Introduction to Documentaries ENG 4CI

What defines Documentary? A broad category of film or television show that attempts to “document” some aspect of reality Non-fiction (true), un-staged Presents “life as it is” or “a factual film that is dramatic” Can use various methods such as observation, interviews, narration and has an artistic element Attempts to inform or get us to think about an issue in real life

History of the Documentary Early film (pre-1900) captured single-shot moments and were called “actuality” films ex. a train entering a station, a boat docking, or factory workers leaving work The term "documentary" was not coined until 1926 Box office analysts have noted that this film genre (documentary) has become increasingly successful in theatrical release with films such as Bowling for Columbine, Supersize Me, An Inconvenient Truth, March of the Penguins, The Planet Earth, among the most prominent examples. Source: Wikipedia

Some Early Documentary-Type Films Edwin S. Porter directed the first American documentary or realistic narrative film: The Life of an American Fireman (1903) Another one of the firsts was The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Nanook of the North (1921) is generally considered to be the first anthropological documentary film ever made

Documentaries Today: Michael Moore Michael Moore is an American filmmaker, author and liberal political commentator He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Story, four of the top ten highest-grossing documentaries of all time (source: Wikipedia) Documentaries attempt to be unbiased Still, documentary film-makers edit and present information to address the issue through a variety of techniques

Purposes of Documentary: Portray real life Focus on an issue or truth Attempt to: bring about awareness of an issue inform or teach record, reveal or preserve analyze, interrogate persuade, promote engage!

Types of Documentary –Reflexive Purpose: To explore and experiment with the form of documentary (the aesthetic aspects) Experimental, “artsy” form Draws attention to the art of documenting Uses an artistic form to represent an idea Example: Ryan (focuses on animation techniques to depict an artist’s life), How I Met the Walrus (illustrates the words of an interview with John Lennon)

Type - Expository Purpose: To propose an argument or deliver an interpretation Investigative (fact-finding, journalistic) Essay style (collects evidence, then proposes an argument) Usually authoritative narration explains content (this is called voiceover) Can be descriptive, informative, persuasive, didactic Visuals complement the information being spoken, but they are not the central focus: what is being said is important Examples: An Inconvenient Truth, Are We Safer?, Football High

Type - Observational Purpose: To observe aspects of life with minimal interference or manipulation Filmmaker is like a “fly on the wall” The cameras and film crew seem not to be disturbing the scene or even be noticed by the participants Camera follows action that is beyond the control of the filmmaker The story unfolds in chronological order The filmmaker’s point of view is hidden in the narrative structure Techniques: subjects speak to one another Example: Babies, The Cove, Armadillo

Type – Interactive/Participatory Purpose: To interact with the subject directly in order to study it Film-maker’s presence is obvious Includes interviews, editing, questions to the audience Manipulates and (mis) interprets events Examples: Bowling for Columbine, The Dark Side of Chocolate

Type - Performative Purpose: To explore or produce subjective emotional responses to the world Similar to interactive, but less objective (filmmaker constructs subjective truths) The filmmaker, who is the subject of the film, undergoes some sort of physical process solely for the purposes of making the film (source: HotDocs Library) Topic is usually something personal to the film-maker Subject speaks directly to the camera or in voice-over Examples: No Impact Man, Beyond the Horizon, SuperSize Me

Features of Documentary: Thesis The film-maker’s message for the viewer to take away from the film The film-maker may want you to agree with his/her position “Talking Heads” People interviewed on a particular subject Meant to either agree or disagree with the thesis

Features of a Documentary, cont'd. Bias We trust the film-maker to be objective (unbiased) and seek the absolute truth As viewers, we need to ask the question: Are film- makers fair to each side of the argument? Atmosphere Mood or tone of each scene or interview or overall film What kinds of techniques are used to create atmosphere?

Documentary Filmmaking Techniques (source: Wikipedia) Voice-over: a commentary by the filmmaker, spoken while the camera is filming or added to the soundtrack; the filmmaker can speak directly to the viewer Interview: Common technique People being filmed speak directly about the issue, events, etc. Interviewees are called “talking heads” and they may represent various sides of the issue

Documentary Filmmaking Techniques (cont’d) Masked Interview: an interview in which the filmmaker is both unseen and unheard Archival Footage: material obtained from a film library or archive and inserted into a documentary to show historical events Reconstructions: artificial scenes portraying an event (have been reconstructed and acted out based on information about the event)

Documentary Filmmaking Techniques, Cont’d. Montage: conveys ideas by putting them in a specific order in the film; contains a sequence of shots that often link action with words (as manipulated by the filmmaker) Juxtaposition: both sides of the issue are presented immediately following the other (ex. two interviews side by side)

Methods of Development Narration: telling stories or anecdotes to illustrate a point or show the seriousness of an issue Description: characteristics or features of the unfamiliar are described Examples: illustrations of a concept, event, idea are given Classification: ideas are grouped in categories to show or explain a bigger idea

Methods of Development (cont’d) Comparison/Contrast: ideas are arranged to show the similarities and differences between things Process: outlines the steps that are taken to explore the issue Cause/Effect: Ideas are arranged to link a result with a series of events, showing a logical relationship (ex. Describe the cause first and then explain the effects)