Section B: Documentary

Do now:

A documentary is footage compiled together to investigate a chosen topic. It explores the realism of events that happened. 

Documentary

Film, television, radio or internet product using pictures and/or interviews with people involved in real events provide a factual report on a subject.

Documentary= 35 mark question

    - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of element of film (15 marks)

    - Applying knowledge and understanding of film elements through analysis                     and use of critical approach (20 marks)

Debate the claims naturalism and realism and the formalist and structuralist conception of film narrative in relation to documentary.

40 minutes per 35 mark question

Cutaways, Pictures, Captions, Old footage (cut aways), Bloopers, Interviews, Non-diegetic sound, Close-ups, Panning cameras, Static camera, 

- Real locations

- Real people

- Natural lighting

- Handheld camera

- Establishing shot and close shots

- Harsh lighting (interviews)

Types of footage:

    - Actuality - raw footage of real events

    - Archival footage

    -Interviews and Vox pops (voice of the people) Asking random people for their opinion

    -Re-enactment 

Performance:

    - Is the interviewer in the film

    -Are there direct or indirect interviews

    -Do documentarians do pieces to the camera

    -What is the persona like

    - Is the film a Cinema Verite (cinema of truth) or is it is a fly on the wall style of documentary

Editing:

    - Shot reverse shot

    - Montage, intellectual montage

    - Long takes

    - Cutaway with voice over (vertical montage = sound track stats the same while another video plays)

    - Selective editing to construct meaning

    - Cross cutting

    - Graphics/captions

Sound

    - Voice over

    - Minimal music

    - Scripted questions delivered to seem naturalistic & unscripted 

Sarah Polley:

Stories we tell, Sarah seeks the answers to the questions about the identity of her genetic father.

Canadian actress

Stories we tell questions the division between fact and fiction

Technology: 

Super 8

    - 40% Super8 footage

    -16FPS- jerky movements

    - Grainy soft image

    - Soft washed out rich colours

    - Vignette effect

    - Scratches

    - Expensive

    - Visually connotes home movies of the past and nostalgia

Sony CineAlta HDW-F900R

    - HD 1080P image, more realistic

    - Used for TV

    - Sharp hard image

    - Visually connotes the present

    - Cheap

    - Works well in low light

    - Easy to edit

Margaret Atwood - Alias Grace (1996)

Sarah started her documentary off with the quote because she wants to unfold truths and reflect on moments from another POV. It will show context of how she acted and begins piecing her history together. 

Michael Reno (1993)

Four fundamental tendencies of Documentary:

- Record, reveal or preserve

- Persuade or promote

- Analyse or interrogate

- Express

Bill Nichols (1989)

Modes of documentary:

- Poetic - non linear, non-narrative, montage

- Expository- Authoritative V/O, clear POV

- Participatory- film maker is seen on screen

- Observational- Cinema Verite, the film maker is not seen

- Reflexive- Post modern. Draws attention to the film making They question the ability of film to capture objective reality, trust and authenticity.

- Performative- Personal, objective, often about the film maker.

Stella Bruzzi 

Performative Documentary - Autobiographical, combine interviews and voice overs with archival footage, photographs and artefacts to explore a persons life.

What is stories we tell really about?

The documentary is making a documentary about documentaries, reflecting on her films formal properties as well as what it means in terms of representations. 

We see her setting up microphones and lights to interview her siblings, three of whom have film industry experience.

It feels like a personal journey. Polley didn't know what form the documentary would take whilst she was shooting it.