Waiting for Superman- Analysis

1. Sound

We can hear nineteen different voices, from chancellors and educational reformers, teachers, students and kids willing to become students. In terms of dialogue we are able to hear an off-voice, who narrates and communicates the situation to audience. Furthermore, we can also hear a background music as a non-diagetic sound, which contributes to the impact of the message the trailer wants to state.

2. Video Footage

All the footage used in the documentary is based on different interviews of different people who have different ages and social classes but share the same interest and goal, give their children the best education possible. This footage is mainly used to show the different points of view of people who wish to fight against the poor education in the World. There are also interviews of the children who suffer the consequences of the lack of education and they tell their wishes to study.

3. Sources

·      Michelle Rhee, chancellor, D.C, Public School.

·      Geoffrey Canada, Education Reformer.

·      Bill Gates, Founder Microsoft

·      Teenage Girl who wants to be a teacher.

·      Girl who dreams to be a nurse.

·      Boy who wants to go to school to make his grandmother proud.

4. Text

There are two main text types in the documentary, one is the reference for the interviewed person, so that the audience knows who he is and why his opinion is important. On the other hand, there is the text between takes used to make emphasis on the point the documentary is making, creating a clear message to the audience.

5. Editing

The first scene is of two young girls who are interviewed and share their hopes and dreams for their future, one is being a nurse and the other one is being a teacher.

Then the next shot is an interview to a professional who communicates the problems the education has. Further on, there is an interview of an education reformer who shares his thoughts about education. Then there is a shot of kids in a school and an interview to another young boy who tells his story.

Next, education statistics are shown, with a close up on the USA.