although both men and women are affected, the latter especially encounter many difficulties after the forced marriage occurs.

They are often apart from their family and can suffer domestic abuse at the hands of their husband or in-laws.

Those who have lived in an unconsented union for a long time may find it difficult to leave, especially if they have children.

They may experience financial problems, lack of family support and stigma in their community.

The victim may also worry about the consequences for their in-laws and their own family if they walk out on a forced marriage and report it to an authority.

Laws and helplines have been set up in the UK to help people in these situations.

We are fortunate in the sense that the British government has acknowledged this time of “crime” and have implemented a forced marriage act that stops this from happening or intends such things for happening.

Laws to prevent forced marriages and provide a way out for those already in an unwanted union were introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in November 2008.

Anyone - including a victim, friend or local authority - can ask a court to implement a Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO).

This can stop a person being married against their will and prevent them from being taken abroad.

The FMPOs can also demand that perpetrators stop any intimidation, reveal the victim's location and hand over passports otherwise they could face imprisonment.

A person convicted of coercing somebody to marry could be jailed for up to two years.

However the laws do not ban forced marriages and so, it is not a criminal act in itself.

Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO)

Within a year of the introduction of the Forced Marriage Act, 86 FMPOs had been issued - the initial estimate by the Ministry of Justice was about 50.

The first was implemented over the high-profile case of Dr Humayra Abedin who feared being forced into marriage and was held captive in Bangladesh by her parents.

Her friends in the UK notified the British authorities after which the High Court ordered her return to the UK.

The High Court in Bangladesh, where the consent of both parties to a marriage is legally required, also ruled she must be freed. Dr Abedin decided not to press charges against her parents.

Her UK lawyer, Anne-Marie Hutchinson, said, "I would hope that many other young victims, or potential victims, would feel confident enough now to come forward and feel confident in the fact that courts will act and authorities overseas will act on their human rights and implement them."

Target Audience

Those who participated in my questionnaire were of both genders and ranged from the ages 16-35+. This tells me that documentaries are not specifically made for a certain type of person. You can be of either sex and any age to enjoy a documentary. Therefore, my documentary is aimed at anyone interested in the topic I have chosen which is 'Forced marriage'.

When I posed the question 'what makes a documentary interesting?', I wanted to find out what the audience enjoy watching. Out of those who participated in my survey, more than 5 replied that the topic of the documentary was what they found most interesting. So as my last question I asked if 'they would be intrigued to watch a documentary on arranged/forced marriages?'. To this many replied that they would be interested because it is a known topic but not talked about. Some also said that it is a matter close to their hearts therefore they would enjoy watching something on it.

For this documentary myself and my group have been thinking about the codes and conventions of documentaries. We came to realise that music and reconstructions are very common when making a documentary but we asked ourselves, although it is a common attribute to documentaries, do the audience actually enjoy them? So in my survey, I asked if background music was preferred to no music and if reconstructions were a vital part to a 'good' documentary. In reply to the music, some participants replied that music was enjoyable if it fitted with the scene of the documentary, because they felt that it would enforce what the documentary was on about. Also some said that music was good because it filled the minor gaps of silence some documentaries may have. However, one participant said that music was distracting from the seriousness of a documentary. In reply to the reconstruction being a vital part of a good documentary, some participants said it was vital because it helps the audience to gain a better understanding of the content of the programme. However, some participants said they weren't vital for a good documentary however they were useful if used in the right context and accurate.

Therefore, I now know that when I am making my own documentary, I am only going to use music that flows with the content of the scene and also only use reconstructions that are accurate and don't exaggerate the topic because then it is not a realistic view of the topic.

Doing this online survey was useful because it provided me with good research information to make my own documentary and was quick and easy to do and didnt take up alot of time.

Audience Research

The questionnaire below is the survey that I made on surveymonkey.com. I uploaded this survey onto my facebook page where I asked people to take the time to answer the survey. I did the survey online rather than in person because it was less time consuming, and it was interesting to use a different way of gathering research information. To use a media source, to find out about media, was very intriguing.

The survey


1.Your name

2.Your age

3.Out of the following what do you enjoy watching the most? Please explain why.
Music videos/Documentaries/Short films.

4.What do you think makes a documentary interesting to watch?

5.Do you prefer documentaries to have background music? Yes/No
 If so, please explain why.

6.Do you think 'reconstructions' are a vital part of a good documentary? Yes/No
 Please explain why you have chosen you answer.

7.Would you be intrigued to watch a documentary on 'arranged marriages'? Yes/No

Please explain why.

This is what the survey looked like online.

The Pitch

Our idea is based around the concept of arranged marriages; we will aim to create an investigative documentary.

Forced marriage is a topic that is widely known amongst the UK, if not the world. But yet it remains ‘hidden’ within society and although it is a topic that springs a lot of interest, there aren’t many who would take the time to investigate it, the question we pose is why?

This documentary will aim to look at the concept of forced marriages; digging deep to find the impact it has on the individual and wider society. We will aim to construct a non-bias documentary on this topic interviewing professionals with societal matters and individuals that have been involved in forced marriages themselves.

During the documentary the audience will gain an insight into how a forced marriage is undertaken from a reconstruction. Characters will pose as members of two families who will organise the marriage of their daughter and son. The marriage will take place within a traditional setting, such as a Gurdwara, but this hasn’t been confirmed.

To gain a wider understanding of the matter we will also use unconstructed Vox pops and constructed Vox pops to gain an insight into what society thinks of the concept.

 By the end of this documentary the audience will be well informed of the concept, from the range of techniques we are aiming to implement, ensuring we follow the documentary conventions set out by the industry.

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

Why I chose this video?
I chose this video because I think the actual concept of the video when described to a person, can sound quite monotonous and not very appealing to watch, however when you actually watch the video you come to realise how interesting it really is and how exciting it is to watch. Therefore I thought it would be a good video to analyse.

Textual Analysis
This video is set in what looks like a studio/indoor open space. It is a plain setting, with a plain background. The only props in this video is the 4 treadmills that the 4 band members do a dance routine on. They are all wearing peppy clothes, the way they normally would dress as a 4 piece in everyday life. They haven't dressed up for the video, or made the video a big show like other artists may do so. The lighting in this video is bright, everything is clear, which suggests a happy mood. It is a fast paced, interesting routine although the concept is boring, the finished video keeps the audience hooked because it is so different. Also in terms of camera angles, there is only one. This is unusual for any kind of video especially a up tempo music video. The camera does not move from start to finish. The establishing shot is the only shot in the whole video. There are no pans/zooms/fades etc. It seems as if the camera has been placed on a tripod and just left to record the video in one shot as there also no visible cuts. This means there has been NO editing involved in this video as it has been filmed in one long piece. The sound reflects the actions of the movement, i.e. at the start when the music is quiet there is no movement however when the music starts, the dance routine kicks in. Also when the music goes fast paced, the actions also speed up.

Genre

I would sum OK Go up as a rock band but not traditional heavy bass rock. More of an alternative, pop rock sound. However, their music is appreciated by many different audiences, not just the rock fan base. I am not a huge rock fan, however, I think OK Go are refreshing as they give the rock genre a new feel.

Audience

BBC Music believes the audience for OK Go are teenagers that go to college and party all day/night. However personally, I think OK Go are for all ages and all people. They show through their versatile quirky videos, that they are not signposted to just one audience, they have many different qualities to them as a band that they appeal to all types of people.

Form

I think this video is a 'performance' video. Although it isn't a very typical 'in your face' performance video, it still shows the band performing a dance routine on gym equipment, showcasing their musical talent.

Context

The video was directed by 'Trish Sie' and the band themselves. It took 17 attempts to film the complete video in one single take. It was also choreographed by 'Trish Sie'. Time magazine awarded this video in its 'Top 30 All Time Best' for music videos. It also won a grammy award for the best short form music video in 2007 and a youtube award in 2006 for being the most creative video.

Jay-Z ft Swiss Beatz - Onto the next one

Why I chose this video?

I chose this video to analyse and write about because I think Jay-Z is one of the many very influential artists we have. Although in their own right, every artist has their own influences on the world, I think Jay-Z is one level above the rest. He manages to influence people with his life,  his background, his music, however, he still manages to keep his privacy and a track on his life. This cant be said for a lot of other artists who brag or talk about every aspect of their lives in order to keep a fan base. Also, this video is very different to many others. It has no structure, its made up of different scenarios and images and illusions. Its edgy, and some may say even a little scary, so I thought it would be an interesting video to use.

Textual Analysis

This video was filmed in a studio with different scenarios on each set, collectively put together to make this video. There is no narrative story behind this video. It is very abstract. The scenarios are all very different, each setting has a different prop ranging from bottles of milk to cars. Other props include dice, basketballs, and birds. Noticeably the props are all black and white, as is the video. The white could suggest the purity behind jay-z's music as he writes about his own life, nothing is false. The black could suggest the controversy behind this video as some critics may say it exhibits his devil worshipping side. The people in this video are all dressed extravagantly, a step away from everyday clothing.

The establishing shot is of 2 lights, that are unlit. However, as soon as they turn on, the camera suddenly cuts to show jay-z. This indicates his power within music and the video.

The camera tends to show each prop close up and then zooming out. This shows the prop in a different angle to what you think it might be, and then what it actually is when shown fully. I think they did this to add a little mystery to the video. They have used low angles when showing the dancers. As if we are looking up at them, like they have power over us while we watch.

The editing for this video is very clean. There are sharp cuts from one image to the next, however it doesn't alarm you, after the first few seconds of watching the video, you almost expect to see an image change every other second to the fast paced beat. This is known as 'superimpose'. A blended mix of different images. Also, they have edited some lyrics onto a black background within the video.

Genre

Jay-Z's music is named as hip-hop. This is a fast paced hip hop song. It has a different feel to most rap songs, as it has more of a rhythm and beat to it. This song has over 21 million hits on youtube, showing that it has a huge fan base, even with the new beats.

Audience

Stereotypically some would say the audience to this song would be black males. However I disagree. I think Jay-Z has a wider fan base than most would think. The fact that Jay-Z performed at glastonbury 2010, shows his versatility to perform for any audience. Also the fact that this song has a different sound to most hip hop songs, shows that he can attract different people to his music.

Form

This video I think is abstract, but well thought out. Its not just images put together with no meaning. I believe it has a meaning to jay-Z and he has carefully selected the props to match his song. There is some element of a performance, with the dancers and also jay-z himself in the video however it is mostly abstract.

Context

This video was directed by 'Sam Brown'. He has also directed videos for james blunt and the foo fighters. When Brown made this video, he was hit by a load of questions about whether the video was backed by illuminati. To put it in simple terms, illuminati is a global elite who have a bond of seeking the powers of their mind. When asked if the video had anything to do with this, Brown replied 'There is imagery in this video that is drawn from all over the place. None of it is owned by any one culture or belief system. You can connect anything if you try hard enough, and make it mean anything you want it to'.

Olly Murs ft. Rizzle Kicks- Heart Skips A Beat

Why I chose this video?
I have chosen the Olly Murs song called 'heart skips a beat' featuring new artists by the name of rizzle kicks. I chose this video because it is young and vibrant, and doesnt really have a structure to the video which i think makes it more appealing to me. It isnt a performance video, nor is it a narrative. I think this video is more abstract. Another reason why i have chosen this video is because, i am a fan of olly murs, i watched him succeed on the x factor to where he is now.

Textual Analysis
This video has been filmed in a real life skate park. There doesn't seem to be any apparent story to the video. It hasn't been filmed to send across a meaningful message of some kind. It is just a fun and exciting video. There is a lot going on in the background. People skateboarding, hula hooping, playing drums, skipping, riding bikes, and also dancing to the music. Everyone is dressed in casual clothes. They aren't dressed smartly or anything, it is all according to their own personalities. Olly murs is wearing his iconic hat that he is known for since his first x factor audition where he shot to fame.

Also, there are a few props in this video, such as the big drum kit that is placed in top of the big music vinyl that olly can be seen dancing and singing on throughout the video. This vinyl symbolises the passion for music even in the most random of places, i.e. the skating park.

There is a lot of lighting in this video, suggesting it is a happy video. There are lots of different people, of different races, and also different ages as at one point in the video it shows olly raising his arms with an elderly woman. This suggests the song is not just for the younger generation but also something for the elderly to enjoy too.

The editing is seamless. There are no sharp cuts that shock the audience. It has all been done so it runs as a smooth video. There are however shot reverse shots that go to and from olly with different people in the video  and also with his singing duo rizzle kicks. 

Genre

This song has an upbeat tempo, some would say its a club dance type song. Personally, I think its an upbeat pop song. This is because most dance songs are usually faster paced than this song, although this is already a fast paced song. When talking about genre I would say this song should be classed as a pop song, because when it comes to marketing and selling this product, i don't believe it would sell very well if labelled as a club dance track.

Audience

I think the video in itself initiates the target audience for this song. That is, anyone! The video shows many different people of many different ages all doing activities to the sound of this song. Therefore, i think if you are attracted to the melody of the song, you are automatically the target audience for it. Some may say that this song is stereotyped for a young audience, however i disagree with this statement. I think it is up to the person and whether they enjoy the music, no matter how young or old.

Form

I believe this video to be an abstract video. It is mainly just dancing and singing with a load of people keeping busy and playing along to the song.

Context

This video was directed by Corin Hardy. Corin hardy has also done another video for olly murs's song 'Busy'.  The ideas behind his videos are all his own and corin thought long and hard of how to showcase olly murs song in the right way.