Documentary Notes REALITY?

What is Documentary? Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to "document" reality.

What is Documentary? Documentary works to identify a "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception" that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries

Elements of Documentary Stock footage – (archived footage – used for historical events in films – Forrest Gump)

We got that B-Roll! The term "B-roll" is now limited to secondary footage that adds meaning to a sequence or disguises the elimination of unwanted content. This technique of using the cutaway is common to hide zooms in documentary films: the visuals may cut away to B roll footage of what the person is talking about while the A camera zooms in, then cut back after the zoom is complete. The cutaway to B roll footage can also be used to hide verbal or physical tics that the editor and/or director finds distracting: with the audio separate from the video, the filmmakers are free to excise "uh"s, sniffs, coughs, and so forth.  41:10 Food Inc.

Cinema Verite ( Cinema of Truth – real people as they are – use of editing) Interviews (hearing questions being read but not the interviewer) Indirect Interviews(individual responses to obvious prompts) Directing – manipulation, camera angles, documentary maker has agenda, message to be given.

Cinema Verite Depicts life and people as they actually are. Use of small quiet cameras – portable/handheld Follow around a person, often in conflict, and show the reality Natural sound Minimum rehearsal and editing In terms of style, think Blair Witch Project Somewhere Between Video and clip

Docuganda In the 1960s and 1970s, documentary film was often conceived as a political weapon. The nature of documentary films has changed in the past 20 years from the cinema verité tradition.

Docuganda Box office analysts have noted that the documentary film genre has become increasingly successful in theatrical release with films such as Bowling for Columbine, Super Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth among the most prominent examples.

Docuganda Michael Moore's Roger and Me placed far more interpretive control with the director The fact that narrative manipulation takes place with these documentaries leads some to question whether they are actually documentaries (expressing truths). Some call them “docu – ganda”, and so many people see them as the means to political propoganda. There are parts of the “truth” that the director does not show or mention because it hurts their argument. Bowling for Columbine

Modern Documentaries and TV Modern documentaries have some overlap with television forms, with the development of "reality television" that occasionally verges on the documentary but more often veers to the fictional or staged. The making-of documentary shows how a movie or a computer game was produced. Usually made for promotional purposes, it is closer to an advertisement than a classic documentary.

Modern lightweight digital video cameras and computer-based editing have greatly aided documentary makers, as has the dramatic drop in equipment prices.

Consequently… Documentaries and films have been a means by which directors can bring to light controversial issues to the mainstream. A well created film can circulate quickly. Right wing and left wing

Left vs. Right No matter what side of the issue, the audience must know that in most of these political “documentaries”, a biased point of view is presented. Many of these are left, at least the most famous ones have been Bowling for Columbine Fahrenheit 911 Supersize Me – left but not far left An Inconvenient Truth These are arguments, though the director will claim the other side of the argument is either uninformed or downright ignorant. In the case of Bowling for Columbine, Moore’s argument makes them look narrowminded, naïve, redneck, stupid, etc. Columbine

Left vs. Right The director manipulates the argument in order to get people to agree with him/her. They will show you his/her side, but maybe not all of the facts. Appeal to emotions Laugh, cry, cringe, anger. These help arguments – the more you laugh, the less you pay attention to what is said and/or the more you like the arguer. The more you cry, the more you care about the issue Appeal to logic Present data, “facts”, data Establish credibility Expert testimony and support

Juxtaposition Director sets up his/her argument in a very purposeful way. Juxtaposition – editing Side by side comparison of scenes – show you one thing, then cut to another image – either supporting or contrasting. Contrast – Describing Andrew’s parents saying goodbye to him after he’s died while show images of Andrew as a child and them kissing and hugging him while he was alive Kuenne describing something serious then next scene is lighthearted – play on emotions of the audience. Make them laugh or cry, and they may not see your flaws or the audience will believe what I show them.

Essential Questions/Discussion Questions How do director’s use film to articulate their message? How do directors argue their points? Is Dear Zachary a documentary? In what ways does film as an art form help us better understand social issues? How do documentary directors hook and hold their audiences?