week 1 documentary

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DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY Section B – Spectatorship topic Section B – Spectatorship topic Introduction Introduction to to Documentary Film! Documentary Film!

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DOCUMENTARYDOCUMENTARYSection B – Spectatorship topicSection B – Spectatorship topic

Introduction Introduction

toto

Documentary Film!Documentary Film!

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Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes

Spectatorship and Documentary Spectatorship and Documentary Your answer Your answer should be based on a minimum of should be based on a minimum of twotwo films. films.

Either Either 11. Compare different documentary 11. Compare different documentary techniques employed to present the 'real', techniques employed to present the 'real', discussing their impact on the spectator. Refer discussing their impact on the spectator. Refer to at least to at least twotwo documentaries you have studied. documentaries you have studied.

or or 12. Do you agree that as spectators we are 12. Do you agree that as spectators we are

more likely to accept at face value what we see more likely to accept at face value what we see and hear in documentary films?and hear in documentary films?

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You Must:You Must:

Understand the relationship between Understand the relationship between documentary and documentary and spectatorspectator

Identify different types of Identify different types of documentarydocumentary

UNDERSTAND THAT DOCUMENTARY UNDERSTAND THAT DOCUMENTARY manipulates us just as fiction film manipulates us just as fiction film does!does!

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Ask yourselfAsk yourself

To what extent are ‘real’ events To what extent are ‘real’ events presentedpresented

How might this influence the How might this influence the spectator’s view of these eventsspectator’s view of these events

Is there a relationship in the way that Is there a relationship in the way that events are presented that ties in with events are presented that ties in with a fiction film.a fiction film.

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What do we already know about What do we already know about documentary? What is a documentary? What is a

documentary? How can we tell it documentary? How can we tell it is a documentary?is a documentary?

Documentary vs fiction filmDocumentary vs fiction film

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CLIP ANALYSISCLIP ANALYSIS

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Warren Buckland – Film Warren Buckland – Film lecturerlecturer

Noted what the main conventions of Noted what the main conventions of documentary film are:documentary film are:

1.1. Events were to be unstaged;Events were to be unstaged;

2.2. They were non-fiction films;They were non-fiction films;

3.3. The filmmaker observes and The filmmaker observes and constructs a record of real events.constructs a record of real events.

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Documentary Form and Documentary Form and Style (conventions)Style (conventions)

Documentary is a way of speaking Documentary is a way of speaking about the world. It cannot be tied about the world. It cannot be tied down to specifics of character or down to specifics of character or

storylines/plots in the same way a storylines/plots in the same way a genre can.genre can.

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It can, however, be It can, however, be recognised by typical recognised by typical

forms and conventions:forms and conventions:‘‘The conventions of documentary are The conventions of documentary are just that just that conventionsconventions. Many of these . Many of these

‘natural’ lighting, indistinct sound, and ‘natural’ lighting, indistinct sound, and jerky camera movements- may be jerky camera movements- may be

motivated by the conditions of motivated by the conditions of recording, but they remain conventions. recording, but they remain conventions.

The ‘documentary look’ needs to be The ‘documentary look’ needs to be carefully examined so that it’s carefully examined so that it’s

constructed nature is established’ constructed nature is established’ Goodwin 1986.Goodwin 1986.

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What we need to explore in What we need to explore in relation to documentary film is relation to documentary film is what Goodwin is arguing in that what Goodwin is arguing in that

quote: quote: We have to pay attention to the We have to pay attention to the selectionselection

and and constructionconstruction in documentary film in documentary film representation.representation.

For example when we perceive a low level For example when we perceive a low level lighting in a film or TV program it is read lighting in a film or TV program it is read as ‘natural or bad’ lighting. When it is in a as ‘natural or bad’ lighting. When it is in a documentary it gives the impression of documentary it gives the impression of being more real.being more real.

This natural lighting is read in this way, This natural lighting is read in this way, not because it relates to the real world, in not because it relates to the real world, in any way, but because it differs from the any way, but because it differs from the higher lighting levels we have learned higher lighting levels we have learned from TV drama or Hollywood film.from TV drama or Hollywood film.

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Summary of the traditional Summary of the traditional forms and conventions of forms and conventions of

the Straight ‘Factual’ the Straight ‘Factual’ Documentary…Documentary…

These forms and conventions These forms and conventions change- just as those of that change- just as those of that

classical fiction narrative classical fiction narrative change.change.

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ActivityActivity

What are the codes and conventions What are the codes and conventions of a documentary film?of a documentary film?

How many types of documentary How many types of documentary films can you think of?films can you think of?

Internet researchInternet research

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Fly On The Wall FilmingFly On The Wall Filming Documentary is not scripted as in fiction Documentary is not scripted as in fiction

films. In documentaries the camera films. In documentaries the camera records people going about their real livesrecords people going about their real lives

In some documentaries the camera is In some documentaries the camera is placed with people or in places for a long placed with people or in places for a long period of time. The final product is edited period of time. The final product is edited to a shorter piece of film. We can see to a shorter piece of film. We can see there are TWO aspects of the SELECTION there are TWO aspects of the SELECTION PROCESS.PROCESS.

1.1. In the production phase-When to film?In the production phase-When to film?2.2. In the postproduction phase-What to edit In the postproduction phase-What to edit

in or not?in or not?

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Cont..Cont..

‘‘Fly on the wall could be seen as a genre of Fly on the wall could be seen as a genre of documentary. However it is broadened to a documentary. However it is broadened to a documentary technique. New techniques documentary technique. New techniques allow cameras to be concealed so people allow cameras to be concealed so people are totally unaware they are being filmed. are totally unaware they are being filmed. Fly on the Wall documentaries have been Fly on the Wall documentaries have been described as ‘designed to invade privacy’. described as ‘designed to invade privacy’.

Denton 1983.Denton 1983.

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Use of film originally shot for Use of film originally shot for other purposesother purposes

In documentary, film images are In documentary, film images are selected for their use in illustrating and selected for their use in illustrating and providing evidence for an argument. providing evidence for an argument. These images (usually kept in These images (usually kept in archives) are known as ‘library films’.archives) are known as ‘library films’.

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Voice-OverVoice-Over

Traditionally the voice of an actor, Traditionally the voice of an actor, who plays an invisible controlling role who plays an invisible controlling role in telling the story rather than in telling the story rather than participating in it. It usually has the participating in it. It usually has the role of uncovering or solving a role of uncovering or solving a mystery.mystery.

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InterviewsInterviews

Usually highly edited.Usually highly edited.The presentation of interviewees in The presentation of interviewees in

documentary has it’s own convention documentary has it’s own convention such as shelves on a books behind such as shelves on a books behind them conveying ‘expert’ them conveying ‘expert’ knowledge/status.knowledge/status.

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Use of the ‘talking head’Use of the ‘talking head’

The shot of someone talking directly The shot of someone talking directly into camera is often called ‘talking into camera is often called ‘talking heads’ in film jargon. heads’ in film jargon.

It is associated with authority and It is associated with authority and the presenting of facts it is used the presenting of facts it is used across a variety of factual media across a variety of factual media texts such as news.texts such as news.

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Vox PopVox PopA consultation with a real A consultation with a real

person in the street.person in the street.

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Written textWritten text

The term documentary implies that The term documentary implies that what is presented has a link to the what is presented has a link to the written documents. This use implies written documents. This use implies that the film is portraying real facts. that the film is portraying real facts. Documentaries use the written word in Documentaries use the written word in many different forms such as subtitles, many different forms such as subtitles, references to time and place and references to time and place and documents such as newpaper documents such as newpaper headlines, magazines, and quotations headlines, magazines, and quotations from books etc…from books etc…

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GraphicsGraphics

Documentaries now use graphics Documentaries now use graphics alongside written text. Computer alongside written text. Computer generated graphics are now common generated graphics are now common and are used alongside maps, and are used alongside maps, drawings, Still photographs etc.drawings, Still photographs etc.

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Visual recordings and Visual recordings and disruptiondisruption

In documentaries the camera is simply In documentaries the camera is simply there. It does not control and almost seems there. It does not control and almost seems ‘surprised’ by the action.‘surprised’ by the action.

Many documentaries emphasise these ideas Many documentaries emphasise these ideas by using footage, which in a fiction film, by using footage, which in a fiction film, could be seen to be accidents, mistakes and could be seen to be accidents, mistakes and poor quality filming. poor quality filming.

I.e. if the camera shook and wobbled in a I.e. if the camera shook and wobbled in a fiction film this would be seen as poor fiction film this would be seen as poor camera work in documentary films it can be camera work in documentary films it can be seen as a guarantee of the reality of the seen as a guarantee of the reality of the recording. recording.

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The Use of MusicThe Use of Music

Music is traditionally used to open and close Music is traditionally used to open and close the documentary the type of music chosen the documentary the type of music chosen is to reflect the content.is to reflect the content.

Music is also used within documentaries to Music is also used within documentaries to signal mood and to encourage the audience signal mood and to encourage the audience to take up a particular attitude. It is used as to take up a particular attitude. It is used as a ‘commentary’ to accompany events.a ‘commentary’ to accompany events.

Sometimes the music is part of the social Sometimes the music is part of the social reality being presented such as the use of reality being presented such as the use of popular songs from different times and popular songs from different times and places are used in historical documentaries.places are used in historical documentaries.

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ReconstructionReconstruction

Is the performance of constructed Is the performance of constructed action and events for the benefit of action and events for the benefit of the camera, to represent ‘real’ the camera, to represent ‘real’ events that have happened.events that have happened.

The use of reconstruction is now The use of reconstruction is now involved in debate and controversy; involved in debate and controversy; it is an old ingredient of it is an old ingredient of documentary.documentary.

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SimulationSimulation From the 1930’s to the 1960’s documentary films From the 1930’s to the 1960’s documentary films

looked very similar.looked very similar. Film was an expensive commodity and equipment Film was an expensive commodity and equipment

was bulky so it was a common practice for was bulky so it was a common practice for documentary filmmakers to watch events then get documentary filmmakers to watch events then get people to repeat them in front of a cameras.people to repeat them in front of a cameras.

‘‘People were rehearsed in their everyday activities People were rehearsed in their everyday activities so they could perform them convincingly in front of a so they could perform them convincingly in front of a crowd of technicians with their forbidding mass of crowd of technicians with their forbidding mass of equipment, cables and lights’ Vaughan 1974equipment, cables and lights’ Vaughan 1974

Simulation has continued as a documentary tradition Simulation has continued as a documentary tradition although it has come under increased criticism, as although it has come under increased criticism, as the possibilities for more direct and naturalistic the possibilities for more direct and naturalistic observations have become increasingly possible.observations have become increasingly possible.

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ActualityActuality The term is used to describe recording of The term is used to describe recording of

actual events as they happen. In true actual events as they happen. In true actuality footage, the camera is present at actuality footage, the camera is present at events that would have taken place whether events that would have taken place whether the camera was there or not. Home videos the camera was there or not. Home videos are a form of actuality.are a form of actuality.

In early cinema any factual film was In early cinema any factual film was described as actuality. For example the described as actuality. For example the Lumiere brother’s 1895 short film ‘Lumiere brother’s 1895 short film ‘Workers Workers leaving the Lumiere Factory’leaving the Lumiere Factory’ is often called is often called the first documentary.the first documentary.

In the 1920’s the term ‘Documentary’ took In the 1920’s the term ‘Documentary’ took over from ‘Actuality’, which is now used to over from ‘Actuality’, which is now used to refer to one ingredient of documentary.refer to one ingredient of documentary.

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Activity three:Activity three:

In small groups think of an example of In small groups think of an example of where you have seen one of the where you have seen one of the following (it can be from TV or film):following (it can be from TV or film):

1.1. ReconstructionReconstruction

2.2. GraphicsGraphics

3.3. Written textWritten text

4.4. Vox popVox pop

5.5. Fly on the wallFly on the wall

YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES!!!YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES!!!