5 Minute Sequences of Documentaries

After deciding on my final idea, I wanted to look into the first 5 minute sequences of documentaries, and pick up upon general traits and what is included according to the codes and conventions and what is not. I looked at both Participatory and  Expository Documentaries, however the type that I will be making is Expository.

Stephan Fry's Out There

• Start of documentary and voiceover of narrator starts
• Music starts at exactly 0.22 seconds
• Light, Chirpy music, almost like classical music
• Screen splits in to 4 little screens to show different people from different racial backgrounds
• Few interviews are shown at the start in clips of 2-3 seconds showing what is to come in the documentary
• 1.48 second title comes up on Screen, music reaches pinnacle
• Narrator himself participates gets interviewed and filmed making this an participatory documentary
• Clips of public walking
• Music starts and stops throughout the first 5 minutes
• Editing becomes fast paced after 0.28 seconds, music sign posts something serious is about to be discussed, in this case the documentary discuses the rights of homosexuals around the world.
• Mise-en-Scene, natural settings used with the use of outside public areas, room inside a building, dark to neutral colours are used again highlighting a serious subject is being talked about.
• Voiceover states laws, facts about homosexuality in England, Ireland, Wales.
• Films a Civil Partnership being performed