Documentary-task 1B

1. Factual programme: give a full title and a link

• Introduction: what is the format, purpose, platform for broadcast, and describe the target audience
• What key techniques are used: observational, reportage, reconstruction, interviews
• What is the narrative structure and narration/mode of address?
• Is the programme biased, objective, subjective?



Front of the class

is an American Drama documentary based on Brad Cohen, front of the class: How Tourette Syndrome made me a teacher I never had.

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.

Front of the class is about a true story of a kid with Tourette who's lifelong goal is to become a teacher but has to overcome his obstacles with Tourette, with a dad that never accepted him as a son, kids who don't know anything about the disease and all the things in between but what made this documentary great was the determination to not only people with Tourette or disability but people with dog you by saying you're not good for this or you will never amount to anything.
This twelve years old boy called Brad lives in Missouri with his divorced mother and the younger brother. he constantly gets in trouble with the school and his father Norman due to his tics. for example in one of the classes the teacher calls him to the front of the class to make him apologize to his class for disrupting the class and promise he wont do it again.

As an adult, Brad lives in his house with a roommate and is looking for a work as an elementary school teacher. he is turned down after 24 interviews because of his Tourette Syndrome. He finally gets an interview where the staff are accepting and they give him the job.

The purpose of this documentary i believe is to inform the viewers and at the same time educate them. the film is so emotional for the fact that the boy has always been in trouble due to it; and no one would believe he couldn't stop the tics. this documentary makes people understand the boys situation and feel sympathy and may be guilty if they ever done that to someone who had a disorder. this documentary also makes the viewer understand that we are all different and special the way we are and no matter what you shouldn't give up on your dreams, because sadly he has been not accepted in a lot of schools because he wanted to become a teacher but he never gave up and at the end he got into a school and had lovely students.

The target audience for this documentary is any age because it is to educate the viewer and make them feel compassion about i, and it has not
it is either for male or female consumption because it could happen to anyone.

The platform broadcast for font of the class is Netflix, you could also find it on YouTube and other websites. this documentary is narrative because the main character is the one telling the story, just as if he was being interviewed. for example: at the beginning he was explaining the viewers the way he has been treated by his colleagues, teacher and even his father

 It is a subjective documentary based on/ influenced by personal feelings, and opinions.


The director is telling, showing to people how special people can achieve their dreams no matter what, in addition the little boy calls the genetic disorder his "friend" which shows to the audience even though he has troubles with it, it is still not stopping him from doing whatever he wants to.

It is a linear story because it has a middle beginning and end where the audience can understand the meaning behind the story, it comes with emotional appeal including sympathy as a mode of address, as the audience can get it from the beginning of the story, the little kid was bullied due to his conditions which makes the audience feel sorry for him, however at the end, with the support of his family and friends he gets what he wished for and great students who liked him no matter what. there are also messages and values within this story and as the audience follows it, it gets more and more meaningful. 

this program is subjective because is based in a real story where due to the opinions and taste of the others, the child who latter on becomes a man suffers a lot from it since it is a not very known condition. it is easy for the audience to understand the point of the story and the effect it has on both, the bullied character and the audience.