Martin Bashir: Michael Jackson's "Secret World" part 1 Participatory Mode

In a participatory documentary, the filmmaker is very involved in the documentary. In this case the film maker was the voice over (narrator) throughout, meeting the code and convention of the voice of God. Which is used to influence the audience in the way the persevere things. The opening scene to this documentary is a black screen with white writing (facts) about the film maker (Marin basher) himself in why he has made the documentary. The use of the black and white writing could be use to symbolise Michael Jacksons transformation to black, to white due to his condition and link in with lyrics from his songs. The use of non diagetic sounds/music really influences the way the audiences feels on certain scenes. The first opening scene to the documentary where the narrator says unusual friendships with young boys that began almost 20 years ago. The way this statement is said, and the non diagetic slow and mysterious sounds all links in to influence the audience in thinking it was wrong straight away. In this documentary we see the filmmaker a lot when interviewing the people. The camera does well to pick up both Martin Bashirs emotions and expressions and also the person being interviewed. When Michael Jackson says They always want to stay with me the use of editing creates repetition to echo the words Stay with me. This to me is done to make sure them words are really drilled into the audiences head. With again the use of non diagetic music being played also, it really leaves a bad impression on the audience influencing them to feel the way the filmmaker wants them to feel. With the use of an extreme close up of Michael Jacksons eye it to me is symbolising the audience that he is evil, and the camera is trying to get that shot of emotion in his eyes. Eye contact with the audience instead of the filmmaker. When it goes into the scene of showing Neverlands it has an establishing shot with non diagetic music being played that sounds almost Disney like to fit in with the fact its suppose to be a Childs dream place to be.

Although this documentary tries to look at both sides of the story it is clear by the tone of voice, camera shots and music played that they are against Michael Jackson, and the tone seems to side more with that he was guilty not innocent. In one of the final scenes we see Martin Bashir interviewing Michael Jackson and we see both of their faces on the screen seeing both audiences both of their expressions. This gives the audience a better insight to what is happening and to feel more involved in the documentary. This documentaries codes and conventions fit perfectly in being a participatory documentary, with the audience being able to see the filmmaker though out, the voice of God used to narrate what is happening and the uses of music both diagetic and non diagetic, camera angles and persuasive language to sway the audience into believing what the film maker wants them to believe.