DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS

Dispatches – Salt: Are you eating too much?

Type of DocumentaryMixed documentary - Includes interviews

from cardiologists about salt intake, narration to explain problems with some aid of the visual e.g. showing cereal with the amount of salt in graphic text

ThemesNutrition – Getting message across that

we may eat much more salt than expected

Diet change – Salt intake is increasing

Narrative structureClosed narrative – Getting message

across that Salt is increasing in food and is getting worse for health

Single stranded – Plot based around the salt intake problem

Non-linear – Isn't a chronological story of events

CameraworkHigh angle shot of beans on toast- Expresses People wouldn't have

thought such a small meal has such a large salt count

- All food can be unpredictable

Medium close up shot in interview- Thought that interviewee is professional

because the documentary is conducted professionally and formally

- Gives viewers thought of belief in what he is saying “reduce salt and not taste the difference in bread”.

Low angle close up shot of University to talk to Cardiologist

- Used to show how important this scene, the information given from the cardiologist is because it looks like a ‘large’ impacting organisation

Camerawork continuedHigh angle-Big close up shot of a

salty product- Used to convey the thought that it

is notoriously bad, supported by non-diegetic soundtrack

Extreme close up shot of bottom right of a pizza

- Used to show the amount of salt, to be seen as “unacceptable”

Big close up on Peanuts- Used to express that food that

people wouldn’t have thought, may still have massive amounts of salt

Mise-en-sceneTest on foods for salt – shows most have much more than what is

explained on the packet- Also, it is explained that some have amount of Sodium, which is 2.5x

less than ‘salt’ amount- Presenter takes a 1 week high salt diet experiment, Doctor explains

she has gained 4lb’s in 1 week, used to portray the effects of salt- All this has been used to express that salt overall is bad and that

people need to watch what they eat

Mise-en-scene continued- Natural lighting is used – to express

the thought of neutral opinions from people to make their own decision

- Code of attire is important so people can distinguish difference between different people being interviewed e.g. Doctor compared to a normal civilian

- Backgrounds in scenes relate to topic e.g. Graphics of salt intake with foods on a kitchen table.

The documentary is based around researching in to salt;-what it does bad for people-the inaccurate labelling of foods with salt-The affects and possible future for younger generations with high amounts of Salt

SoundNon-diegetic voice over narration used when looking

at foods or presenter is studying effects on Computer

- Used to show the amount of study going into this, makes it more believable

Diegetic narration from presenter with visual aid- Used to show that it is realism, and it is happening

NOW

EditingFlash dissolve from mid shot to close up, showing more foods- Used to show that any food can be unpredictable

Cuts used to move from scenes- This is to show the programme is serious and professional, using large amounts of more extreme

editing may put viewers off the actual information being given.

GraphicsOverlay graphic showing amount of salt in

children's breakfast- Used to give a clear message that these

foods have high salt- Colours used and salt theme to relate to the

topic

Overlay graphic showing amount of sodium in general snacks however needs to be ‘x2.5’

- Expresses that brands can be misleading due to fact they aren't giving the actual salt amount

- Seen as misleading – bad brand image

- Graphics in interview, banner with name and role. Used to add sense of professionalism and to be informative.

- Credit graphics at the end of the Documentary. Used to give information on cast and crew, this is the case for all documentaries and/or films.