PURPOSE:
The purpose of my documentary is
TARGET AUDIENCE RESEARCH:
Focus Group Results
Social Grade:
Psychometrics
Uses and Gratification
Analytics
Focus Group Results
TECHNICAL RESEARCH
Equipment
Software
Trial and Testing
Drafts and Mockups
STYLISTIC RESEARCH:
Documentary Modes
The documentary mode for The Secret Life of Tortoises would primarily fall under the Expository and Observational modes, with elements of the Performative and Poetic modes to enhance engagement.
The Expository Mode is the most dominant in the documentary since it relies on a clear “voice of God” narration to present information about Hermann tortoises. The structured format of introducing topics, providing expert insights, and using animation for explanation reinforces this educational approach. It aligns with traditional wildlife and nature documentaries, similar to David Attenborough’s style, but with a more creative approach and playful tone. For my Expert interview, I will be speaking to a Zookeeper at Rodbaston Animal Zone, where they are highly educated and care for a diverse range of tortoises.
It also follows conventions of the Observational mode by acting as a “fly-on-the-wall”. The audience observes the tortoises’ real life without interrupting. When recording the tortoises, the aim is to be as unobtrusive as possible, so the tortoise footage is captured in an unguarded and raw state. This will be achieved through using CCTV footage of the tortoises, which will be presented in the style of a vintage TV, to make the low quality of the camera look intentional.
The supporting documentary modes are Performative Mode, as the playful narration and dramatic storytelling present a tortoise’s journey as an epic adventure, creating performative elements. Whilst the sound designs of exaggerated crunching and victory music add a humorous element and personality. This makes the audience feel emotionally connected to the tortoises. Meanwhile, the Poetic Mode can be seen through the macro shots of tortoises eating, slow-motion climbing, and basking in the sun introduce poetic elements. Also, the animated sequences add a stylised, artistic representation of their “secret lives,” making the documentary more immersive. To present the tortoise’s journey as an epic adventure, I will be creating animated sequences, I will be sketching a Mission Impossible-style scene using the app FlipAClip.
My documentary blends expository (education), participatory (personal involvement), and performative (engaging storytelling) modes, with poetic visuals enhancing the experience. This hybrid approach makes it both informative and entertaining, appealing to a broad audience.
Case Study: My Pet and Me
CBeebies’ My Pet and Me has heavily influenced the creation of the Secret Life of Tortoises in both style and approach. The Children’s TV show is well known for making animal education a combination of fun, accessible, and educational. This is achieved through using a mix of warm narration, real-life experiences, and interactive storytelling.
Similarly, my documentary mirrors the way My Pet and Me presents information in a way that is both entertaining and educational through blending humour, playful narration, and engaging visuals to bring the secret world of tortoises to life.
For example, the use of animation in my opening scene, where the tortoise is portrayed as a “Secret Agent” before cutting to its real, much slower movement, creates a comedic effect to capture the attention of the young audience. The use of animation also makes the more scientific and difficult to understand aspects of the documentary more digestible and easy to understand- like the animated tortoise ……… Additionally, with personal footage of my tortoises and footage sourced by the public, viewers can connect with the tortoises as unique individuals rather than just a species.
