A Documentary Witness to an Execution

Overall, the documentary doesn't consume sides in the death penalty debate; it just presents and info and reactions of those taking part within the process, and this makes it a lot more thought-provoking.

The timeframe of Witness to an Execution is an crucial element. The documentary lasts nearly 23 minutes, a couple of minutes shorter than an genuine execution. The function with the documentary seems being to involve the listener in the timeframe in the participants inside the execution. By recounting the events on the minute-to-minute basis, the listener can relate to what the guards, witnesses, medical team and inmate are heading via on the much more intimate level. Events aren't only described, but are commented upon by several narrators, and this allows the listener to experience a modest of what it is like working in the death residence and preparing for an execution.

The narrative structure utilized by producers David Isay and Stacy Abramson follows the audio documentary format described by Ira Glass in Radio: An Illustrated Guide. Glass contends that simply because radio is really a several medium than film, it's "not ample to tell a story. You also must explain what it means" simply because there is no visual part (p. 6). Like a didactic medium, radio documentaries are formulated to teach as well as inform and entertain. Therefore, Glass asserts that it's crucial for audio documentaries to provide anecdotes, followed by reflections upon the actions and events described.

The music that faded in after the reporters describe their reactions ends when Willett announces, "At 6:12 the executioner - a member of my staff whose identity is kept secret - begins to administer the chemicals" (Witness Transcript). He then introduces Fitzgerald again who describes how Texas performs the lethal injection. Interspersed with Fitzgerald's matter of reality relating of what each from the 3 chemicals do, numerous witnesses, just like reporters, tell with the reactions of the family members witnesses. A single remarks, "You'll never hear an additional sound being a mother wailing whenever she is watching her son be executed. There's no other sound like it. It's just this horrendous wail. You can't get away from it. That wail surrounds the room" (Witness Transcript).

The documentary begins with an introduction of 11 primary characters who relate who they are and how several executions they have witnessed. Soft music plays below these testimonials. Then Warden Willett talks about why the documentary was made. He is followed by other speakers who relate exactly what occurs at an execution, and how it created them feel. There is no music for these speakers, producing the words starker. The fading in and out with the music sets the pace as well as the emotional tone. The music is really a type of nation blues, what could be named "old-timey" music, and also the instruments are a guitar and also a fiddle. This sort of music fits the small town Texas setting.

 

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