Task 2.1: Behind Bars in San Quentin – Louis Theroux (Research)

Planning

Camera	Editing
-          Fade in from black at beginning -          Establishing/Master shot. Extreme Longshot -	-          Opening sequence – Edited a prison image over the title and cartoon image of Theroux
Sound	Mise en Scene
-          Talking to a man who has 500 years in Prison – catches the audiences attention. -          Asks why he has to wear a vest in the prison. Asks to keep in contact with audience. -          Prisoners are acting crazy in the prison to attract attention off the camera. -          Music came in when Theroux entered the prison and when the BBC logo came on (BBC indicates high quality programme, expert journalism etc.) -          Commentary (voiceover)	-          The prisoner is in more of cage than a prison. (cages would usually be for animals – animalistic imagery) -          Recorded inside a prison – gives the audience an experience. -          Maximum security prison with over 3000 prisoners.

Textual Analysis

In the introduction of Louis Theroux’s ‘Behind Bars in San Quentin’, it fades in from black to an establishing shot of the prison. This use of camera and editing is used to emphasise the area and background of the documentary.

In the opening sequence, it began with a scene from later on in the documentary. The scene was one from inside the prison, which gave the audience an idea of what the documentary would cover. It was a short scene of Theroux interviewing a prisoner who had been given a sentence of over 500 years. However, the prison looked more like a cage rather than just any regular prison. In reality, cages would usually be for animals, which shows animalistic imagery, as if the prisoner was treated more like an animal rather than any regular individual.

After this short scene, we see a clip of Theroux entering the prison when a prison guard is letting him in. As he walks in, some background music begins as the BBC logo shows up on the bottom of the screen. The fact that the BBC logo has been shown is done because it indicates that the programme is high quality and that there is expert journalism as BBC only broadcast high quality programmes. However, the music that comes on in the background has more of a jolly theme to it. The jolly theme to the background music adds irony as it sets the complete opposite mood for the audience.

During this opening sequence, we see an edited prison image over the title and the cartoon image of Theroux. This has been done to attract the audiences attention because it makes the programme seem more unique.

In terms of other sounds, we hear diagetic sounds of the prisoners acting crazy when the cameraman and Theroux walk past the prison cells. The fact that they are trying to attract so much attention shows how much of a 'big thing' this is for prisoners as they do not get many positive experiences inside a prison. Furthermore, the loud and intimidating noises of the prisoners sets more of a serious and negative atmosphere in the prison which makes the audience feel as if they are actually inside a prison.