Tasks.
In order to produce a successful documentary, it is firstly necessary to research some of the ways the documentary would be marketed and spread to the audience to gain viewers and interest. I will research the following methods of marketing before creating my own to support my own documentary at a later date:
A radio trailer for the documentary
A double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary
A newspaper advertisement for the documentary
Each is important for the success of the production, as the small description given in different forms is what will entice the audience to want to watch it. The small piece of information given in say a 30 second radio ad or a small square in a newspaper must be enough to make people interested; therefore it should just contain the most important information, delivered in an interesting, exciting and captivating manner.
In any form, the advertisement must attract the audience in and make the viewer want to watch more and believe it will benefit them if they do. A good example of an interesting advertisement leaving the audience ‘wanting more’, is the television advertisement for the popular documentary film…Supersize Me (2004)…
This trailer works for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the advert opens with what the film is all about – Morgan Spurlock – a documentary film maker embarking on a mission to show the highs and lows of life on a McDonald’s supersize meal diet. This firstly will get the attention of the audience as, at some point, most of the population would have been at his situation at the ‘drive thru’ kiosk at a McDonalds.
The advert continues to hold the viewers attention with an unusual non-diagetic soundtrack, of what you would normally hear in a sinister horror film trailer. This combination of the two unlikely partners therefore makes the audience question whats to come next?
Then, the mix of unusual camera shots, quick cuts, voice-over’s of his concerned wife and doctors combined with the flashing and recurring image of a sinister version of the ‘Ronald McDonald’ McDonald’s mascot automatically transforming the well known and loved fast-food chain into something dangerous and menacing. The repeating of the words ‘die, die, die’ from Spurlock’s doctor combined with more quick cuts and jumpy soundtrack continue to build tension in the viewer.
It is when the almost, ‘second half’ of the advertisment begins, that we start to see an imediate change in the theme and mood of the trailer. Instantly with a sunny and colourful title shot and a sharp change of music to another non-diagetic soundtrack, but this time very upbeat and friendly. It is now, combined with more quick cuts but projected in a softer manner, combined with overweight people smiling and positive reviews flashing to the audience, that the style is completely changed.
It is only at the end with an ironic twist to this ‘happy half’, that the cheerful soundtrack takes a pause for the viewer to remember the message of this documentary film with Spurlock trying to stop himself being sick after eating one of the SuperSize McDonald’s meals.
Overall, these shocking and scary factors teamed with the happy side, appeal to almost every audience. It is of common interest to almost everybody, as it appeals as ‘real life’ and not fiction. People will enjoy to see the experiment, as well as the shaming of a well known and multimillion dollar producting business.
Although related distantly to my task, i can use it productively as it is an example of a documenary/film combination, showing extreme style and mood changes very drastically and successfully; this in which i aim to achieve in my advertisements for my documentary.
