1. Introduction
Format
So this documentary is about a
man who had lost his life due to
the colour of his skin. Due to the
subject being so serious. There
were camera shots such as close
up to show an idea of how
important this case is.
They have also use audio like
music. The type of music they
have used is sad and upsetting
as it shows us that someone has
lost his life and it had taken over
a decade to get the right his
family needed for the case.
These shots and music's being
played suits the situation very
well.
Steven Lawrence Documentary
Purpose
The purpose of this
documentary is to allow people
to think and to appreciate how
precious life is. It should not be
taken away by another human
being for something he dislikes
about the other person, It
should be taken away by a
natural cause by the person
itself. For this reason the two
members that were part of the
gang had been jailed sentenced
for life.
Platform
The platform of the
documentary could involve
things like upsetting and sad.
As mentioned before, the
teenager who had the
potential of becoming a
technology creator had his
life taken away. His whole life
was ahead of him and it was
more upsetting to see all that
potential being taken away
from him.
2. Key Techniques used?
• The main techniques being used inside this documentary is a ‘reconstruction’ as it was a
piece of footage being shown to make it into a real life story base. It was recent footage
made with different sets of characters to scene the exact same thing that happened to
Steven Lawrence.
• Also there has been some use of interviews however this documentary had no interviewer.
Instead it only shows camera shots and camera angles of the interviewee which allows them
to speak and express their feeling of how they felt over the situation at that point of time.
• Lastly because the documentary had been found on Crimewatch (A Television series based on
crime,) it is also know to be a reportage as at the beginning of the clip, it shows a filming
studio and a group of people explaining the story and situation of what happened and what
type of crime it was.
3. Narrative Structure
• The different narrative structures and techniques being used are thing like,
voiceovers. The narrator was speaking on behalf of Steven Lawrence and is also
explaining the story and situation of how it occurred. The narrator also used a lot
of repetition of the important sections of the documentaries to show that this is
the key factor inside the story.
• The documentary also shows different voice from different characters for example
the voice of Steven Lawrence and his friend Dwayne. To show an idea of how the
main character is feeling at this point of time.
4. Objective, Subjective or biased?
• In my opinion, I believe that this documentary was objective as the documentary
had shown both sides of the argument which makes this story a fair and
predictable story. However there were some sorts of biased footage for example
where the police had come and denied the fact that the white members had
committed the crime due to racism and the colour of their skin.
