Documentaries - 3 Minute Wonder

•  What is a 3 Minute Wonder?

3 Minute Wonder is a short Channel 4 television project that broadcasts first time directors' three-minute documentaries.

• What is the aim / purpose of a 3 Minute Wonder?

to give first-time directors the opportunity to air their work to a large audience, and to take a first step into the competitive UK film industry.

• What sort of topic would you expect to see on a 3 Minute Wonder?

The documentaries shown on the channel generally highlight a current issue that is not in the public eye, for example, domestic abuse or fight of people with illnesses.

• My favourite 3 Minute Wonder episodes

Dao and the Bicycle

• what I have learned from watching the film

The documentary film tells a story of the invention of the bicycle told  via the ancient teachings of Daoism. These teachings say there is a source to everything, all things come from Dao and return to Dao – all things are connected. For example,  a butterfly flapping its wings in China can cause a storm in some part of the planet. It  is not probably true. Another example is given: the biggest volcanic eruption ever led to some of the most remarkable cultural events of the 1800's – the invention of the bicycle. It is an expository documentary film.

• why I like it

The film is created using a unique and imaginative approach

Last supper 

• what I have learned from watching the film

The last supper is given to prisoners facing the death penalty. The main character is a young man called Robert Garza who has been in prison for 5 years after series of murders.It is an observational documentary.

• why I like it

The film is shocking and thought-provoking.

Home

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• what I have learned from watching the film

The film investigates the notion of 'home'

• why I like it

The editing is well-done, in a creative way.

Market research into the documentary format and its current viability:

TV listings for Channel 4 - documentary percentage of television output

Thursday, March 6, 2014 - 18 % (9 pm -10 pm -'The Floods That Foiled New Year: Caught on Camera' documentary; 10 pm - 11:05 pm -'The Repo Man' documentary; 11:05 pm - 12:05 am -'The CCTV Traffic Wardens: Caught on Camera' documentary; 1:05 am - 2 am - 'First Dates' documentary; 3:20 am - 3:50 am - 'Undercover: Hate on the Terraces - Channel 4 Dispatches' documentary)
Friday, March 7, 2014 - 0 %
Saturday, March 8, 2014 - 0 %
Sunday, March 9, 2014 - 0 %
Monday, March 10, 2014 - 1% (5:15 am - 5:30 am - 'Kirstie's Homemade Home'documentary)
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 4 % (10 pm-11 pm-'Strippers' documentary)
Wednesday, March 12, 2014- 13% (11 am -12 am-'Undercover Boss Canada' documentary; 10 pm -11 pm-'First Dates'documentary; 11 pm-12 am -'Strippers'documentary)

Documentary percentage of television output on Channel 4 - 5 % per week
Only 4 documentaries per week are shown on Channel 4 at peak time (during the 6 pm to 10.30 pm peak-time hours).

TV listings for BBC1 - documentary percentage of television output

Thursday, March 6, 2014 - 12 % ( 9:15 am - 10 am - 'Heir Hunters' documentary; 11:00 am - 11:45 am -'Countryside 999' documentary; 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - 'Holiday Hit Squad' documentary)

Friday, March 7, 2014 - 6 % (9:15 am - 10 am - 'Heir Hunters' documentary; 11:00 am - 11:45 am -'Countryside 999' documentary)

Saturday, March 8, 2014 - 0 %

Sunday, March 9, 2014 - 2 % (12:15 pm - 1:00 pm - 'Wanted Down Under' documentary)

Monday, March 10, 2014 - 11 % ( 9:15 am - 10 am - 'Heir Hunters' documentary; 11:00 am - 11:45 am -'Countryside 999' documentary; 8:30 pm - 9 pm - 'A Week in A&E: Condition Critical?' - Panorama' documentary)

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 11 % ( 9:15 am - 10 am - 'Heir Hunters' documentary; 11:00 am - 11:45 am -'Countryside 999' documentary; 11:35 pm - 12:10 am - 'Swansea: Living on the Streets' documentary)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 13 % ( 9:15 am - 10 am - 'Heir Hunters' documentary; 11:00 am - 11:45 am -'Countryside 999' documentary; 9:00 pm - 10 pm - 'Famous Rich & Hungry for Sport Relief' documentary')

Documentary percentage of television output on Channel 4 - 8 % per week

Only 3 documentaries per week are shown on BBC1 at peak time (during the 6 pm to 10.30 pm peak-time hours).

BARB is the official source of television viewing figures in the UK. 

The viewing figures for factual programmes in general: 

The viewing figures for documentaries:

As you can see, 'Strippers'documentary takes 7th place with 1.67 million viewers.