Week 11: Hikoi and documentary

Helen Kelly

Hikoi screened on TVOne in July 2004. directed by Te Whenua Harawira and Tere Harrison, and produced by Kay Ellmers.

What is a documentary? factual film or television programme about an event, person, etc, presenting the facts with little or no fiction, sometimes part dramatized by actors "Documentaries bring viewers into new worlds and experiences through the presentation of factual information about real people, places, and events, generally -- but not always -- portrayed through the use of actual images and artifacts. “A documentary is a broad term to describe a non-fiction movie that in some way "documents" or captures reality”. 

What is the difference between documentaries and reality television? Some people say the objective of reality television programs is to make money. The shows seek to attract audiences so they can sell advertising time and generate revenue. Documentary filmmakers’ objectives seem to be more diverse: - While some are motivated by profit, most would likely describe their motivations as having a desire to create a work of art, to persuade audiences on a particular political position or to tell the story of an individual or event. - This results in a product that moves beyond entertainment and capitalist intent and provides a site of cultural discourse.

I like this definition … “ "Reality" programming, which is better termed "unscripted" television, is an entertainment product that makes no attempt to inform or educate, or enrich the world at large. It makes no promise that real events were not altered or staged. "Documentary" programming, in its purest form, is an attempt, through the documentation (with as little staging or intrusion as possible) of naturally occurring events, to inform or educate, and generally implies a call to action. Even a documentary showing happy people in a happy place would imply that unhappy people in unhappy places have something to learn.  …

… "Survivor" is an unscripted program because its producers actively set the scenes and record what happens.  "Planet Earth" is a documentary. While you can argue that there has to be some staging, and certainly some editing, in order to tell a story that people will watch, everything on the screen simply happened and the camera operator was there.  "Survivor" makes you want to get another beer. "Planet Earth" makes you want to recycle the can.”

Some examples from TVNZ over the years www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-beginners-guide-to-visiting-the-marae-1984 www.nzonscreen.com/title/rangatira-1998/series www.nzonscreen.com/title/gang-girls-2003

And on Māori Television …. http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/pakipumeka-aotearoa-new-zealand-documentaries

Operation 8 www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKksGWyB24g

2016 - Kiingitanga www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/kiingitanga/S01E001/kiingitanga-series-1-episode-1