Research

 This blogpost contains the research i have done on Crime Documentaries for my project!

Documentary Opening 1: Worst Roommate Ever
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title. What are your expectations for the documentary? What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title? What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?	My expectations for this documentary are that it has to be physical due to how disorientated she looked on the thumbnail and it may also be physical or disturbing. It could also be nerve wrecking and intense due to the title and how strange the character shown on the thumbnail looks. The image chosen itself with the dark background speaks on it own connoting how empty the atmosphere is. The lady’s face on the thumbnail shows her flat faced no emotion self connoting how this documentary doesn't contain much smiley content and may be serious enough for her to appeal pale and almost colorless, showcasing herself like a mugshot, for the thumbnail. I expect to see serious content such as mental disorders, physical or mental abuse and maybe some other minor disturbing content such as their broken lifestyle as the title shows how it is about a not-so-great roommate.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so? Give one example of each and explain the meaning: Camera: Mise-en-scène: Editing: Sound:	I think the target audiences were families, specifically mothers with children living under the same roof with non-family members who should be aware of this issue. Camera: One of the camera shots being used were the “Hand-held” Camera shots, making the scenes seemed unsettling due to the shaky camera movements making the scenes felt more realistic to the audiences as if we were feeling how she felt and viewed how the house was to her present time. Mise-en-scene: The mise en scene to this clip was how dull and grey the house looked, with the colorless effect, this connotes how this setting was somehow unsafe and uncomfortable that it had lost its warmth. Editing: This clip didn't use much types of edits as I spotted a flashback for the backstory and some basic cuts to each scenes, adding suspense and making the clip appealing more serious to the audience as it appeared very flat. Sound: A lot of suspenseful sound effects along with suspenseful music to be able to bring the atmosphere into tension to make the scenes seem more serious. These sound effects support audiences by bringing them into more tensive positions when watching allowing them to engage into the situation.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	I will be continuing this series as it has made me curious of its backstory and how the characters mentioned such as the evil best friend and the main character’s son were involved in the household danger.

Documentary Opening 2: What Jennifer Did
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title. What are your expectations for the documentary? What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title? What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?	My expectations toward this documentary are to get a better understanding of what the character had developed and switched sides as how the thumbnail had shown. I expect to be twisted through the plots and get to know more on how to evolve the structure toward my future crime documentary The image of the split personality and the different colors with each side connote how drastic of a change of plot toward the main character, the cover is layered over with a grainy top connoting an imperfect shot, added with the red connoting danger and negativity next to the bright smile. However the complete thumbnail does not contain much bright colors and is remained dull, connoting how it contains dark content I expect to see
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so? Give one example of each and explain the meaning: Camera: Mise-en-scène: Editing: Sound:	I think this is directed to teenagers or young adults around 18-24 years old that may relate most to the era Jennifer is at. Or parents with teenage kids also to spread awareness among their families. And people interested in murder documentaries in general. Camera High angle cctv footage, makes the subject seem more vulnerable and in held for an important event. Mise-en scene: The police car driving toward the location connoting that it is a crime that involves 911 that connoted how dangerous of a crime that just happened Editing Quick cuts of the evidence footage around the house, displaying more information toward the documentary. Sound Tense sound effects to add a sense of suspense directing on what horrifying the situation is and making the situation seem alot more serious to be able to attract the audience into the situation and making them feel more engaged.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Personally I would continue watching this as it had built up my curiosity on what had happened to Jennifer’s parents. Because after watching the first 5 minutes, the clip only displayed what had happened to her parents and about what she SAW and not what she DID, which is why I would want to know more about what she DID.

Documentary Opening 3: A deadly american marriage
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title. What are your expectations for the documentary? What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title? What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?	Downfall of marriage The image being used was taken at night, with a dark background making me assume the downfall happens at night time also connoting how the crime tropes conform to danger happening at night I expect to see a murder within the family members either toward the children or the parent.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so? Give one example of each and explain the meaning: Camera: Mise-en-scène: Editing: Sound:	I think the target audiences were families living with extended family members such as grandparents. Because this documentary displays not just a typical cereal box family, but families living with grandparents making them involved in marriage problems like the ones displayed in the documentary intro.  Camera: The use of the high angled cctv camera footage encourages how they are under a lot of power and makes the victims seem more vulnerable Mise en scene: The red blood on the bedroom walls, displaying how much of a horrifying failed attempt of murder in the household. Editing: Sharp quick cuts, adding suspense and more information toward the audience. Sound: Tensive music, making the scenes appeal more serious and suspenseful to make the audience feel more engaged into the scenes.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Yes i will be continuing this documentary as the suspense had made me curious on who was actually the victim.

Documentary Opening 4: The Puppet Master Hunting the Ultimate Conman
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title. What are your expectations for the documentary? What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title? What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?	I expect to receive hints on who this man with the blurred face on the thumbnail is and I expect to receive slight information on what he’s done to something or someone. We can see how the man on the thumbnail appeals smiling although faces around this eyes and mouth are blurred. Connoting how this man may be an unexpected bad guy behind his smiles or he is a total psycho. The bright background also connotes peace, happiness and joy, making the documentary seem unpredictable. I expect to see an interview of the people related to the victim and i expect to hear a lot more tensive music as well as pictures of the suspect.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so? Give one example of each and explain the meaning: Camera: Mise-en-scène: Editing: Sound:	I think this documentary targets families or specifically kids who are young adults or older teenagers and mothers that are distant enough from direct family as this documentary displays a wanted person, affecting the mother of kids that haven't met their mother after a few years. Camera: The camera angle used was a close up shot on the man’s back as he walks on slow motion, building up curiosity on who this man is. Mise en scene: The set up of the interview, making the situation alot more serious and suspenseful as they took time to get the set up ready to which the content of the interview matters alot aswell. Editing: Quick cuts to which makes the situation sharper and faster which makes the scenes more important as it adds more content Sound: The interview was more enhanced to which the audiences focus more toward the content of the speech where it makes the case alot more serious and engages the audiences more.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	No because this documentary seems unengaging enough.