Documentaries Nature/Wildlife

Bear Grylls – Man vs Wild

• There are a number of different codes and conventions that are used in a documentary to make it a documentary. These include things such as voiceover, interviews, text and sound. Others that have been used in the Bear Grylls documentary include different camera work. Hand held camera is used on a number of occasions in the film. One particular occasion is when Grylls is walking through the sea from one island to the other. By doing this, it creates the image of the reality and the real danger that he is facing while walking through a dangerous area. Another way is that it helps the audience to feel involved in him exploring the world, by helping them to engage in what it would be like if they were there. This is a feature I like and may consider using when it comes to making my documentary.

Bear Grylls – Man vs Wild

• Direct address is also used in the Bear Grylls documentary. This is when he talks directly to the camera and addresses the audience. Grylls will normally do this when trying to explain the danger of an extreme situation that he will be or is in. Talking directly to the audience helps to interact with the viewers and make them feel more included in the programme. This is affective in a documentary because it can help make it a success and can draw in more viewers because of the hosts ability to engage the audience.

Bear Grylls – Man vs Wild

• Finally, a long shot is used during the documentary. It is used after Grylls has crossed the sea to the next island and is going to find some resources that he can use to survive. A long shot has been used here because it is able to show the mass scale of the extreme situations in which he is surviving in. I believe that this has been included in the documentary because it is good viewings, it allows viewers to be excited by the danger that Grylls is facing in the episode. Using a long shot is something that I will consider when I make my documentary in order to interest a wider audience of viewers.

The Greatest Animal Migration

• During the documentary of The Greatest Animal Migration, a voiceover is placed over the film describing and giving commentary as to what is happening and why specific animals are doing what they are doing. A voice over is needed in this documentary because there is no information or comments to be able to be given by the featured characters. Instead an expert in the field is able to share knowledge and understanding. I will consider using a voiceover in my documentary because it will allow the audience to understand a scene, even when no one is present on screen.

The Greatest Animal Migration

• The documentaries soundtrack is used throughout specific parts of the filming in order to create a number of different emotions. The part of the film that I noticed the most was in a clip when the wildebeest's were crossing a river. During this scene, it highlights a single wildebeest that has been separated from the crowd and follows it as it tries to catch up. The soundtrack plays a sad and slow tune. This pushes the audience to feel sorry for him, which engages them more into the documentary. I will most probably use this in my personal documentary, because I like the way in which it can be used to control the audiences emotions.

The Greatest Animal Migration

• A Pan Shot is used when it briefly features on the giraffes. The shot shows a group of giraffes running across the horizon and the camera follows them round as they run. The reason for this is that it shows the speed in which they are running, and the distance that they have travelled and will travel. The effect that this has on the audience is that they are able to piece together the extremeness of the environment in Africa. I am unsure on if I will use this technique in my documentary, as I feel that it is only effective in certain circumstances, such as this one.