David Attenborough BBC- Frozen Planet

Frozen Planethttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00 mfl7n

Frozen Planet is a nature documentary series narrated by Sir David

Attenborough, which focuses primarily on the inhabitance and

environment of the south pole. The series can be established as the following modes: Observational, Reflexive, Expository and

Participatory documentaries.

David Attenborough BBC- Frozen Planet

Frozen Planethttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00 mfl7n

Observational-

Sir David Attenborough and the crew film the animals from a distance (fly on
the wall). ReflexiveThe narrative aspects adds to the reflexive element. ExpositoryThe series exposes a great deal of footage that hasn't been see before. Participatory-

David interacts with the animals on occasion.

David Attenborough BBC- Frozen Planet

Frozen Planethttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00 mfl7n

The documentary used the appropriate mise-en-scene throughout, the use of high-key lighting created a sense of realism adding to the Observational aspects. The setting, effectively allowed the director to

film the wild inhabitance in its natural habitat, apposed to the same
animals in captivity; creating a much more accurate account. The vast amount of different camera angles and movements used allows the audience to capture the full scope of life in the Antarctic, more specifically the wide shots were able to include both, wild life and environment, providing an extremely natural picture.

David Attenborough BBC- Frozen Planet

Frozen Planethttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00 mfl7n

The documentary uses an array of camera angles and movements to be able

to capture the verity of the Arctic, to which I find the use of close ups and
extreme long shot where particularly effective, as they showed emotion of the wild life and creates a rapport between the audience and the animal displayed, and provides an insight to the animal in its natural environment which appeals

to the audience as it is a sight they would most likely not see in their life time
and displays the hostile environment in its true colours; since the documentary is expository, it appears these two shows do justice the mode.

David Attenborough BBC- Frozen Planet

Frozen Planethttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00 mfl7n

The documentaries BBC broadcasts purposes are generally to educate, inform and entertain, Frozen Planet being a prime example.

BBC broadcast there documentaries throughout four of their channels,

namely: BBC1, BBC 2, BBC 3 and BBC 4; the Frozen Planet was broadcasted on BBC 1. BBC have collaborated with many successful

documentarians such as David Attenborough, Louis Theroux and

Michael Palin.