Analysis of documentary

1. Documentary
Analysis
By Amy Barry & Kaidee Lewis
“SAS - survival training documentary BBC part part 1.” 1.”

2. The clip begins with a long shot of a figure stood in a
doorway, backlighting is used in this shot to give a silhouette
of a soldier. The lighting in the back of this shot is a golden
colour; this represents the soldiers being heroic.

3. . A cut is used to change to a different location to show a man in a fully
black uniform hanging from a building. The uniform in this shot shows
they are very secretive. The camera moves down the persons back
showing a gun attached to their back, this represents that they are
dangerous.

4. This then cuts to a long shot of soldiers doing press ups; they are doing
this outside and in a puddle. The uniforms in this shot show they have a
group identity. Also due to them doing the press-ups in the puddle this
appears to the viewer that this is a very hard uncomfortable job.

5. This then cuts to a close up shot of one of the soldier’s faces, this makes
the audience sympathise with the man onscreen.

6. Another cut is used to show a point of view shot of another soldier throwing
buckets of water over the others, whilst they sleep. This shot has been edited
black and white; this is effective in this shot because this makes the visual
image look even colder to the audience. This emphasises how they must be
feeling, which portrays how hard the training is by taking out the colour
onscreen.

7. This is followed by a high angle shot looking over the two people lay
asleep as he continues throwing water. The mise en scene in this shot
shows the audience again how hard the training this, as they are lay in a
concrete room without beds, this looks very unwelcoming.

8. This cuts to a low angle long shot, showing one of the trainee soldiers
being kidnapped in again a concrete room. This shows the extent in
which the SAS go to in their training.

9. The use of another cut takes the audience to a medium shot of the kidnappers
smacking a weapon of the table. This immediately warns the audience of
danger and makes the audience feel threatened this again helps them
sympathise with the SAS trainee soldiers as they feel worried for that person.

10. This is followed by a close up shot of somebody looking down, this is usually
associated with upset.

11. Another cut is used to show a medium shot of SAS soldiers; this shot is staged and
they are stood holding their weapons. The camera pans around them and a title “SAS
survival secrets” is edited onto the shot, with flames; this could represent danger and
aggression. The colour used on both the flames and the title is blue; this is a very cold
colour showing again that is a tough uncomfortable job. This introduces the
documentary to the viewer.

12. A cut is used to show a car speeding out of a gate very fast, this is something
which could be seen in a film, and this represents action and adrenaline. As the
car skids in the background the audience can see a man in a suit aiming a gun.
This could show the audience that the SAS are involved in looking after royalty
and the country, the suit he is wearing shows professionalism and seriousness.
This is a mock up scene of what actions they would take if they needed to.

13. The camera cuts to another shot showing an armed man on a roof looking over
the mock up scene. This shows that they surround the area, they have a lot of
members involved in this and this shows the audience the extreme lengths they
go to and the fast reaction for when problems occur.

14. Another cut is used to show the audience a close up of a gun firing. This shows
again danger. The camera cuts to a close up of the man’s face shooting the gun;
this shows his calm expression which shows they are used to doing this.

15. Conclusion
We have analysed the opening sequence to the clip; “SAS - survival
training documentary BBC part 1.” The sequence we have analysed
is the first 27 seconds. Throughout the clip the Mise en scene and
editing shows the SAS as very dedicated soldiers, who have to go
through intense training to achieve a position as an SAS soldier. The
documentary portrays the SAS in a very positive light.