A2 Media - BBC3 documentary analysis

1. BBC 3
-Lauryn Murdoch

2.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 Hand held
 Quick transitions
 Tracking shot
 Lens movement
 Panning
 Symbolic placement
 Close ups
 Reactions shots
 P.O.V
 Establishing shot

3. • Camera pans up the sign
• Able to see a close up of the sign and the
protestors on the floor in the background
• Wider view of the scene
• Camera pans around Stacey to reveal the
protestors on the floor
• Builds suspense and anticipation about what
will be revealed in the shot
• Sense that the audience is waiting for
something to be revealed
• The scene this is taking place at changes from a
seemingly normal location to one suddenly
crowded by the protestors
• The colour red is prominent in this setting
symbolising what the protestors message
• Links to reproduction, death, violence, passion-
all aspects they represent
• The fact that Stacey is the prominent figure in
the shot not wearing red links to her opposition
to their beliefs and has not yet been
“brainwashed” by the radical group

4. • The Nike bag stands out in this shot
• The colour red is again present in the same
location where the protestors are seen
covering themselves in red fabric on the floor
• The red links him to the anti abortion group
• The Nike bag also represents the idea that a
younger generation are taking part in these
protested which is highlighted further on in the
documentary
• The lens moves focus from
Stacey to the Hollywood sign
in the background
• Highlighting the word is
significant
• Symbolises that these ideals
are present even in this area

5. • Three different views of the
taxi
• The 1st still establishes that
Stacey is now traveling in a
taxi
• The 2nd still is a close up of
the driving wheel
• The 3rd still is interesting, a
beaded item is visible in the
shot as its colour stands out
against everything else in
the shot
• Although it is not clear
here, the beads could be

6. • Full length shot that then
transitions into a mid shot
• Political views are shown in this
shot with the posters being held
• Documentary with more links to
the American election
• Relevance to audience
• Realise this world as their own
• The mid shot cuts of the words
on the posters so that what is
visible to the audience is the
words “support Hillary” and
“abortion
• This implies that by endorsing
Hilary you condone abortion
• This ties politics and personal
beliefs/opinions to one another
• Strong impact on the viewer

7. • Varied shots of the same setting
• The 1st shot is a P.O.V of the road
which suggests to the audience
they are been taken to a new
location/setting
• Smoother transition than a direct
cut- not confusing
• The 2nd shot is a high angle shot if
the cars driving to this destination
so we gain a new perspective
• This shot is of those cars
essentially following the viewer
• The audience gets the sense that
they are witnessing first hand the
events therefore feeling more
immersed in the documentary

8.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 Fade in
 Wipe
 Fast/slow
 Dialogue/sound relates to clips

9. • In the first shot the boy
in the blue shirt is
saying “for now just try
to think like us”
• It then cuts to a shot of
a person destroying the
protestors signs
• Which symbolises the
battle between opinions
on this topic
• Stacey who is testing
whether or not she can
“think like” this anti-
abortion group
• The and shot shows the
torment she will face in
fighting against there
views and her own

10. • The titles fade in from black
• Simple technique
• Not exaggerated-linking with the
seriousness of the topic being discussed
• Wipe effect
• Transition between car driving to the
establishing shot of the new scene
• Creative way of utilising that
technique

11.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 Diegetic
 Non- diegetic
 Location sound
 Speech
 Voice over
 Music
 Natural sound

12. • STACEY: “it’s tricky going into a situation or an
environment where you’re gonna have completely
different views to everyone surrounding you”
• Opening we are instantly introduced to her
scepticism of entering essentially a new world which
she has never experienced before
• In the same position as the viewer
• SPEAKER PHONE: “Abortion is murder! Abortion is
murder!”
• One voice projected
• Audience made aware of these peoples extreme
views- highlighted by the extent this message is
being presented
• Projecting there voices- so we have no choice but to
listen, perhaps because we wont otherwise
• ARCHIVED SOUND: “it is not a belief it is scientific
fact”
• Sound from past layered over image from present
• Shows the reluctance for this view to disappear/
stay quiet
• Remnants from the past still appearing in modern
times
• More noticeable now

13. • STACEY: “your annoyed because I'm
talking to somebody who has a different
trail of thought”
• PROTESTOR: “no I'm just kind of
confused”
• STACEY: “well I don’t see what's
confusing”
• There conversation is extremely tense
• Atmosphere is uneasy- as is there
conversation
• This idea of both sides of the argument
being “confused” as to why there is a
reluctance for people to listen to them

14. • STACEY(off screen): “there's always
someone trying to get in your head”
• LEADER OF GROUP: “are you pro
choice? Are you pro abortion?”
• The fact that her off screen voice is
saying the idea that someone is always
trying to manipulate you is interesting
• Links to how she is trying to persuade
the audience e of her views too
• Her voice off screen is a way she can
essentially “get in your head”
• The question the leader of the group ask
links to the overall concept for the
documentary and is what Stacey will be
trying to answer through its course

15. • SPEAKER AT MEETING: “as it gets
darker and darker in this culture,
please believe the facts”
• As he is saying this statement his hand
gesture is clearly visible but the rest
of his body is out of the shot
• His back is to the audience so it is
hard for them to relate to his
character- seems more aggressive
• His had is blocking out Stacey’s figure
giving the sense that his views
overwhelm her
• STACEY: “thing is I don’t wanna do it,
morally this is such a big thing for me”
• Sympathise with her situation
• Her moral views are likely to be the same
as many viewers
• They feel the same way as a result
• Don’t want to believe this group, but are
still intrigued enough by there opinions to
persevere

16. • STACEY (voice over): “ a radical
protest group known as
Survivors…on a mission to end
abortion”
• The lens movement brings into
focus the sign which has the words
“TNT” on it
• This explosion signifies the heated
debate about abortion and how
views will inevitably get out of hand
• Be expressed in extreme ways
• The sign on the pole saying “Jesus-
the way, the truth, the life” links to
this
• The idea that the religious views
intertwined with the groups beliefs
are extremely dangerous
• Unpredictable reactions towards the
group or ones they act out
themselves could occur later in the
documentary

17. • STACEY (voice over)“abortion
has been legal since 1973, it’s
given rise to a powerful and
sometimes extreme pro – life
movement”
• The “extreme” movement she is
referring to is visually
represented in this archive
footage
• Highlights the extent to which
this group go to in order to get
their message across

18. • STACEY (voice over): “ but in some abortion is legal
up until the late stages of pregnancy”
• Talking about how abortion can be carried out in
some states “up until the late stages”
• The American flag is reversed in this shot
• Signifies how these states are seen perhaps immoral
in the eyes of this extremist group and essentially
un-American
• A divide is shown amongst people who inhabit the
same place
• STACEY (voice over): “the rights of the unborn vs a
woman’s choice is a hugely divisive issue”
• ARCHIVE FOOTAGE:
“have you had an abortion?”
“no! fuck you…its none of your business”
“don’t hit her!, don’t hit her!, now you have assaulted me”
• The tension between people is present in this clip
• The dialogue is full of violent references and the
apparent physical actions of the people in this clip also
take that on

19. • STACEY (voice over): “ for over three
decades leader Jeff White has gained cult
status in the American pro life movement”
• “cult” suggests the group he represents
see him a figure of devotion
• Also that joining or becoming a member of
this group is popular among a certain
aspect of the USA- fashionable
• ARCHIVE FOOTAGE: “hey guys they’re
arresting me, just so you know, they wont
look at our video”
• “they wont”- the idea that this group faces
criticism and rejection from most of society
• His shirt has the phrase “intolerance is a
beautiful thing”
• Visually speaks to audience- the viewers
“intolerance” to this groups message wont
be seen as “beautiful” by them
• Constant rejection/ intolerability to listen to
opposing views

20. • STACEY: “what does this picture
symbolise”
• CAMP MEMBER: “that’s a skeleton of a
baby so its representing that 55 million
babies have died”
• STACEY: “ok, so this is my welcome
pack?”
• CAMP MEMBER: “yes”
• Stacey’s confusion/ uncertainty is clearly
represented through her dialogue
• The image showing that “55 million
babies have died” is obviously a shock
which is clear in the close up of her face
• The “skeleton” depicts death even
though this groups aim is to preserve the
lives of the unborn
• The fact that the camp member seems
so sure of what she handing out and its
message is clear as she replies to Stacey’s
question with a simple “yes”

21. Time code:
00:00-
00:30
Dialogue, location sound, sound of car moving, crowd noise heard, “abortion is murder!”, overlay of dialogue,
archived dialogue, quick cuts between dialogue, building up tension, short snippets, “these people are judging cause
they’re gods”
00:30-
01:05
Music starts, eerie, metallic, made prominent where no dialogue is present, one continuous note
01:05-
01:09
Notes still heard, titles appear, location noise heard in background, fades out, music stops briefly
01:09-
01:20
Train heard approaching, seen on scree, location shot
01:20-
03:00
Quick beats/faint, high pitch, guitar/metallic sound, eerie undertone to clips being shown, history of abortion, Stacey in
car talking directly to the camera saying she is “fiercely pro choice”, hear archived footage of “Jeff White”, voice over
03:00-
03:08
“train children for frontline activism”, no music, silence, shock to audience, crowd noise in the background is heard
03:08-
03:25
Upbeat, faster, drum beats, quick tempo
03:25-
04:20
Dialogue, at meeting point given “welcome pack”, talks about logo/image on leaflet, no music, shows the discussion is
important, crowd noise not muted, multiple voice/opinions, what the documentary is about- defining them and her
won, walking to their room, talking with an instructor named Claire, asks if “has he got loads of kids?”, she replies “I
think he has 11”, Stacey replies with “are you serious?”, no music- her shock is emphasised
04:20-
04:25
Voice over- “the campers are all staying in the hotel and were sharing rooms”
04:25-
04:42
Enter room, echoed voice, location is realistic as is the sound, their conversation mirrors the previous one- Stacey says
“this is actually my first ever summer camp”, Claire replies “are you serious?”, realism to their exchange of dialogue
04:42-
05:13
Music starts again, upbeat, drum and cymbal, repeated beat, guitar/string element, voice over

22.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 direct and indirect
 Mid shot
 Close up
 Direct address
 String of interviews
 Cutaways
 Only answers no questions-
challenge this convention

23. • Stacey discussing directly with
the audience that she is “pro
choice”
• The audience is engaging with
the conversation- participants in
the interview
• Utilises “piece to camera”
technique
• Explains her views to viewers of
documentary
• Mid shot
• Here the camp member is discussing
the image on the leaflet which is a
“skeleton of the baby”
• The idea of death is contrasted with her
outfit in this shot- her flower head
piece
• Mid shot

24. • During this interview Stacey is walking whilst
talking to the camp leader Claire
• Gain a new perspective
• Tracking shot whilst undergoing the interview
• The vending machines in the background
adds to the normalcy of the setting
• Modern day setting = modern day
views/opinions being explored

25.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 female voice
 Voice of god- challenged, usually
male
 Moves narrative forward

26.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 Variety of views on topic
 Historical knowledge
 Videos or images
 Used between interviews

27. • Grainy quality to footage
• Image from the past
• Give a vast
perspective/scope on the
topic
• Footage obviously taken
outside of the context of
the documentary
• Amateurish quality
• Places the subject in reality-
not fake
• Effecting real people in the
real world

28. • This archive footage is the most difficult to
visualise because of the way it has been filmed
• Not used for the visuals but the spoken dialogue
taking place
• The debate the two sides of the argument are
having
• Because the footage is hard to view the audience
is more likely to listen intently in order to
understand its purpose in the documentary
• Archive footage taken at one of the leaders protest
• Footage showing him being arrested not the
events that lead up to it
• Showing a one sided view of the filmmakers
• Believe in one view- want to persuade audience of
it
• Against what he and his group stand for even
though they are willing to hear his opinions
• Audience can question whether they are truly
listening to both sides of the argument- lead them
to question if they should too

29.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 computer generated
 Text/titles
 2 lines

30. • Simple font, white easy to read on
black background, consistent
throughout
• Not only the names of
interviewee’s but there
occupation
• Their roles are made clear
to the audience
• Filmmakers chose to add
both- their role being
specified makes it known
they are important
members of this camp and
what they embody
• They are its chosen
representatives

31.  CONVENTIONS USED:
 Natural (from environment)
 Low key lighting
 High key lighting

32. • High key lighting
• This represents morality and right vs
wrong
• Significant links with the shot of a
church
• Religion morals vs independent views
• Church should be a representation of
the right opinion but this documentary
is going to question this in terms with
the Survivors group and how they
interpret the churches morals

33. • Low key lighting
• Set the mood for the sinister
atmosphere that is present when she
is with the anti abortion group
• The fact that this shot shows one of
there demonstrations taking place at
night highlights this –
mystery/suspicion around there group
• Realistic views being presented, the
lighting isn't altered to appease the
filmmakers and their own views