Midterm 1, Week 2-4 Flashcards
What is a documentary?
A documentary tells a story about real life with claims to truthfulness.
The artistic representation of actuality.
When did documentaries gain traction?
In the 1990’s.
What three traits are paramount to documentaries based on their value?
Truthfulness, accuracy, and trustworthiness.
How do diverse previous career backgrounds help documentary filmmakers in their approach to filmmaking?
Documentaries can be about anything and everything, and often are from diverse perspectives that may not be the most obvious when choosing a subject. With varying career backgrounds, the filmmakers will each have unique experiences in their personal & professional lives that may help them see the diverse perspectives of the subjects they’re filming, while also highlighting any “hidden” or unsuspected perspectives.
How does documentary filmmaking offer creative freedom compared to other genres?
Documentary film doesn’t necessarily have the same limits as other genres. Because documentaries are reliant on real people and real events, i don’t think there’s a full “playbook” per se on how things should be done, allowing for more creative freedom and adaptability. For example, romance movies follow a trope of two people meeting, falling in love, and - usually - a happily ever after.
A speaker in the film Capturing Reality states “Reality is infinitely bizarre and weird.” Why do you think the filmmaker finds reality more compelling than fiction?
Because reality is unpredictable! Plus, with documentaries being based on real people, real events, real scenarios, etc., it adds to the impact the film may have on some people - making them see it from a more personalized perspective.
“It’s not interesting at all. These kind of cases happen everyday,” was the answer when a filmmaker was asked why the murder in Jacksonville, Florida was so intriguing to him. “The real challenge for a filmmaker is to take a story that seems banal and tell it in such a way that it becomes exemplary.”
What impact can the presence of filmmakers & cameras have on subjects?
People often have a persona they put on in front of a camera, wanting to present themselves at their very best. Filming a moment essentially immortalizes the moment. With a large camera crew & lots of technology, it may impact people by making them more nervous to speak openly & freely, or it may nudge people in the direction of either exaggerating for dramatic effect or withholding information to protect themselves and their experiences.
Why does an art form like documentary need to be flexible?
Because it’s unpredictable! You’re filming real people in real situations, and usually, there’s not a script to follow. As a result, anything could happen - quite literally.
Do you think documentary should offer an emotional experience instead of telling people what to think?
I think documentary film should always be an offering of an emotional experience, but I don’t believe that’s always what happens. People inherently want to share their opinions and perspective, and even if one was trying to limit that, I think it would be quite difficult not to have one’s thoughts, feelings, morals, etc. impact the film.
What concerns may arise from “casting” people for documentaries? (Choosing subjects based on how interesting or engaging they are on camera.)
As John Grierson defined documentary as “the artistic representation of reality,” it’s a tricky balance! You want to choose someone you can connect with; building trust is key if you want someone to open up to you! Plus, you want to engage the audience as they watch the film, so you need to consider what makes them fascinating. However, if taken too far, the act of casting people for a documentary may negate the purpose of a documentary all together, making it seem unrealistic & not as trustworthy of a story.
How does the setting or environment of an interview contribute to the truthfulness of a documentary?
If taken out of a natural environment of theirs, the subjects may become presentational and not in their essence, essentially putting up a wall/persona. When filming in a natural environment/location (ie. someone’s living room, kitchen table, backyard, etc.), you don’t want to rearrange things. If you do, you’re destroying the very things you should be filming!
One filmmaker describes the “ecstasy of truth,” suggesting truth in a documentary is more than just presenting facts. What does this mean, and do you agree documentaries should aim for beyond factual accuracy?
To me, the ecstasy of truth refers to the search for something deeper than what is presented at surface level. Facts alone can be quite boring/dry, but searching beyond that is when a story starts to develop that provides viewers with an opportunity to connect and resonate on a personal level.
One filmmaker describes the “ecstasy of truth,” suggesting truth in a documentary is more than just presenting facts. What does this mean, and do you agree documentaries should aim for beyond factual accuracy?
To me, the ecstasy of truth refers to the search for something deeper than what is presented at surface level. Facts alone can be quite boring/dry, but searching beyond that is when a story starts to develop that provides viewers with an opportunity to connect.
The filmmakers talk about making editorial choices, like keeping footage that subjects oppose including. How should documentarians balance their needs with the wishes of those depicted in their films?
As summed up by one of the filmmakers, one of the most important aspects is to protect the subjects being filmed, or you risk breaking that trust for any future endeavours.
How do you feel about the statement that filmmaking, including documentary filmmaking, is inherently subjective, and anyone who claims to tell the absolute truth is “perpetrating a fraud”?
I think it’s nearly impossible to have documentary film be inherently subjective. Everyone has their own set of values, beliefs, and morals, and I don’t think there’s an effective way to limit those and avoid them coming into play when making decision processes on what to film, how to film it, and what to include when editing - whether it be through the selection of footage to use, music to add, angles to film from, etc.
The idea that the Global South (or the ‘Third World’) is often filmed by outsiders raises ethical concerns. How does the power dynamic between filmmakers and their subjects influence the way stories are told, especially in cross-cultural contexts?
