Documentary Analysis- Bum, Boobs and Botox

Type: Bum, Boobs and Botox was a mixed documentary as it contained interviews, actual footage, observation, cutaways and narration, mixed documentary are effective as they cover mostly everything making it more interesting to watch.

Themes: The documentary showed strong themes of the beauty industry, looking more at plastic surgery like nose jobs and eyelid treatments as well as the non-surgical aspects like Botox. This would be appealing to mostly women around the ages of 17-40 as the documentary is addressing them.

Narrative structure: The narrative structure was linear. It started with a quick summary of the subject, which in
cluded some facts and figures and was mostly narration giving a brief overview of what to expect. In the middle lots of case studies where used, as it explored their own personal reason for having the surgery. Also vox poxs were used, the middle also introduced the conflict as we were asked if we agreed with the plastic surgery. The ending was left open to decide for ourselves if we agreed or not.

Camera: camera work included head and shoulder shots of the interviewees during interviews and in some cases close ups on their face if they proved to have more power or have more of an importance towards the documentary. Extreme close up were used on before and after shots and a long shot of the hospital surgery was used to set the scene at the start.

Mise en scene: all the mise en scene was relevant to the topic throughout, for example each interview was recorded in the interviewees own environment with things like past patients photos and surgery tools were in the background.

Sound: narration was used all the way thought to make it sound more appealing and also give the viewer a brief understanding on what’s happening. Diegetic sounds were used as well as sound effects such as heart rate. These were used to create tension whilst watching.

Archive material: not much archive material was used as most of it was filmed live on tape, however they did used material such as old consultations and surgery procedures taking place. The graphic were small, simple bold and in white with the name of the interviewee and role underneath it so it did not distract the viewers’ attention.