Download - My dad, the serial killer
My Dad, The Serial Killer
Type of Documentary
Themes
Narrative Structure
Mixed:Fly on the wall and interviews
-Murder-Rape
-Family
-Single Strand-Linear-Closed
Camerawork
The documentary begins with an establishing shot and an external shot to give viewers a
sense of location.In addition there are a
few nightime shots used
which creates an eerie
atmosphere and links
back to the theme of murder.
This is an example of a long shot used within this documentary- she appears to be isolated due to the crimes her father
has committed.
The documentary also featured quite a lot of tracking in various
locations.
The theme of family is shown through the use of two shots and a wide shot (showing all sisters) to highlight their close relationship and how they’re sticking together through
their current situation.
There are many close up’s used to display old family
photographs (linking back to the theme of family) and
newspaper clippings relating to the murders their father
committed.
The codes and conventions of
documentaries are followed by using the
rule of thirds and positioning the
interviewee to the left/right of the
screen; the interviewee is also
looking at the interviewer rather than the camera.
However, unlike other documentaries that I have analysed, these interviews are very informal and do not have backgrounds
relating to the interviewee.
Mise-en-sceneThere is natural (low
key) lighting used throughout this
documentary and the code of attire is very
informal, e.g. sweatpants; this is in
addition to the interviews being rather
informal aswell.
Additional camerawork: -medium close up of girl being interviewed-close up of paperwork being signed-aerial shot of the neighbourhood (give a sense of location)-over the shoulder shot of newspaper clippings-close up of letters written by the father
Sound Editing
Graphics
Diegetic:-dialogue
-traffic-laughter
Non diegetic:-voiceover (male)-slow incidental
music
There is superimposition used within
this documentary
to show photographs of the girls who were
killed- superimposed
over a nightime shot,
creating an eerie
atmosphere and linking to the theme of
murder.
The title is the only use of
graphics within this
documentary.
Archive MaterialThe archive
material used within this
documentary included
footage from the interview in the police station and
video footage taken from
just before he followed a girl from the bus
and murdered her.