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Natalie WilliamsDocumentary analysis 2- Neda: An Iranian MartyrThe documentary that I have decided to look closely at is

‘

Neda: An IranianMartyr

’

which on aired BBC1. I will look at the way in which the opening 5 minutes ofthe documentary conveys a message through the documentary and the conventionsof which it follows. As the director of the group I will examine the way that thedocumentary as been directed and the creativity of the documentary as it maychallenge the documentary forms.Within the first shot, it establishes the focus location of the documentary. We knowthis as the image becomes clearer as the sun rises from behind a building.Furthermore, the speed has been increased and this can symbolically show theaudience that the documentary could be showing some sort of change as the imagechanges from dark to light. Not only is change being portrayed but also the pace ofthe change. We can connote that it is a quick transition from the pace of the editing.Diegetic sound is used which can be a effective tool within this documentary as, tothe audience it illustrates realism. The cut-away that is used is someone searchingon YouTube. The audience can hear the ambient sound of the clicking of the mouseand extreme close ups are used as it searches for a specific video. Having a closerelation to the voice over is very in important when using cut-a-ways as itdemonstrates visually what is being said and therefore gives the audience a strongercinematic image. This is why I feel that the use of diegetic sound can be effective.As the documentary moves on, the first interview is shown however the cutaway isplaced over the beginning of the interview. As the interviewee is Iranian a translatoris used. The voice of the translator is a female unlike the male voice over that is

Here is the first

establishing shot

. Wecan see the sun rising behind afamous landmark in Iran whichconnotes the place in which thedocumentary is discussing.Use of

diegetic sound

within adocumentary can create morerealism to its audience.

used in the beginning. Often the use of a

woman’s

voice in a documentary cancreate an atmosphere. It is said that a

female’s

voice can give a documentary moresympathy due to the tone of her voice. As the audience I feel that within thisdocumentary it is true as it aids in the message of sympathy, as the documentaryhighlights issues such as assault resulting in death which tend to have an emotionalresponse. In accordance with Bill

Nichols’s

documentary modes this documentarymay fall under the reflexive mode as it acknowledges the presence of the viewer andthe judgements that they arrive at. In a BBC documentary it is essential that theyallow the viewer to make their judgement of the situation rather than impose anopinions, however accuracy is important.As the viewer we notice that one cutaway is used repeatedly. This shows theimportance of the image and can again give a reflective response, as the image thatis continually shown is a disturbing one. The sound also aids in the impressioncreated as it again represents something of sadness, although very awakening.A good tool that was used in the introduction of the documentary was the elementsof sound. Although there was a on screen image we can here non-diegetic sound ofthree conversations. The conversations that are in response to the topic, but it buildsup to the opening title. The use of colours in the opening titles are quite simple butvaluable. Black background with white text is shown and on screen for an extendedtime. I feel this was used to again create a time of reflection and allows the audienceto know the seriousness of the topic but receive the message in a way

that’s

‘

blackand white.

’

What is ment by this is re-enforcing the way in which the documentary isbeing delivered to its audience, and that it is illustrating the significance of the tragicincident.

Dramatic close upimage, of which isrepeatedly used.The opening builds up to asimple but effective titlesequence.