research

 

The poster is made up of two different pictures, both taken at different points in time. Both these pictures fall under Mise-en-scene. There is use of Cinematography for the close-up shots and the head on angle. The typography is used by placing the title of the documentary and the platform that it is streaming on in the top left, with the date of release being placed in the bottom right so to not clutter the poster as much as possible. The composition on how the poster is split is uneven, this shows that the poster is supposed to draw more attention to the right side of the poster, this is also achieved due to the title of the documentary being placed at the top left of the poster making it seem less important than the right side of the picture. The target audience for this would be people that are fans of true crime, people that are interested in psychology and people who are also interested in criminology. The colours and filters used on the photo may make it feel nostalgic to certain audiences which would then make them more likely to click on the tab and watch this documentary. The fonts and colour used in the title are placed specifically on the white background to stand out and catch the attention of the targeted audience.

The poster is mainly targeted towards fans of OASIS or people that want to know what had happened to the band and why they had decided to split up, they target that audience by having both Noel and Liam Gallagher on the poster, and having the bands name and using one of the bands songs for the name of the documentary, this would already peak the interest of those who are die hard fans of the band. The font used for the poster are similar to the bands own font for their band logo or even album covers. The main colours used are grey, black and orange, this gives the poster a serious tone, making it seem that the documentary will be about serious topics, the use of orange in the poster helps make the main text stand out and interest the targeted audience. the poster displays the positive reviews to attract more of an audience and making the audience go “oh that has amazing reviews, and it’s based on a true story so it must be good!”. The quotes used also have the same effect as the ratings.

The targeted audience for this poster is people that are interested and are fans of the series of Stranger Things, specifically people that want to know how the series was made and why it took so long for the last two seasons to come out. The poster has multiple shots/photos from behind-the-scenes clips of the main cast that anyone can recognise. The colours used are mainly black and white as well as some hints of red on specific behind the scenes shots. The title for the documentary is placed on the bottom centre on the poster, this is might be because the designers wanted the targeted audiences attention specifically on the behind the scene shots in the back, this can also be shown with how some of the shots have a red outline, as if the designers want you to look at those specific scenes. The date of release is also placed under the title to give the same affect.

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TV documentary research

What makes TV documentaries popular?

TV documentaries have recently started gaining more traction and popularity as the years go by, reasons for their rapid popularity might be due to “the streaming effect” as well as accessibility, this is where platforms like Netflix, prime, HBO and YouTube have made documentaries easily accessible for the general public, this is all because the serialized nature of now modern documentaries keeps viewer hooked, specifically topics that are illuded in mystery or true crime. Other reasons for their rapid success could be because of their compelling real-life stories, documentaries like “stranger than fiction” stories for example evoke strong emotions like suspense, empathy, and shock which makes them deeply engaging making the viewer always comeback for more. And unlike some movies and television series, all documentaries are laced with authenticity and truth, which gives the reader an authentic, reliable and real stories which help provide a sense of deeper engagement compared to scripted and fictional content.

What is the history of TV documentaries?

 TV documentaries emerged in the 1940s, they evolved from newsreels and early cinema to now becoming a staple in factual television. In the 1940s, documentaries began appearing on TV, at the time people had noticed that they had inherited techniques from cinematic documentary filmmaking, this is where they blend factual, real-life storytelling with techniques of narrative fiction films, such as the cinematography, dramatic lighting, sound design and creative editing. The British free cinema movement in 1950 focussed on individual everyday experiences. In 1960 documentaries then became a staple of TV programming with now diverse and distinctive styles on channels like the BBC. During the 1960s-1970s there was also the arrival of the 16mm cameras and sync-sounding recorders which allowed for lighter, mobile and even more spontaneous filming. From the 1980s to the early 2000s there was a rise of cable television for example the discovery channel, this then created dedicated slots for specialised, long form, and series-based documentaries, as well as documentaries covering more diverse subjects that they wouldn’t bother covering before. From the 2010s to present-day, high-end documentaries became popular, driven by mainstream streaming platforms like Netflix or HBO. In the present day the genre has seen a massive increase in views with a strong focus on true crime, in-depth investigations and even social issues.

 

Types of documentaries?

There are several different types of documentaries, one of the most common types are Expository or argumentative, this is where documentaries use the voice of God and a B-roll to create a persuasive argument or explain a subject, the target audience for this type of documentary would be mainly general audiences seeking audiences, students and people interested in history, science or even social issues. Another type of documentary would be a poetic type, which only means that the documentary focuses on mood, tone, and visual associations rather than the standard linear storytelling, often feeling abstract or impressionistic, the target audience for this type of documentary would be people film enthusiasts and viewers looking for an experimental or even an artistic perspective. Another type of documentary would be a performative documentary, this type of documentary would highlight a filmmaker’s personal, subjective experience, often used to explore larger political or social realities through a deeply personal lens, the target audience for this type of documentary would most likely be people that are interested in subjective storytelling, identity politics, and emotional, character driven narratives.

Your final research post is some numerical data and financial information around successful TV documentaries. See if you can find some audience figures for some of the shows you have looked at. Consider if some of them have even created a fanbase that have crated blogs or vlogs or memes. 

The most successful TV documentary