Analysing other documentaries

By watching the zeitgeist documentary about the Federal Reserve banks I have gained a far greater idea of how to create a documentary on a low budget. The documentary uses very few interviews, it allows the facts and figures involved in the documentary makers argument to push forward the piece.

Archive footage is most often used in this documentary. By using direct visual quotes from a person who may not necessarily want to be interviewed. This still gives the audience a real knowledgeable interviewee. By choosing there quotations carefully it further enhances there argument and makes it seem more plausible.
Furthermore, if archive footage does not exist they use a voice over next to the picture of the person who has been quoted. This can be used if the person is dead or is the quote is from a newspaper or book. This is a powerful method to use as this removes the need to gain a specific interview with the person wanted or if this is no longer possible. Once again by choosing specific quotes, regardless of the context they were originally from, it adds serious weight to an argument.

Clear research has been presented in this documentary. These facts and figures are the main focal point of the entire documentary. Without this complete research it would be impossible for this documentary to have been made. I will have to find clear facts and figures and present them in a fashion that is easy to understand to a working class audience as this is my target audience.

The most powerful method used in this documentary is that of using audio over a black background. This was used often towards the end of the documentary. This makes the audience truly listen to what the person is saying as there are no other distractions. I will use this in my documentary to add power and purpose to my piece.