For the duration of approximately 2 months, I, as well as fellow classmates, will be commenting/reviewing 3 different styles of documentaries. The first style are documentaries that are New Magazines format, the second style are feature length film documentaries, and the last style are those that fall under TV documentary format. With that being said, here are the following documentaries that I have chosen to review for this week. 

Global TV: 16:9 - The Bigger Picture

News Magazine Documentary

16:9 - The Bigger Picture is an investigative show that brings you hard-hitting stories and ground-breaking investigations. 16:9 helps their audience become aware of many issues that are going on around our country. They show us the whole picture, from big important stories that need to be uncovered to small stories that warms our hearts. 

The episode that I have chosen for review is called 20/20 Hindsight. This episode focuses on the worries of Lasik Eye Surgeries. After watching this episode of 16:9, it has come to my attention that we may take a lot of things for granted. For the first half of the show they focus on Lasik eye surgery and the problems that may arise if you undergo the surgery. The victim's stories help us understand the outcomes of the surgery as well as how doctors may respond to questions that their patient may have. 16:9 investigated further by going to 3 different laser eye surgery facilities. They did this by going into each facility with a hidden camera. The producer acted as a candidate for laser eye surgery and began asking questions about the side effects. When asked about the side effects, the doctors would respond with only good outcomes after receiving laser eye surgery. I think that by using hidden cameras, it really helps the viewer understand that they are not being shown rehearsed/scripted footage. Everything that is happening is real.

This show uses narration and interviews to help bring the stories along. Right off the bat, the show and stories are introduced by the host. They show an overview of what is going to be shown in the episode. Interviews are used as an investigation tool. Their investigator sits down with people that they feel should provide the viewer with information about the topic that is up for discussion in the episode. In this episode they show the people that have been affected by the topics that they are discussing. I believe it is very important to show the viewers the people that have been affected so they can receive first person experience.

Click on the link below to watch the woman talking about her experience with laser eye surgery and how she is dealing with it now.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/210622

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices (2005)

Feature Length Documentary

This feature length documentary, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices, starts off quite interesting. It starts off with a speech from the CEO, Lee Scott, during their yearly meeting about how well the business has been doing and what they need to improve. This speech is carried on throughout the duration of the documentary. It helps narrate and relate what is going on through Wal-Mart and small communities. This documentary then focuses on small town businesses and what happens when Wal-Mart stores are introduced into that specific town. When Wal-Mart stores are introduced into small communities, small businesses are forced to shut down because they no longer get the business that is required to stay open. It also shows Wal-Mart workers point of view. Not only are small communities being affected but those who choose to work for Wal-Mart end up suffering as well. Small communities can try and many have succeeded to shut down some Wal-Mart stores in their communities. Many elderly have seen their communities build up small family businesses and have also seen those same businesses come down due to the addition of a Wal-Mart store.

Shows a lot of b-roll of what happens in the towns before and after a Wal-Mart store is placed into some small communities. This documentary is compiled with many b-roll shots. It keeps the viewer interested in everything that is going on. This documentary shows the point of view from the small business employees. It really gives us insight on how Wal-Mart has affected their community and what is happening to their business. A lot of pictures and videos of run down small communities are shown to show the impact the Wal-Mart company makes. Wal-Mart commercials are also shown in contrast to the small communities. You really begin to realize that the Wal-Mart commercials are almost lying about the affect it has on the community. After every commercial is shown, follows facts related to what is being said. What really is interesting are the interviews from the Wal-Mart employees. Their point of views don't value their employees. There are real people telling their stories. Not only do small community workers complain, but also Wal-Mart employees themselves. This documentary also uses news clips as well as facts shown on the screen to help the audience really understand what is going on within the Wal-Mart company. There are many shots that do not include the actual Wal-Mart managers, this shows how protective they feel they need to be. A lot of the shots that include the Wal-Mart employees are more personal. They capture conversations between two people about what's going on and how they plan on taking action. The use of sound effects in the documentary makes you really pay attention because it really pulls you in. A lot of the camera work in this documentary is handheld. Handheld shots could be used because they may not have the access to a tripod because they want to get their interviews right away.

One part of the documentary focuses on the factories located in China. The camera helps us understand their life because it captures everything that they do and their way of living. They provide information about how Wal-Mart treats them, and we are also shown the proof of how they are affected. And with that, I'll leave you with these 2 video clips.

Is this really the answer to low prices?
Begin Video at 3:30

 

Discovery Channel: Sons of Guns

TV Network Documentary

Will Hayden, founder of Red Jacket Firearms
Sons of Guns

Sons of Guns is a show that focuses on skilled and creative gun works in the company, Red Jacket Firearms. The main focus is the founder, Will Hayden, as well as those who work in the shop with him. They customize and improve AK-47's as well as historic and classic weapons. The show includes 8 skilled crew workers that all focus on all the different components of a gun. 

If you enjoy shows that illustrate a great amount of creativity as well as the amazement of guns, this is definitely a show you need to watch. In this episode, their main focus is on a "gun-bike." Their plan is to have a gun with a motorcycle style to it. By doing this they use a M1919 and connect it to the handle bars of a motorcycle so that when you pull the clutch the gun fires. Through out the show they go through many different obstacles and encounter many other projects. The crew focuses mainly on one project, while they have a few on the side. The project that is the most important and one that needs careful thought usually highlights the episode. They carry the project throughout the duration of the whole show while also showing the other projects they are working on. They end off the show by revealing the main project they have been working on. 

In the show Sons of Guns, they use the crew members of the gun shop in a confessional style environment to work as narrators. They provide background information about what is going on during the show. Compared to the 16:9, this show incorporates the use of lower thirds/keys so that the audience knows exactly who the people are. This helps them put a name to faces they see during the show. A lot of the shots are handheld so that the camera can capture everything that is going on.

Here, you can see the outcome of the "gun-bike."