Documentary Analysis  - Blackfish 

Type of documentary

Blackfish is a mixed documentary as it has a number of interviews, archive material and a voice over. 

Themes

Blackfish follows only two themes throughout the documentary which are animal cruelty and corruption. 

Narrative Structure

Blackfish has a non linear narrative as it is not chronological and time is disrupted. 

Camera work

A close up is used during interviews to show the emotion of the interviewee. John Hargrove is speaking of the death of his friend, the audience can clearly tell he is upset.

An establishing shot is used to show the audience were the narrative is going. The audience can tell that there is a court case happening as the graphics tell them. This connotes the theme of 'corruption'. 

Mise - en - scene

The setting of the interview suggests his love/interest in animals as there is a fish tank behind him which also reinforces his relevance to the documentary. 

Here is a medium close up of one of the interviewees in their work uniform with the whales this connotes the topic of the documentary. It also allows the audience to see their love for the whales.

Sound

Non diagetic sound is used during the footage of the whale attacks. This is done to add fear to try and portray how the trainer may have felt eg. a build up in tempo.

Although there is not one specific voice over the various interviewees act as it. This man is describing the footage next to it, this is to ensure that the audience can follow the narrative and in turn realise the severity of the situation.

Editing 

Montage editing is used to show a number of pictures in a small amount of time, usually a past event. It was used to show old footage of a trainer who was killed by a whale, it makes the audience sympathise. 

Archive Material

A newspaper clipping was used to show how the death of one of the trainers was portrayed in the media. It only had a small segment on the second page in of a newspaper. This reinforces the theme of 'corruption' suggesting that the news company was paid off to down play the attack. 

This is footage used from the injury the trainer sustained from an attack by the whale. It allows the audience to see it for themselves rather than just being told. 

This is a copy of a promotional video created by Seaworld, this is used to show how they lie in their adverts while the interviewees tell the audience what Seaworld was really like. 

Graphics 

Graphics are used here as the audio may have not been clear enough for the audience. By doing this it ensures that all viewers are able to understand what has happened. 

Graphics are used here to inform the audience of the interviewees name and occupation which in turn shows his relevance to the documentary. Dave Duffus was used to explain how the whales being in captivity would cause them to attack. This reinforces the theme of 'animal cruelty'.