The documentary Sound City focuses on the legendary Sound City recording studio. It uses a non-linear narrative structure with circular elements to discuss the studio's musical significance through interviews with friends and artists. While the studio has since closed, the documentary highlights its impact on music and features observational footage and archive materials to tell its story from past to present.

1. SOUND CITY
Documentary

2. TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY
The documentary is mixed because it includes observational footage,
interviews, archive footage and narration.

3. THEMES
Friends
and
Family
Music
Significance
of Sound
City studios
The Neve
mixing desk

4. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
▪ The narrative structure is non-linear because it doesn’t progress in time instead it
moves to the past and back to the present.
▪ It has a Circular narrative because it starts in the present and ends in the present.
▪ The documentary is also singular because it focuses on one topic only which is
about sound city but it is segmented because the documentary splits into
different topics about sound city.
▪ It is a closed narrative because the recording studio shut down however some
could argue that it is open because the mixing desk is now being used again and
will do in the future.

5. Camerawork
In interviews the camera is at eyeline level with the interviewees so that the
audience can clearly see their face. The shots are mid shots and mid-closeups so
that the audience can see their face closeup as well as seeing the mise en scene.
The rule of thirds is used so that the interviewee is positioned off centre allowing
the other two thirds to become looking space.
Handheld cameras are used in observational footage because it is easier and
creates a realistic look which makes it seem believable.
Establishing shots are used to show the audience the location that they are in.

6. Mise en Scene
The background in the interviews has musical equipment to show they work in the
music industry. The mise en scene is always relevant to the topic, discussion or
person.

7. Sound
Diegetic
The diegetic sound is the sound that comes from the
shot. The diegetic sound in this documentary is the
interviews, music from the instrument playing in the
shots and the ambient sound. This sound is played so
that the audience understand what is going on and it
makes the documentary realistic.
Non-diegetic
The non diegetic sound in this documentary is music
that is played over interviews and archive footage and
the music is relevant to the bands that recorded at
sound city.

8. Editing
Fast cuts are used to show different records to show that sound city made lots of hits and recorded lots
of famous artists.
Cutaways to observational footage is used to cover jump cuts in interviews.
Sound bridging is used where dialogue from interviews carries on over archive material.
A time lapse is used to show Dave Grohl and his team setting up a studio in a short amount of time.

9. Archive material
Archive material is footage such as images, videos and articles which support a
point being said. Images of old records is used to show what records were
recorded at Sound City.
Images from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s show the interviewees and others at Sound
City when they were much younger.
Finally videos of Sound City show what the studio was like and why it was
significant and unique.

10. Graphics
The graphics in the documentary are the:
▪ Title
▪ Opening and closing credits
▪ Interviewees names
These help the audience understand who the interviewee is and who worked on
creating the documentary