Documentary Analysis Assignment

Alex Damon BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in TV and Film
Documentary Analysis Assignment

Documentary 1
Ross Kemp On Gangs Liverpool Speacil

Sky 1
Documentary 2
The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime BBC Documentary

BBC Three
Ross Kemp has produced this documentary in the wake of the Rhys Jones murder
trial. He could be accused of giving wannabe gangsters the oxygen of publicity, as
well overlooking the positive aspects of Liverpool as a setting.
The main contributor of the first documentary example: Ross Kemp on gangs
Liverpool special, Ross is seen as a presenter who is classed as not first hand as a
variety of sub-presenters are involved in this. However, in the other documentary:
The ugly face of disability hate crime, Adam Pearson is the key first person. We
understand this because the direct experience we have of his early life. Each of the
documentaries are factual and not fiction.
The producers have chosen Ross Kemp to be the contributor because he has played
a hard man role in soap opera Eastenders, an SAS solider and investigated into
vicious world gangs. Ross Kemp is a narrator who generally brings a serious tone in
his approach and vocal presentation with a degree of gravitas importance. Ross
Kemp is an experienced actor of hard man roles. Adam Pearson not as
experienced. Because Ross Kemp is an older character, he would make his
documentary appeal to the older target audience. Adam Pearson would appeal to
the young audience.
Adam Pearson, as the first person in the second documentary, expands the content
into prejudice against all individuals who are disabled. However, Ross Kemps
documentary is presented to make it appear like a small feature film. Ross Kemps
documentary focuses on the idea of a tragic murder. This type of factual
production, could attract a gang target audience, making it seem, as if they are cool
characters in society. The rap music in the documentary has a groovy, modern vibe
to it: which would also appeal to a young audience. The cool music theme is
resumed in an interview whilst at a posh looking hotel with an ex gangster who
made his name in the 80s and 90s. He was known as the Devil Steven French.
This tone switches, and becomes rather overdramatic, with an interview conducted
in a darkened staged room. Disguised voices are used with subtitles, to add an
element of mystery and threat in the documentary. At times throughout this, Ross
Kemp uses some dramatic vocabulary. Liverpool is one of Britains most important
cities, its a coastal port, famous for its peoples warmth and sense of humour, but
last August when an 11-year-old boy was shot dead in one of the cities suburbs, it
highlighted another part of Liverpool. When he does this, he even engages with us
as the viewing audience viewing, by the use of speaking and walking towards the
camera.
This is a subject which involves the type of individual whom would probably be
intimidated by. Ross Kemp is representing us as the viewer. There is the use of
sophisticated camera work; where the camera is positioned towards Ross, but
behind the gang. Within this camera shot, Rosss face is shown framed by gang
members. Heads and upper bodies. The whole documentary is not totally focused on
the perspective of the gangs, because we sometimes get a personal view from Ross
Kemp. To transition, internal car and general vehicle camerawork has been
incorporated, which will also help to engage audiences.
The producers have captured some very captivating upside down shots, with rapid
camera angles to match with the sort of thriller like feel in the film.
Adam Pearsons documentary is similar to Ross Kemps documentary by focusing

on another hate crime. However, instead of having gangs as the main focus, the
view is angled towards Adam Pearsons own experiences. The style is
autobiographical first person. As someone who has lived with Adam all his life and
seen this disability become more debilitating, it was key for his Mother to be a
contributor in the documentary and share her opinions and feelings, to broaden this
use of domestic background, the technique of photographs are used, to show the
key character childhood and disability progression. However, we dont gain an
understanding of the view points of the Father, which may seem bias.
This documentary is shown to a BBC target audience. He has possibly purposely
done this documentary, to help raise awareness of disability prejudice and to hope
discover why people are agitated around disabled people, chiefly those with a
degree of disfigurement. This shows a possible bias towards disabled people. For
example, how people may avoid Adam on public transport bus. His disability is a
dreadful very visible facial disfigurement. The condition being called
Neurofibromatosis type 1. People call him names like Elephant Man and hideous
creature, and some members of the public think he is wearing a mask. They have
captured lots of close facial shots of Adam; to show detail, and as a cut in at times.
As the factual production, the aim is to raise awareness of disability prejudice; to
discover why people are so uneasy around disability. Adam involves in others with
disability who have at some point in life been a victim of disability hate crime. For
example, the male in a wheelchair and his friend Lucas who has frontonasal
craniofacial dysplasia. In the interview, the producers have continued to have the
theme, technical style of some very close facial shots to capture key details of
particular individuals.
The documentary however, does not feature any females having disability; all
involved are males with disabilities. We do see a female in the nightclub scene, who
questions why one of the males is in a wheelchair and why he refused to stand up.
All the interview scenes are without music. However, the nightclub scene has a
backing of modern, dance/electronic track; which could appeal to young audiences -
Calvin Harris Thinking About You ft. Ayah Marar. Compared to Ross Kemps
documentary the music is used less. More muted.
Each documentary features the technique of using alarming newspaper headings as
well as audio (news broadcast). For example, in the Ross Kemp documentary this is
evident when the boy crosses the pub car park. They have used this to emphasise
the points which they are highlighting, as well as making these factual productions
more engaging to watch; as opposed to only using a talk to camera style.
The structure for the Ross Kemps documentary is at first talking about the gangs of
Liverpool, followed by discussing about gun crime and concluding on what the
criminal underworld was like in the city of Liverpool. All in which are smoothly
transitioned from one to the next.
The gang members poses real weapons in the interview. Having this in shot makes
everything seem authentic. They could have just been asked to hold these weapons
for the purpose of the documentary. There is no implication the gang characters are
from Norris Green. However, Ross Kemp questions them though, if they are from
this particular estate in Liverpool.
Bibliography
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-33623011 - Adam Pearson image.
http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/cjhb/ross-kemp-on-gangs/ - Ross Kemp
image.
http://mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk/ep/adam-pearson/ - Research
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/ross-kemp-gangs-croxteth-norris-
3449219 - Research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8tV8-LT1Yo&t=940s - Ross Kemp On Gangs

Liverpool Speacil YouTube link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03jduD9N5o&t=336s - The Ugly Face of

Disability Hate Crime BBC Documentary YouTube link.

Documentary Analysis Assignment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Documentary Analysis Assignment

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Documentary Analysis Assignment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alex Damon BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in TV and Film

Documentary Analysis Assignment

Ross Kemp On Gangs Liverpool Speacil

The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime BBC Documentary

Adam Pearsons documentary is similar to Ross Kemps documentary by focusing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8tV8-LT1Yo&t=940s - Ross Kemp On Gangs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03jduD9N5o&t=336s - The Ugly Face of

You might also like