Documentary Analyses; Louis Thoroux

In the opening of the documentary we can see a fade in from black being used as part of the post editing. This is used to take us to an establishing shot of san quentin prison which allows us to understand exactly what the documentary is based around. However the idea of a soft, slow fade in reflects on Louis Thoruos interview style, ie calm and laid back. As this is unusual when paired with a prison it can give us the idea that we will gain a large amount of information about the place as he won't be scared away from the danger. Added to this there is a logo edited into the scene showing the well known 'BBC' logo. As this is a world wide large and trustworthy production company the audience will therefore be supplied with the reassurance that the information they are about to hear is accurate because the company will have the capital and ability to get access to more than any other production company. 

The sound used in the documentary consisted of a voice over and background music as well as the dialogue of the key interviews. The background music was a track with an urban like feel which can reflect on the people within the prison, their personality and background. It also contrasts with Thoruox nerdy look and personality showing him as a vulnerable person within a place like San Quentin. Therefore this adds to the idea of danger in the documentary, furthering the 'hook' which entices the audience. The 'hook' is something that is said/ shown in the documentary within the first few minutes of the documentary in order to grip the audience and make them want to watch the full piece. We can see this in the dialogue of Thorous programme as it shows a clip from later on in the documentary when he interviews the famous David Silva and goes onto say 'the things that thrill me don't get me 500 years in prison'. For the audience members who were unaware of this and even those who were will be alarmed by this statement and therefore get 'hooked'. To further the impact of the hook, the BBC do not shoe the interview with David Silva until the end of the documentary, this will therefore mean that the audience have to watch the full documentary in order to get to the main part that interested them. Thorous as the interview also uses extended dialogue that he doesn't necessarily need to use for himself however uses it to give the audience a detailed insight. For example the use of obvious questions such as 'and what is this for' as the stab vest was being put on. Although obviously he knows himself what it is for he is asking the questions that we want to ask through him. This is useful within documentaries as it allows the audience to follow along with the show, gaining knowledge and insight as they would expect to from a documentary.     

In this documentary they play on the idea of stereotypical prison life by showing the things that we would assume is involved in every prisoners life; pumping iron, basketball, Orange uniforms. This gives in a way helps to give the audience what they want to see, the idea that prison life is just like the American movies we see. As  a result of this not only do the BBC satisfy their audience but it also gives more of a danger feel to the documentary as compared to the strong, masculine prisoners, the interviewer stands out as being a weakling. This adds to the idea of a 'Hook' as its almost as if we want to see if Thuroux will survive to the end. The scene with David Silver presented the fence separating the interviewer and prisoner to be made up of thick metal wire, emphasising the safety procedures the prison has to take to contain the inmates. This gives us the idea that they are being caged like animals which then leeds us to think of how dangerous they must be to have to be contained like this. As this is shown at the start of the documentary it also adds to the hook with in the first minute of the hour long episode meaning the audience want to continue to find out why this treatment is necessary. 

During the documentary within the prison doors, hand held shots are used behind Thoroux and the guards, this creates the idea that we are in the prison with him and therefore when we see the corridors lined with cells it adds to the adrenaline of the viewing due to giving us the idea we are with them in the prison. This continues to be used throughout the documentary as a way of making sure the audience feel involved and not ignored, a way of addressing the audience without the use of dialogue.