Healthy and Safe Lifestyle Under COVID-19

The world is currently battling the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The disease
has caused untold suffering for many patients and has put pressure on governments and non-
Government agencies cooperate in combating the spread of the disease. Under this
circumstance, everyone needs to join hands and work towards ensuring that they
raise awareness of the measures that people can take to keep the infection rates low. One of the
methods that can provide effective methods through which the general public can be sensitized
about the Coronavirus disease is through a film or a documentary. Nichols (2017) defines a
documentary as a film that uses pictures to portray reality. A documentary titled
“Healthy and Safe Lifestyle under COVID-19”, the public knowledge on the disease can be
expanded. The documentary can help ensure that people learn important values that extend
beyond their daily experiences. This paper discusses the documentary in detail and provides an
overview of the mode of documentary used as well as the filming techniques.
“Healthy and Safe Lifestyle Under COVID-19” is an example of a good documentary.
For a topic to be a good basis for a documentary, it must fulfil certain key requirements. One of
the key requirements is the fact that it must address compelling social and historical issues
(Eitzen, 1995). Documentaries succeed if they are able to react to a social issue that is affecting
people. In the past, successful documentaries have managed to address issues that are national in
nature. Documentaries help elicit discussions on issues that could be facing a particular country
or the world at large (Eitzen, 1995). A documentary succeeds in converting an issue into a
narrative. In addressing social issues, documentaries can change public perception and influence
people positively. A good documentary is used as the vehicle of expression as the filmmakers
express their ideas on compelling social and historical issues. 

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The topic of the Coronavirus disease is a appropriate topic in many respects. The disease
was first reported in Wuhan China in December 2019 (World Health Organization, 2020). Over
time the disease has spread to many nations globally and has affected many people negatively.
Businesses have been closed down as people seek to stay at home and maintain the much-
required social distance. Governments have been forced to make budgetary modifications as they
seek to ensure that more funds are freed up for the fight against the disease. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has already declared the disease to be a public emergency and instructed all
people to take the necessary measures. The WHO has also raised the alarm on the stigma
associated with the Coronavirus disease (World Health Organization, 2020). Normal life has
been disrupted, and this means that the disease is a significant social issue. The documentary can
help in addressing this issue and ensuring that the general public has facts related to the disease.
In addressing the social issues related to the disease, we can manage to ensure that everyone
takes the measures required to combat the spread of the disease and in so doing ensure that a
state of normalcy is restored.
Another important characteristic of a good documentary topic is that it must propose
viable solutions to a pressing problem (Rothman, 1997). A pressing problem is one that affects
society and causes widespread distress (Eitzen, 1995). Documentaries are supposed to act as the
voices of reason in society. The audience of a documentary is actively in search of solutions to
problems that may be affecting. Journalism is anchored on not just highlighting problems but
providing solutions where possible. The idea of shooting in the real-world environment has
empowered the creators of documentaries to come up with solutions that can be implemented in
the real world (Rothman, 1997). Documentaries are founded on optimism and the idea that
practical solutions can be generated to solve even the most distressing problems. Award-winning

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documentaries are characterized by the fact that they generate practical solutions and empower
the public to take actions designed to make the world a better place.
Our documentary proposes viable and practical solutions that can be used to combat the
Coronavirus disease. The Coronavirus disease has caused untold suffering on many people as
well as placing numerous demands on the health sector. Through measures such as washing
hands, keeping social distance, and staying at home, people can reduce the rate of transmission
and thereby solving the underlying problems brought about by the disease (UNICEF, 2020).
Karlin and Johnson (2011) report that films and documentaries influence people to take action.
Our documentary seeks to ensure that our audience takes actions to ensure that they do not get
infected with the disease. Simple measures such as maintaining oral hygiene can go a long way
in ensuring that people protect themselves and their family members. We are informed by the
belief that if everyone becomes vigilant, then the infection rates can reduce drastically. Many
people have underestimated the gravity of the problem at hand. In many cases that have reported
rapid infection rates, young people have failed to heed calls by the authorities to maintain social
distance as well as to maintain oral hygiene. Studies show that in places where individuals have
continued leading normal lives, infection rated have surged up (UNICEF, 2020). In light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to ensure that people are inspired to take action geared
towards curbing the spread of the virus (Guan et al., 2020).
Every documentary has its own distinct voice (Nichols, 2017). Each voice used in cinema
has its own unique style, just like is the case with every speaking voice. Bill Nichols (2017)
devised six different modes of filming documentaries that include expository, reflexive, poetic,
participatory, performative, and participatory. The six modes set up conventions that are
followed by a filmmaker or director. We selected the expository mode as the primary mode when

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making our documentary. According to Nichols (2017), the expository mode is important when
the creators of a documentary want to speak directly to the viewers. The filmmaker uses images
to emphasize the important points being conveyed through the documentary. The expository
mode was used back in the 1920s but is still relevant in making films today because of its
effectiveness in conveying the intended information. Further, most science and nature
documentaries use this mode, and this is another reason why we chose it for our documentary.
We created a documentary that is scientific nature. We explored a virus that is actively being
studied by scientists and researchers in the medical field, globally. The expository mode allowed
us to present the information clearly. The mode enabled us to speak directly to the viewer, with a
voice that proposed a perspective into the topic covered.
The choice of the expository mode is informed by the need to raise awareness on the
outbreak COVID-19 pandemic, a problem that is facing almost every country globally.
According to the World Health Organization (2020), a significant percentage of the general
population does not understand the transmission of the virus, its transmission patterns, risk
factors, and clinical features of the Coronavirus disease. It is, therefore, necessary to provide as
much information as possible in a mode that is easy for the population to understand. The
expository mode allows us to achieve this objective as we were able to communicate directly to
our target audience. Further, reports by UNICEF (2020) state that the COVID-19 pandemic
requires a coordinated and deliberate campaign aimed at passing the right facts to the people.
The COVID-19 virus is a new strand of the Coronavirus, and thus there is scanty information out
there concerning the disease. Therefore, it was necessary to use the expository mode as it
enabled us to pass as much information as we could on the Coronavirus disease to the audience.

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The expository mode helped us demonstrate hand washing and how to effectively do it so
as to avoid contracting the virus. In this scene, this specific mode was effective because it helped
us inform logic that is carried in the spoken word. We were able to demonstrate why
handwashing is important. Also, we demonstrated the appropriate way to wash hands, disinfect,
and social distance, as these are some of the safety measures of staying safe from COVID-19.
The graphics helped us ensure that the audience can make sense of the information presented in
the documentary. Further, the expository mode allowed us to focus on objectivity and well-
supported argument, and that is what we aimed at conveying to our viewers.
We selected the voice-over technique in creating the documentary. We selected a voice-
over because we have critical information that we wanted to pass across to the people. Eitzen
(1995) states that a voice-over is important when the narrator has important details about the
content being included in the documentary. The technique ensures that the narrator
communicates directly to the audience. The documentary we created is a non-fiction film, and
thus the voice-over technique was very appropriate. We were able to efficiently provide
information on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic to the audience in a way that is
easy for them to understand and act upon the information. We were able to assert that the
audience is expected to implement the information, by acting according to; washing hands,
sanitizing, and maintain social distance, as these are some of the effective ways of staying safe
during this period. Besides, using the voice-over allowed us to be personal, as we delivered the
information in a way that shows we want other humans to hear it, and take the necessary
measures. We established a direct connection with our audience, and this was one of our
objectives at the beginning of the documentary.

HEALTHY AND SAFE LIFESTYLE UNDER COVID-19 7
The voice-over made it possible to inform the audience about important details
concerning the global COVID-19 pandemic. The information would not have been effectively
delivered in the absence of a voice-over. We used voice-over to explain the visuals and
demonstrations. For instance, we explained why handwashing is important. Thus, when
demonstrating the appropriate way to clean hands, a voice-over provided an explanation of why
it should be done in the manner demonstrated in the video. We effectively paired the voice-over
and the visuals to break the barrier between us and our audience. The technique made it possible
to ensure that the audience can view the visuals in the exact way that we view them. It allowed
us to give our audience a completely objective view of the global pandemic. Evidently, the
technique was an invaluable asset to use in the creation of the documentary. We were able to
demonstrate and explain at the same time, how a simple and basic activity such as handwashing
can save lives and bring an end to this disruptive global pandemic. I must admit that the real
power of this technique is in how we managed to establish a direct link to our audience, by being
able to communicate directly to them. The documentary explicitly tells the audience what they
ought to know about staying safe during this pandemic.
We also selected close-up shots when shooting the documentary. A close-up shot is a
filming technique that ensures that emotions are added to a scene (Rothman, 1997). Close-up
shots are important since they enable the film to connect with the audience emotionally. It helps
the audience to note the details about the emotions that are displayed on the face of the
characters. In our documentary, we used a close-up shot at the beginning of the documentary.
The aim was to ensure that we explained to the audience the importance of collaborative efforts
driven towards ensuring that the pandemic is rooted out. We wanted to establish an emotional
connection to the audience since this would have helped ensure that our message is taken up by

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the audience. Close-up shots are utilized to convey an important message to the audience
(Rothman, 1997). Evidently, our message to the audience is of utmost importance. A close-up
shot was thus utilized to ensure that the audience grasped the important message being put
across.

Overall, the purpose of making the documentary is to raise awareness of the Coronavirus
disease. Awareness will go along way in ensuring that everyone is involved in the fight against
the spread of the disease. The public needs to change its attitudes and undertake the necessary
measures in order to curb the spread of the disease. The documentary will improve the situation
by offering practical guidelines and ensuring that people understand the severity of the problem.
People can only take precautions if they understand the impact of the disease.

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References

Eitzen, D. (1995). When is a Documentary?: Documentary as a Mode of Reception. Cinema
Journal, 35(1), 81-102.

Guan, W. J., Ni, Z. Y., Hu, Y., Liang, W. H., Ou, C. Q., He, J. X., … & Du, B. (2020). Clinical
characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. New England Journal of Medicine,
3(4), e205619. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.5619

Karlin, B., & Johnson, J. (2011). Measuring impact: The importance of evaluation for
documentary film campaigns. M/C Journal, 14(6).

Nichols, B. (2017). Introduction to documentary. Indiana University Press.

Rothman, W. (1997). Documentary film classics. Cambridge University Press.

UNICEF. (2020). Key messages and actions for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention
and control in schools. https://www.unicef.org/reports/key-messages-and-actions-
coronavirus-disease-covid-19-prevention-and-control-schools

World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report –

33. WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/docs/default-
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