That Thing…Lara CroftDocumentary Analysis

The type of documentary is mixed as it contains features of interviews, narration and archive material.

The themes of this documentary are Game Influence, changes of popular culture and gender representation.

The narrative structure of this documentary is Non linear, single strand and closed as it contains a beginning, middle and end and does not link to another episode but is an episode of a series of documentaries called ‘ That thing…’.

Game Footage

Interview shot

Camera Work

• There is a canted shot of a computer screen which shots an unconventional way of showing an interview.

• Conventional interview shots are positioned on right or left of the screen.

• Side close up of an interview.

• Close ups, medium close ups and big close ups are used in interviews.

• Montage

• Handheld shot used to walk down steps, shows the action

• Over the shoulder shot

Mise En Scene

• Chroma Key is used to show game footage over the interviews to link to the topic of the documentary.

• Projector over interviewee's face

• Barbie doll shots are used to show a message sexualising toy to relate to the topic of the documentary and to link to the character of Lara Croft.

Sound

• There is a narrator used in this documentary who uses a sarcastic tone in their voice to link with the topic of the documentary.

• There is game music throughout the documentary which in the trance/dance genre to link with the music from the game and the time period.

• A Madonna song is used to relate Madonna to Lara Croft and her song is used to familiarise the audience with Madonna.

Archive Material

• Game footage, film footage, magazines

• Websites

• Angelina Jolie interview is used to link her film character to the game.

Editing

• Straight cuts are used to keep the editing effects simple.

• Fast motion

Graphics

• Names and occupation are shown on the interviews to show how they relate to the documentary .

• Credits are shown at the end which shows the conventional ending the a programme.

• Lower case, white font writing used over the interview shots, usually with the name above the occupation on 2 lines of writing.