Research

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?	It’s going to be about crime. Black background, serious bold font, looks like a mugshot. The woman in the picture wears no makeup and looks worn out. Reenactment of the crimes performed, and what the victims have to say about it.
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:	Older teens and adults, because of the mature theme introduced in the intro which discusses about violence. Camera: Tracking. In the very first scene, the camera follows a woman walking in front of a house. Mise-en-scène: House’s door being the only thing lit up in the darkness of the night. Makes the audience focus on the door. Editing: Jump cuts. To give the audience more visual information so they can have a better idea of the series’ theme and plot. Intense music throughout. Puts the audience in the right mood. Sound: Intense music over the reenactment scenes.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Probably. It’s not the theme that really interests me since I prefer bigger-sized bombing, but I might give it a go if I feel like it.

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?	This documentary will be about crime. The title suggests that Jennifer did something, most likely bad. There’s a slightly damaged image of a woman smiling on the left, and on the right is an image of an unhappy woman. The image on the right, also in the same damaged quality, is reddened, suggesting that the woman might have been a victim of a crime, or was the person who committed the crime. Both women in the two pictures might also be the same person. An introduction to who Jennifer is, and what kind of crime had been committed.
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:	Teens and adults. Because of the weight of the theme discussed in this documentary. Camera: Panning from left to right during the shot of her house on that night she made the 911 call. Mise-en-scène: Her house, during which was dark and eerily empty despite Jennifer’s claims on the call. Editing: Jump cuts, from the real footage of Jennifer’s interrogation, to reenactment shots of her house during the 911 call. Sound: Intense music played over the conversation of the 911 call, to put the audience in the moment.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Yes, I think so. I’m now invested in the story and would love to know if Jennifer’s claims were true or if she had committed the crime herself and was attempting to cover it, as the title of the documentary suggests.

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?	My expectations for this documentary is that it will probably be about the death of someone because of the marriage, and that both the groom and bride are involved in it somehow. The image looks old, suggesting the event took place a long time ago. The font is bold. The colour is dark and mysterious. The title suggests that the marriage caused harm. That they will be showcasing real life footage of the crime and the people involved in it.
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:	Mature teens and adults, because of the theme of this documentary being around crime. Camera: close-up in car. Mise-en-scène: Used black car. Editing: Jump cut from reenactment of the events in 2023 to those in 2015. Sound: Intense music, played over the photos, to prepare the audience for what's to come.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Probably, I would love to know the motive behind the crime, and whether the husband was truly the victim as was suggested in the ending of the intro.

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?	My expectations for this documentary is that it will probably be someone who can influence or control people like a ‘puppet’. The person might be extremely hard to track down. The image consists of a man’s picture pinned to a map on the wall with strings attached to multiple places on the map. The font is simple and straight. The lighting and atmosphere is dark and mysterious. The title suggests that the person can control people like a ‘puppet’. That they will be explaining the type of crime and introduce us to people involved in it.
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:	Mature teens and adults, because of the theme of this documentary being around crime. Camera: close-up of the two people being interviewed Mise-en-scène: Dark room with only a small part of the room being lit, including the two people. Editing: Cuts from the interviewer camera’s POV to shot of the camera itself recording the two people. Sound: Intense music during interview to match the overall atmosphere of the intro.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Yes, because the intro makes me interested in finding out more about this ‘puppet master’.

Documentary Opening 5: American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing
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 is that it will probably be someone who can did bombing during a marathon run. The image consists of a man holding a gun at night with smoke and police lights in the background. The font is heavy and bold. The lighting and atmosphere is dark and gritty. The title suggests that the person is probably tracked down by the police and a shootout began. That they will be explaining the type of crime and introduce us to people involved in it.
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:	Mature teens and adults, because of the theme of this documentary being around crime, shooting, and death. Camera: medium shot of the people being interviewed Mise-en-scène: Dimly lit room with police car behind the police who was interviewed. Editing: jump cuts of the real bombing footage to the people interviewed to cover the story with their voice plays throughout the real footage. Sound: Intense music, played over the interview scene and real-life footage, to better convey the weight of the crime and its toll.
Would you continue watching? Why/Why not?	Yes, because the intro is fantastic in showing the bombing event while keeping the mystery intact.