LO2: Compare and Contrasting Two Documentaries

Compare and Contrasting Two Documentaries

During this assignment I will be covering elements, such as accuracy, balance, impartiality, objectivity and subjectivity, opinion, access and contracts with the viewer, relating to my two chosen documentaries. First of the two documentaries which I will be analysing is a channel 4 documentary called, Stalked and the second documentary is called One Born Every Minute. Through my analysis I will also be discussing features such as actuality, voice over, interviews, archival footage, montage, exposition and more so.

Documentary: Stalked

Stalked is a documentary, based on a real life event, which relates to a writer’s life and how it changed when a female stalker invaded his life. Pete, the victim, in this documentary reveals his experience of a horrifying incident, through the cause of social networking sites, which almost put his life in jeopardy.

Pete’s real life example, of his female stalker, Karen was completely a bias view. Within it, there was no balance between his story and the story of the stalkers. The documentary was solely based on him. However, a lot of interviews with friends, colleagues, witnesses and the victim itself have been used intensively throughout this. Therefore I can say that the documentary can be believed, despite the fact that it is a subjective piece of material. The views, opinions and thoughts are entirely related to the subject matter, in this case, Pete.

Family, friends, victims, colleagues and witnesses all speak the similar stories throughout the documentary, which emphasises the fact that the victim, on whom this is based upon, is most likely to be speaking the truth. Pete’s family, have also displayed photographs and letters, from the stalker, to the camera, supporting the case.

Before the actual beginning of the documentary, a warning/message is displayed on the screen. This message alerts the audience that the reconstruction following has been acted out by another actor, rather than the genuine stalker. The message displayed appears as it has been entered using a type writer, and to emphasise this, diegetic sound has been used. Diegetic sound, such as voices have been used, to flow with the piece of art and to make it seem realistic, almost as in the shoes of the victim.

The type writer introduction causes a nerve-racking feeling and sets a serious atmosphere followed by the sound, of a woman running in high heels. This type of sound emphasises the start of a chase. It persuades the reader to carry on watching through its exposition and montage at the beginning. First few minutes are very important of an episode/movie, as this either attracts or puts the audience off. But looking at this movie, it has snatched the audience’s attention, so that it is more focused on the documentary, and keen on watching it.

Editors of this documentary have used reconstruction, diegetic sound and early message warning signs to prepare the viewers and also to build the suspense and cause and adrenaline feel. This is because the issue that they are relating to is a sensitive topic and very few people would freely express this. However, it is also to create a boundary of warmth feelings, so that others in a similar situation can relate to it; causing a sense of belonging.

During the montage, there is a structure sequel of various sections of the reconstruction throughout the beginning of the documentary. This gives and overall view of the bigger picture, later on. However, there are parts of this documentary which are sensitive to the victim and for the audience there may be aspects which are not smooth for viewers with heart problems. But this issue has not been mentioned at the start, as it may reduce the size of the people watching it.

Nevertheless, this documentary is likely to be accurate, as the images and clips have been recorded over a two year period, making this a longitudinal study. However despite noting this, there is only one side to the story and hence the period of two years has not been utilised correctly and makes this a very bias material. However, if the documentary represented two sides of the story, it would then allow the audience to make the decision of who they think is right and who they think is lying.

Summary of Stalked

Stalked, is a documentary which includes a variety of features, such as images, reconstruction, interviews and experts, nonetheless it has much more to provide. It is quite private, as it does not reveal too much, but it just briefly describes what, how, where and when this all happened. The main question which this documentary does not answer is that “why did the female stalk Pete in the first place?” This then becomes a rhetorical question, which the audience will end up asking themselves, yet will never find the answer.

Although, it has some strong elements to it, it has a lot more potential, as it can deliver more than expected. As a whole the documentary is very appealing and definitely interesting. At peaks, as the audience you want to see more of the reconstruction as it has a greater impact and also impersonates any real life scenarios.

Overall, I would recommend this documentary however; I believe that it has a lot more to provide to the audience, than what it has actually given. It does create a contract with the viewer, but in order to improve, it needs both sides to the situation not just the one.

Documentary: One Born Every Minute

One Born Every Minute is a British reality television programme which shows captured videos of women, giving childbirth, within a hospital ward. There have been three television series, of this reality documentary, up till date, in the United Kingdom, which is aired on Channel 4. This documentary, unlike Stalked, has a positive outlook on life, despite both are based on reality. The main purpose of this documentary is to appeal to pregnant women and their spouses or mothers-to-be; however this can also be watched for entertainment purposes, due to the situations individuals face.

In the opening minutes of this documentary, the montage has already set the scene. Producers have done this by shooting a close up of the hospital information board, on which it states the delivery suite. By doing this, the audience is already into the location of this documentary. Usually, cameramen take establishing shots to set the scene, however for this documentary the production team allows the audience to use logical understanding to put together the location of this series.

Other than close ups of the setting, there has also a lot of close up shots used within the first eleven seconds, into the documentary, alongside diegetic sounds of women screaming in the background and clocks ticking. The diegetic sounds used within the beginning of this documentary are to set a solid scene, from what they have already seen. Also the ticking of the clocks implies the effect of how midwives, nurses and doctors at the institute are fighting against the clock to save and help the birth of new lives.

As there are about forty or so cameras, set up in the hospital before the shooting of this documentary, Channel 4, allows us to see real archival footage of women before, during and after their birth, which gives a deeper insight into the real meanings of everyday life. Also, having this many cameras means that editors can pick and choose what will appeal to the audience, before broadcasting it, and also means that consent has been taken from the people being recorded. There is not deceit regarding the filming and the interviewers and mothers have given permission for the camera team to access some private and personal issues. In addition to this, permission has also been asked from the hospital itself before the proceeding of the recordings, or otherwise they wouldn’t have been allowed to record footage.

This documentary allows almost any mature women to relate to, as they may have, will have or are experiencing similar feelings and emotions. Therefore this creates sympathy and empathy towards the people on the documentary. One Born Every Minute also catches glimpse of amused husband, stressed women and some very happy moments in a couple’s life. But, this movie is inappropriate to be watched by children or as an entire family, as it contains some uncensored adult scenes and language, whereas the documentary Stalked can be watched by the whole family.

Throughout some of this documentary, there are places where the footage has been edited and appears for a longer pace of time, to allow us to see the emotions on faces of the new born babies, parents, nurses and midwives. As it slows right down you get a real picture of the reality behind the purpose of this documentary.

One Born Every Minute has been broadcasted with many episodes in one series, and within this many individuals have been recorded during their experiences, therefore this makes this a reliable, secure and accurate piece of work. Furthermore, it is quite representative as over the series and seasons many women have been recorded, in similar ways which makes this a representative sample to use within documentaries. However, this is only representative of a small scale not a rather large one, but it is because not many hospitals will allow recording of such events, whereas some may argue that filming in this case is incorrect due to ethical reasons and beliefs. This documentary does not go into too much depth, but it does sketch a rough outline of the work patterns, problems, solutions and difficulties, midwives and nurses overcome, throughout their daily basis.

Similarly, it is not bias because it is only revealing the truth, there is no hidden story behind any of this, and therefore the information provided is accurate and correct. It reveals and shows both sides from mothers and fathers to the experience of midwives and nurses; showing how relationships bond within the workplace. There is also a lot of realism within this documentary as it captures scares, happiness, anxiety and arguments, all happening within the hospital yard and presents it to us. This in fact tells us that not everything works smoothly, during pregnancies, but yet there is a solution, hence supporting my statement about this documentary as not bias.

Archival footage has also been used within a vast majority of the episodes within this documentary series, of how mothers and fathers experience childbirth and to how their feelings remain about it after. This footage shows us the pregnancy procedures of not one, but of a few women in one episode, and how their lives are after. The audience is kept engaged and interested in the documentary, as the camera switches between different mothers, who are experiencing similar situations.

Summary of One Born Every Minute

One Born Every Minute is a positive outlook on everyday experiences, which women face. Facts say that there are 267 born every minute, worldwide, that is 384 thousand born every day and 140.4 billion children born every year. Therefore this is a slightly small sample which challenges the representativeness of this documentary, however this documentary is completely valid as it is not bias, it works through any practical, ethical and theoretical issues before the broadcasting, which means the data is most likely to be very accurate. It is an intensive and information documentary, which can also be used as an education tool for first-time mothers. Overall, this is a very appealing documentary and it complies with most of the codes and conventions of a good documentary.

Similarities and Differences of Both Documentaries

Key

Differences

Similarities

	Stalked	One Born Every Minute
Audience	Can be anyone and can be watched with the whole family. However some scenes may not appeal to young children.	Pregnant women, fathers-to-be, or women who are planning a family. Can also be watched by mature adults, as it contains adult scenes and language, not suitable for young children.
Purpose	To entertain people and to make them aware of cases like stalking, that exists. Create a sense of feeling and belonging, for those that have or are experiencing similar issues.	To give an insight into the experience and things women go through during childbirth. Educate other women, who may be considering of making a family.
Actuality	Very real, there has also been similar cases reported to the police and news therefore it’s very believable. The victim within the documentary is a known journalist.	Very representative as there have been recordings of many similar situations and is also a genuine part of life, therefore real to believe.
Accuracy	Partially accurate, as there are not both sides of the story, therefore causes it to be bias. However, had it showed the other side of the story, it would have been more accurate. Only shows one real example, not a lot of experts to support the claims and statements made.	Very accurate. A lot of people are aware of these types of experiences and there have been a lot of recordings and footage to show that the programme is not based on one women’s experience.
Objectivity/Subjectivity	Subjective.	Objective.
Opinion	Includes people’s opinions, emotions, feelings and experiences. Tries to create a real life picture, to show what really happened. This happens through reconstruction.	Includes opinions, interviews both from experts and individuals. Archival footage taken before hand and then footage of couple’s after the pregnancies, talking about their whole practice.
Access	No need for access, however during the reconstruction access must have been granted to shoot in pubs, police stations, homes etc and also of any actors used within the reconstructions.	100% access was granted. Access permitted by the hospital and staff. Consent was given by participants, before recording and broadcasting.
Contract With The Viewer	Appeals a lot to the specific target audience, the montage of the documentary drags the audience in, and tempts them to watch it.	Appeals a lot to the specific target audience, the montage of the documentary drags the audience in, and tempts them to watch it.