Interview With Mike (Media Teacher):

To add to my understanding on typical documentary conventions and styles I decided it would be best to ask a variety of questions from our media teacher who is also a moderator for these typical videos:

1. In your view whats needed to make a successful documentary, in conventional terms?

'A good variety of things to engage people visually and mentally, as well as a variety of knowledgeable sources; different case studies based on the chosen subject. These sources would need to be taken from valid sources such as experts on the subject or the opinions of the general public. The format would have to consist of a 'talking head' someone who is very rarely seen if ever, with lots of medium-close ups with a static background. Short dialogue which can be seen, with lots of facts, usually the talking head being non-digetic and is hardly ever seen.'

2. What's the ket thing you expect to find within a documentary?

'Very informative and very factually based.'

3. Would you say a first person narrative is more effective than a voice-over?

'Depending on the personality of the first person narrator yet it is more conventional to have a non-digetic voice, where the person is not seen (a voice-over).'

4. What you focus on mostly if you were to make a documentary on 'Binge Drinking'?

'For Binge Drinking you would need to focus on the questions concerning Binge Drinking like what effect this problem is having on the NHS, Anti-social and if the teenagers and society are out of control? Focusing on only one of these problems.'

5. How many interviews would you expect to find within a documentary?

'For a short documentary lasting 3-5 minutes, I would expect to find 3 to 5 interviews lasting 20 upto 30 seconds long'

This interview has helped me to understand what I will need to focus on for my documentary to be a successful piece.