Research - Similar Media Texts (Documentary Shows)

Ride Guide Mountain Biking Show: Link
The Ride Guide is a mountain biking documentary aired on the Extreme Sports channel (Sky 419). The show conforms to the general conventions of a documentary show by opening with sequence of titles and images relating to the documentary topic which, in this case is Mountain biking. Mountain biking as a sport can be split up into many different disciplines such as dirt jumping or trials riding and they all share the same high visual impact properties on camera so they are very easy to combine into one show without looking too diverse. The opening title sequence is complex and contains a compilation of action packed clips in film reel style effects. This is complimented by frequent use of the 'Ride Guide' logo in the background and foreground alike to associate the viewer with not only the nature of the program but it's branding too. A short introduction to the contents of the show is then given by a host/narrator which feeds into video coverage of a recent sport-related event in this case, the Norway Bike Deco. The coverage of the event is detailed, exciting and includes interviews with event organisers and competitors alike to get a very complete feel for the whole show. After a blackout, the music then changes to a more upbeat melody as the show follows a group of young guys going to attack some Norwegian single track riding and the editing follows suit with dramatically shorter clip lengths, more close ups and a wider range of shots with less scenery and more performance. The whole show was wrapped up with the narrator re-appearing as the host and giving a thanks for watching along with a hint of what to expect from the next episode to some calm music in a picturesque setting so as to pan out over the fjords after she has finished speaking...nice.

Ride Guide Snow Show: Link
The Ride Guide Snow show is written and directed by the same production team as it's mountain biking twin, yet a different sport being covered, different landscapes and new presenters give this show a refreshing twist whilst maintaining the professional image that is expected of the ride guide series. Snow sports in general, whether it be skiing, snowboarding, snow blading or snowmobiling, being extreme sports are great to film. The natural landscape necessary for these activities often coencides with breath taking views over moutain tops, sleepy villages and beautiful sunsets. This gives the team an immense array of opportunities for great footage and makes the action all the more intriguing. This snow themed show closely follows it's sister show in it's layout and style of presentation; an introduction including the contents of the show featuring a field expert, a report of a recent show or event and a montage of interviews, performances and a feel for the atmosphere using shots of large crowds and clips of particularly enthusiastic crowd members often displaying fancy dress or team wear. The filming technique of these clips is often a whip zoom so as to differenciate these people from the competitors and give them an added flare to vary the energy of the overall documentary. The show then calms and follows a few skiers finding off piste routes and the editing follows this call. The clip lengths become longer, the cameramen use more gradual zooms and fades are more frequently used between clips of dramatic scenery and skiers. The other noticable pace reduction is in both the diegetic and non diegetic sound. The music obviously changes to a more sedate and soothing track but less harsh noises are used and interviews are spoken more calmly e.g. the previous sound of fast skiers pummeling the same icy path at tremendous speed in sucsession is now replaced with a small group of chilled skiers floating through powder. This subconciously calms the viewer and is a technique that I will use in my documentary.

Top Gear: Link
Top Gear is a totally different style documentary to the 'Ride Guide' layout above. Top Gear have developed a team of three key hosts that take care of all test drives, interviews, news reports and program challenges which gives the show a great sense of familiarity and bring in a steady multi million person audience. The layout is very cleverly devised with a mixture of predictable elements to look forward to each week along with unpredictable, usually fantastic car reviews and challenges mid-show. This is a very successful mix yet would be pointless without the high level of cinematography displayed in every element of the show. Seemingly unrelated images of natural landscapes, nearby animals and sleepy European villages set the scene for the next bombardment of exciting, fast paced action and vary the pace of the show so as to keep the viewer engaged. Challenging camerawork has been taken out to create maximum visual impact using filming techniques far from standard documentaries. These elements are what make the show as successful as it is whilst maintaining a healthy level of rivalry and comradeship between the hosts. All in all, it is an exciting show to watch and yet also pleasant in a soap-opera style way. We are viewing the relationship of these three men and being included in their passion for cars which gives a much wider audience band than your typical car based documentary program.

Planet Earth: Link
This is arguably the best documentary show that Britain has ever seen. The dulset tones of Richard Attenborough along with some of the more challenging camerawork ever known to man make this a fantastically successful show. The Planet Earth series immediately had an easy way to make a series of shows that would never get boring, and never get 'samey'. The production team's plan was to live a year in the life of a whole host of natural, wild animals over all the continents in extreme temperatures and even more extreme scenery. Each show was very skillfully edited in a subtle way that encapsulates the essence of each of the locations ranging from tropical beaches filming never before seen lizards to antartic schools of penguins. Planet Earth follows a more narrative structure regarding the narrator. Instead of introducing the show, giving his name and rolling through what is in store for that particular episode, Richard always seems to start the episodes wandering through a dramatic, uninhabited