WHAT IS A DOCUMENTARY? -a documentary is a representation of actual events and people -documentaries place their main emphasis on educating and/or persuading its viewers of some point -basic premise of a doc is that what is seen and heard on screen was not created expressly for the purpose of making a film

-even an unreliable documentary is still a documentary -a misleading documentary is still a documentary -a documentary that propagates incorrect information is still a documentary

RAW FOOTAGE raw footage is the record of an event that has been minimally influenced by the process of filming or editing brings the viewer as close to the primary experience recorded by the filmmaker as possible BUT THIS IS STILL NOT “REALITY”

Mediation the documentarian is the mediator between the viewer and the event represented by raw footage the degree and type of this mediation by the filmmaker varies from film to film the techniques of mediation that the filmmaker chooses affects how we perceive the raw footage

Observational these filmmakers attempt to not interfere with the event happening before the camera they do not impose more than a minimal structure on the raw footage when they edit it emphasizes pure description over analysis Includes: ethnography and “direct cinema”

“The Philosophy of Non-Interference” the integrity of the event being filmed must be maintained there is an inherent meaning in the event being filmed the camera can record and reveal this meaning to the viewer without mediation by the filmmaker

What do observational docs look like? long takes camera is often hand held camera is rarely static On location sound Available light Occasionally out of focus “Imperfect” look

Analytical -the filmmaker analyzes the subject matter rather than simply recording and presenting it to the audience -these filmmakers also acknowledge their own mediation in the filmmaking process -THIS IS THE KEY DIFFERENCE FROM OBSERVATIONAL -includes: compilation films and cinema verite

“Talking Heads”

Persuasive a persuasive documentary attempts make a pitch, sell or promote an idea, change a point of view, or incite the viewer to political or social action persuasive films do not have any particular style since they basically use any means possible to get their point across in the most effective way the one element they all share is that they are dependent on the editing process for their power includes: expose and propaganda

See it Now (1951)

Propaganda propaganda is a persuasive film that attempts to stir the viewer’s emotions in order to persuade the viewer to agree with the position of the filmmaker emotional manipulation, at the expense of truthfulness or full disclosure, is the key factor

Aesthetic creative treatment of actuality these filmmakers apply the techniques of poetry and drama to documentary material

A Day in the Death of Donny B—2 min mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryyc93p0avE Reagan vs. Mondale in 1984 (reelection) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY  Man with Movie Camera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z97Pa0ICpn8 Bush vs. Dukakis in 1988 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io9KMSSEZ0Y  Aesthetic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHwAguHqYnU Direct Cinema—4:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMhOK3Q0Hg Hoop Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMyvImhdBB8 See it now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zez7X-kJSQI Nightline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbH_eVenOU