The Music Business – Meatloaf Analysis

Type of documentary – This documentary is a mixed documentary by using varieties of archive material, interviews, factual information as well as using a narrator for the “voice of god”. A wide range of editing techniques and camerawork added different emotions to the feel of the documentary.

Themes – The main theme overall is music and the music business. This is done by showing both sides of the musical artist and the musical industry. By showing the process of how a song is made and sold to make money themes of money, fame, music and success vs. failure are conveyed. During interviews with the people who work to market music to make profit, meat loaf is talked about as “outdated” and “not hip enough” therefore conveying the themes of having to be a stereotypical image and being fashionable etc.

Narrative structure – The documentary opens up at the brit awards and shows meat loaf playing a song in front of thousands of music fans. This signifies how popular meat loaf was before wanting to make a second song. The documentary has a linear narrative and follows meat loaf through his journey of making “Bat out of hell 2”. The narrative also goes behind the scenes and shows what happens behind the music. The narrative shows how popular meat loaf was at the start and then as time passed he grew older and things had changed in society therefore making him harder to market especially with more youthful and more popular competition around. However we are shown how he becomes popular and bursts back into the industry through following the promotional work that meat loaf put in, to become successful.

Camerawork – There are many talking head shots throughout the documentary as well as cutaways whilst the interview is on-going creating a more visually interesting documentary for the audience. Handheld camera is also used when following meat loaf around making the audience feel like they are on the journey with meat loaf. There are also lots of establishing shots and tracking shots giving the documentary a film like feel conveying the themes of fame etc. Low angle shots of meat loaf performing are also a common occurrence making meat loaf appear to be superior and powerful. Panning shots of microphones, music equipment, parties etc. all convey the themes of a Hollywood lifestyle which compliment the themes of fame and success etc.

Mise-En-Scene – Magazines and flames are used in interviews and seen in other shots conveying the feel of Rock and Roll and fame. Office blocks, shooting sets and magazine companies are all green screened behind the interviewee’s. This is to give them an “industry” like feel, however this could also signify that the setting/mise-en-scene has not really been thought about.

Sound – The non diegetic sound of meat loafs songs are constantly heard playing throughout the documentary. Diegetic sound of interviews are also heard as well as the sound of the interviewee talking when cutaways are played creating a more interesting piece.

Editing – Cutaways, voiceovers and Chroma key are all heavily used within the documentary to make the documentary appear more interesting. Slow paced and fast paced editing are used to create different moods for the documentary, for example when meat loaf is performing on stage the editing is fast paced creating an upbeat mood to the documentary. However during an interview the interviewee is mirrored and appears on the right side then left side of the screen. This loses the continuity of the interview. Simple cuts are also used making the documentary easier to watch. Slow motion is also used with meat loaf to signify meat loafs passion.

Archive Material – Lots of archive material is used throughout the documentary such as meat loafs older music videos and promotional work e.g. adverts. Archive footage from music awards and the Grammys are also shown in the documentary showing celebrities speech’s after winning an award. This sets the themes of being famous and being successful in the music industry. Archive footage of meat loaf being filmed and meat loaf meeting people show us how meat loaf used to be. Music videos of artists such as Take That, Elton John and Mr blobby are also shown to signify the difference between artists in the music industry.

Graphics – The Chroma key is used a lot in interviews throughout the documentary projecting buildings, recording equipment, magazines and other industry related pictures to create the feel of being in the music industry. At the beginning shots of people talking and performing on magazines make the documentary look quite fancy and create interest.