documentary lesson 1 hnd
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TRANSCRIPT
Documentary
6 Types of Documentary Film...
Bill Nichols is an American film critic and pioneer in the specific study of documentary making. In his best selling book 'Introduction to Documentary' he outlines documentaries into six key categories...
Poetic documentaries
Expository documentaries
Observational documentaries
Participatory documentaries
Reflexive documentaries
Performative documentaries
Expository Documentaries
Key points...
Speak directly to the viewer, often authoritatively.
Attempt to be persuasive. Narration has 'voice of god' quality.
Participatory Documentaries
Key points...
Participatory film makers believe it's impossible to film and not disrupt the subject of the documentary.
They employ direct engagement with the documentary subject.
The relationship between the film maker and subject is key in the making of the documentary.
Poetic Documentaries
Key points...
Visually fragmented in terms of space and time. People represented as entities- things that
exist. Impressionistic and lyrical.
Performative documentaries
Key points...
Stress the subjects feelings or emotion. May enact events to engage the audience into
placing themselves in the subjects position. Often unconventional or experimental.
Reflexive documentaries
Key points...
These documentaries do not attempt to present a window to another world in which we simply observe.
They construct a narrative in which facts may be slightly distorted. Possibly creating a bias representation of facts.
Observational Documentaries
Key points...
Attempt to be spontaneous Minimum interference with the subject matter. Ushered in the birth of 'fly on the wall'
documentaries
Example... Super Size Me
Super Size Me Documentary created and featuring Morgan
Spurlock. Nominated for Best Documentary at the Oscars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2diPZOtty0
Example... Frozen Planet
Frozen Planet BBC Production Narrated by David Attenborough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR-xllh_h5A
Example- Sans Soleil
Sans Soleil Made in 1983 by Chris Marker An anonymous female voice narrates the
thoughts of a traveller as they move from one destination to the next.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKOJUgTqFtY
Example...The Educational Testing Service
60th Anniversary of ETS Documentary created to celebrate the
anniversary of the ETS America Web based documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HwCYzHJ1GQ
Example... Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back Made in 1967 by D.A. Pennebaker Shot in the Summer of '67 in England Focus was on Bob Dylan's UK tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GQzkzmRpDU
Example... Louis Theroux
Activity...
Research news stories on the internet and find a story which you think would make a good documentary.
Select a documentary mode and justify why you believe the subject/ story would fit well with the documentary type you have selected.