This documentary follows Trevor McDonald as he spends time inside an Indiana state prison, focusing on the death row unit. The documentary has a linear narrative structure as events unfold, though the ending remains somewhat open as prison life continues after filming ends. Key themes explored include crime, justice, and death, given the film's subject of life and punishment on death row. The documentary utilizes various camera shots and angles to provide views of the prison setting and capture inmate interactions and emotions.

1. Inside Death Row with Trevor
McDonald
Inside Death Row with Trevor
McDonald

2. Type of DocumentaryType of Documentary
 In this documentary the camera is never acknowledged by Trevor or any of the inmates
that he interviews. However, in one section of the documentary we do hear prisoners
who are in their cells acknowledge the camera crew as they walk past their cells
 In this documentary the camera is never acknowledged by Trevor or any of the inmates
that he interviews. However, in one section of the documentary we do hear prisoners
who are in their cells acknowledge the camera crew as they walk past their cells

3. Narrative StructureNarrative Structure
 Linear- the documentary explained what was going on as the
action was taking place
 Open/Closed Ending- although the ending of the documentary
was concluded as Trevor left the prison and ended the
documentary as there was no more parts. However , the ending
does stay open because their is no resolution to the
documentary because prison life still continues on in the same
way once the cameras have left
 Linear- the documentary explained what was going on as the
action was taking place
 Open/Closed Ending- although the ending of the documentary
was concluded as Trevor left the prison and ended the
documentary as there was no more parts. However , the ending
does stay open because their is no resolution to the
documentary because prison life still continues on in the same
way once the cameras have left

4. ThemesThemes
o Crime- the main focal point for the documentary is crime as the story
behind the programme is prison life inside Indiana State Prison
o Justice- when on Death Row the fight for an appeal is ongoing with
many of the criminals believing that they should be allowed off the
row. Justice is also key because of the prison being a way of
punishment for criminals who have committed unthinkable crimes
o Death- the whole purpose of death row is the criminals facing their
upcoming death due to the unthinkable crimes that they have
committed
o Crime- the main focal point for the documentary is crime as the story
behind the programme is prison life inside Indiana State Prison
o Justice- when on Death Row the fight for an appeal is ongoing with
many of the criminals believing that they should be allowed off the
row. Justice is also key because of the prison being a way of
punishment for criminals who have committed unthinkable crimes
o Death- the whole purpose of death row is the criminals facing their
upcoming death due to the unthinkable crimes that they have
committed

5. CameraworkCamerawork
 Crane Shot- before and after advertisements a popular shot was a crane shot or
even a shot taken using drone which was flown over the prison. This allows the
audience to see the setting of the documentary to have a better
understanding of the programme
 Over the Shoulder- this type of shot was used when Trevor was walking with one
of the officers towards the death row cells for the first time. This allowed the
audience to see what Trevor was seeing as the action was taking place
 Two Shot- a very popular shot used throughout between Trevor and the criminals
or the officers
 Long Take- this shot allowed the audience to see the inside of the inmates cells,
seeing their whole life in those four walls
 Crane Shot- before and after advertisements a popular shot was a crane shot or
even a shot taken using drone which was flown over the prison. This allows the
audience to see the setting of the documentary to have a better
understanding of the programme
 Over the Shoulder- this type of shot was used when Trevor was walking with one
of the officers towards the death row cells for the first time. This allowed the
audience to see what Trevor was seeing as the action was taking place
 Two Shot- a very popular shot used throughout between Trevor and the criminals
or the officers
 Long Take- this shot allowed the audience to see the inside of the inmates cells,
seeing their whole life in those four walls

6.  Zoom- the camera would occasionally slowly zoom in on peoples
faces to capture their emotions or even pieces of information like
cell numbers and dates of crimes
 Crab Shot- used to move around Trevor and one of the inmates on
Death Row as they were walking towards the Health Office
 Low Angle Shot- this was used on long takes of inmates when they
were just sitting by themselves to capture their emotions but it
also allowed no distractions when Trevor was speaking over the
top of the shot
 Pan- a slow pan around the building to further show the setting for
the documentary
 Zoom- the camera would occasionally slowly zoom in on peoples
faces to capture their emotions or even pieces of information like
cell numbers and dates of crimes
 Crab Shot- used to move around Trevor and one of the inmates on
Death Row as they were walking towards the Health Office
 Low Angle Shot- this was used on long takes of inmates when they
were just sitting by themselves to capture their emotions but it
also allowed no distractions when Trevor was speaking over the
top of the shot
 Pan- a slow pan around the building to further show the setting for
the documentary

7. Drone Shot Over the Shoulder Shot
Two Shot Long Shot

8. Mise-En-SceneMise-En-Scene
 Trevor- Wore a suit, Smart
 Prisoner- Tattoos, casual, beige jumpsuit, green hats
 Police officers- black typical police uniform, cell keys
Settings:
 Indiana State Prison
 Prison Barbers
 Cells
 Death Row
 Trevor- Wore a suit, Smart
 Prisoner- Tattoos, casual, beige jumpsuit, green hats
 Police officers- black typical police uniform, cell keys
Settings:
 Indiana State Prison
 Prison Barbers
 Cells
 Death Row

10. SoundSound
o This clip has been taken from the documentary and shows the
non-diegetic sound of Trevor speaking about the shot that
was currently being played to the audience as he is telling a
story. However at the same time, non-diegetic music is also
being played to make the scene seem almost eerie to link to
the shot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5wdLZjA57k

11. EditingEditing
o Fade- this technique of editing was the most popular form of
editing as most of the shots slowly faded into another shot
oLong Take- almost all of the shots were long takes which allows
the audience to capture the emotions on the faces of the
prisoners
oCut- this was the second most popular use of editing as the
shots would cut quickly or even slowly to a next shot
oTime Lapse- this form of editing was used at least twice in the
documentary. The camera would show time passing by to
present how slow or quick the days pass in prison

12. Archive MaterialArchive Material
oPhotos taken from crime scenes- they took photographs
from the crime reports or mug shots of the criminals to back
up the information that Trevor was giving at the time
oNew Reports- they also used new reports to reiterate what
they were talking about

13. GraphicsGraphics
Title of Documentary- this would come up after and before every
advert to show the name of the documentary and what part of the
programme was on