Documentary

This is an area of film that I would love to explore and practice. Documentary appeals to me in many ways, but mainly because there seems to be a significant license to break moulds and challenge conventions in the way a documentary can be made. It is such a versatile genre. When I watch a documentary I want to feel like I am there whilst it is being filmed and be exposed to a real life story in an organic and honest way. There is also something appealing about spontaneity and un-scripted discourse that naturally tells a story. This is what I find engaging in a documentary and something I want to try and achieve in my own work. I also enjoy seeing a documentary that combines real life with fictional elements, which is an interesting contrast. When a fictional scenario is portrayed in a documentary format, the narrative becomes so believeable and all the more hardhitting, whether it is a comedy or a drama. So whether it is for the purpose of conveying real life or not, my research into documentary styles and techniques will have equal relevance and can be manipulated for various intentions.


Louis Theroux



Having watched the majority of Louis Theroux's programmes from each of his series, I have picked up on some interesting documentary techniques, both from a visual, stylistic perspective and with regard to his interviewing style; the way he engages with his subjects to get the most out of them. Firstly I have noticed that he remains objective and never pushes his opinion onto the subject. In not coming across as argumentative or manipulative, his interviewees are more relaxed around him and therefore more likely to open up and talk honestly. And when he has them talking about an issue, he doesn't interrupt and often stays completely silent, even if there is a break/pause in their speaking. The moments of silence that he leaves alone are almost too uncomfortable for the speaker and so therefore they continue to ramble on. Often his programmes deal with contentious issues and so this rambling can lead to people saying things they will regret later, which just happens to make great television. He comes across, particularly when he is making a documentary in America, as a naiive, polite and harmless, well spoken Englishman, when really he knows exactly what he is doing and is always one step ahead of everyone else. Due to his innocent facade, they are completely unaware that they are revealing more than they normally would. I'm not suggesting that I am going to be seeking to show people up or make documentaries surrounding a big debate. However these techniques as an interviewer can be used positively in order to get the most out of the subject. I think it is important to refrain from feeding lines to the interviewee to fill gaps of silence or back up what they are saying because there is a danger that you can say it all for them, only to receieve a 'yes' in agreement.



In terms of the style of his documentaries, although they are fairly conventional in format (voice over, interviews etc) there is great variety in scenes and settings that he finds himself in during the course of an episode, which is engaging and interesting for the viewer. The way that he gets in amongst the action makes you feel like you are there witnessing it. He also makes some of his conversations seem quite private by taking his subject to one side and almost talking under his breath about a particular incident that may have taken place. Again this makes the viewer feel part of the private conversation and heightens the exclusive feeling.


Extraordinary People (Channel 5)



I found this series very interesting and I think that its success as a documentary series is largely down to the strength of the content. Every week it never fails to shock and amaze and bring the average viewer back down to earth. It is this humbling effect that appeals to me, as it is not often that a piece of film can leave a significant imprint and memory in your mind, but I find that this happens everytime I watch an episode of Extraordinary People. It is very tactfully put together and communicated, which I think must be difficult to achieve when they deal with people who have a severe condition, which on the whole the audience will not have seen before. When working with something that evokes such strong emotions, it must be difficult to not become attached but retain a distance that allows you to produce something that is objectively constructed, with hints of passion and feeling that transfer onto the viewer. When producing my own work that is personal to me, the challenge is being able to distance myself from it and not become insular and too particular or precious over ideas and edits.

The Dog Whisperer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGK6KMDOykw



For one of my responses to documentary brief I am making a very short film about my family dog who has a habit of barking at animals on the TV, unless it is a horse, which she doesn't mind at all. One of my main intentions is to try and communicate the personality of the dog potentially without the need for any explanation. I have found that The Horse Whisperer, which is a TV show about a man who transforms badly behaved dogs, is a great reference for seeing how dogs are filmed and how their bad habits are portrayed as being an element of their personality. Obviously I am not going to be making anything instructional or informative, but I would say that there are some interesting qualities of this programme that might be applicable for what I am aiming to produce. For example, I like the way the dogs interract with the camera. They are obviously intrigued by it and their fixation of it allows us to capture their character more clearly. Often on this show the camera man will film the dog on its level, which I think makes it easier for the viewer to gauge the dog's personality. It also almost gives you an insight to see what life is like at their level, which consequently brings you closer to that particular dog's world.

Short Films

The following reviews/critiques mostly detail aspects of short films that I have seen that I find inspiring, be it as an idea or technical processes like editing styles, camera work, sound effects etc.

The Spider



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdj9vMH4BfQ&feature=related

This is a 9 minute film from a film maker called Nash Edgerton. What I really love about this short is that the first four or five minutes of it feel like the beginning of a feature film, it seems as though it is going somewhere. This in itself says something about the quality and attention to detail for what is just a mini movie. The slow pacing that creates this feeling inevitably heightens the twists and surprises that hit the audience in the concluding minutes of the piece. Just when you think a long storyline is about to unfold, a series of shocking events tie the whole thing together and somehow make it feel like you've seen enough and that it couldn't have been any longer. The film has a very cinematic feel to it, due to the widescreen ratio, the slightly desaturated look, and the filming from inside a travelling car also evokes a movie feel. The long pauses without dialogue are very effective, you can't help but be glued to the screen out of intrigue. I am interested in somehow utilizing this in my own work. I think it is a skill to be able to convey something strongly or engage an audience without using a single word, but instead letting the camera, lighting, body language and other signifiers create a message or narrative. What I think is a great achievement about this film is how the director has managed to draw out so many different emotions from the viewer in just 9 minutes, all without it feeling crammed in or forced. There is suspense, drama, action, comedy, shock and relief, all delivered in one strong dose.

Slap Attack





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctrMwH92D9Q

I stumbled across this short comedy by accident through a friend of a friend's youtube account. It is an extremely stylistic, clever and gripping comedy. I am particularly impressed by the way it is edited. The deliberately exaggerated dramatic cuts create some very amusing parodic moments of film noir, silent-horror film. There are some really effective transitions between scenes, such as panning from one into another via a neutral seam that is part of both compositions. This is a technique that I would like to apply to my work if it ever becomes appropriate, especially if the intention is to keep the pace of the footage coherent and flowing. It can be a refreshing alternative to cutting between scenes and relying on fades. The other main aspect of this film that stands out to me is the use of sound effects and over dubs. It is so integral to the way this sketch is portrayed as it maintains the exaggerated action and suspense and also helps tell a story that has very little dialogue. For my Viral Advertising I will need to spend some time getting sound effects right because it will be all the more effective, especially when I am trying to communicate something over such a short time scale.

Surprise - Single Shot Film



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbb0jPZlFMU

This is a really impressive single shot short by Ben Dodd, which is played in reverse at extreme slow motion. What at first appears to be a Hitchcockian murder scene in a bathroom, eventually unveils itself as you are taken back in time to reveal that a tragic and clumsy accident has taken place. At first a man is sprawled across the edge of the bath with a woman standing over him and ther is a knife on the floor, therefore initially signifying that she has just murdered him. However as the footage slowly reverses we find out that the girl accidentally knocks the man over as she comes in through the door. The reason for the knife being that she is also holding a birthday cake, which is one half of the 'surprise', the other being the audience's surprise at the turn of events that actually takes place (contrary to initial suspicion). However it is not just the clever idea/concept that struck me when I first saw this. It is a visually impecable piece of filming that is astounding both aesthetically and technically. I find it amazing how the whole film is all from one single shot. First of all, the details that need to come across are so subtly and delacately revealed, which must have taken a great deal of fine measuring and perfect timing for everything to work like clock work and happen at the right moment. Again, this is another example of good pacing to refer to, in order to successfully communicate something in a short amount of time whilst maintaining the viewer's attention. It is one thing achieving all of the above in one shot, but the complexity of the way the camera has been used positionally is very impressive as it begins from a birdseye view perspective and then gracefully pans and floats around the room, touching upon the required details for the story and capturing everything at the perfect moment.

Channel Four 3 Minute Wonders

Having read through the 'four docs' webpage section on 3 minute wonders and watched previous entries, I think that in order to be successful and have a film accepted, there are certain expectations and qualities that the film should meet. The film maker should in some way challenge the way a documentary is made and perhaps adopt an unorthodox approach, whether it be in terms of camera shots, format, content, the way it is edited etc. Alternatively, if the film maker can strike an emotional chord amongst the audience due to the content or a compelling story told by an engaing subject, the film may stand up and work as a 3 minute wonder, without the need for unconventional documentary making. As I have witnessed in existing 3 minute wonder films, personal and reflective pieces also work very well and are popular with the 3MW comissioners.

Previous 4Docs/3 Minute Wonders

A Day In The Life Of A Farmer's Wife



http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs/film/film-detail.jsp?id=55185

This short film has a really interesting and engaging style which portrays the film maker's everyday life in a very appropriate and personal way. The first thing that appealed to me when watching it was the background classical music, which seems perfect for this kind of documentary. Its uplifting and jovial tone accentuates the sarcasm and monotomy that comes across through the subject. Thats not to say that the documentary is boring, because part of the intentions of the film maker is to get that aspect of her day across for the audience to embrace as a funny thing, evoking lighthearted sympathy at the same time. I like the use of close up camera shots too, which break up any conventional establishing shots and maintains interest. The hand-held extreme close ups on the farmer's wife's face work really well, particularly because it isn't framed typically with her face central on screen. Some of the shots look more professional than others which are more home video style, but I think this works for what it is. The sometimes clumsy or over exposed shot suits the nature of her everyday life. We really get a sense of the chaos, muck and outdoors which is bitterly portrayed by the patient but frustrated farmer's wife. The beauty of documentary, which I need to remember when making my own, is that there is a certain freedom to stylize the film work as long as it is appropriate to the context and tone of the documentary. Rules can be broken as long as it is for good reason and the audience can watch at ease and convey what is going on.

Northern Jew



http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs/film/film-detail.jsp?id=61405

I think the main quality of this film that makes it work as a short documentary is the content from the characters of the two subjects. The style of the edit and filming is rough and by no means technical or beautiful. But this does not distract or become too noticeable. It almost make the viewer focus on the subjects in hand all the more. The handheld footage and blunt cuts are integral in communicating the characters and personality of the elderly couple. The opening is immediatelt touching and engaging as the old lady sings to the camera. As the interview unfolds we get a real sense of the couple's married life whilst at the same time learning something about their past, which potentially could have been boring or irrelevant. However the humour that comes out of their conversations and mild bickering makes it so entertaining and lighthearted. Contrary to the reviews it received on FourDocs's website, which criticise the lack of weight behind the stories being told, I actually don't see that as being the most important aspect of the film. It may have been the intention of the filmmaker, but what I personally got out of it was a great deal of humour (even if it wasn't intentional). In some ways, the fact that the stories are fairly boring adds to the humour and typifies the character of most peoples grandparents. I like the fact that the old man takes time to answer, and then almost lands himself in it with his wife by forgetting to mention to the people at home that she is a wonderful singer!

Kombat Breakers



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_jraVNy4mA

This is quite an unusual short film which is difficult to pin down in terms of its purpose and tone. However because of its obscure purpose it makes it all the more engaging. Perhaps it helps that the visuals are really quite strong. If this wasn't the case I don't think it would stand up as well as it does. The direction of photography is in my opinion its main quality. The colours are very vivid when lit against the night sky by the floodlights of the running track. It creates a nice contrast of warmth and cold/darkness.

Viral Advertising

Rebel Virals: THE PAINTED MAN - 'Best Commercially Produced Viral' at the Channel 4 Germ Awards 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC65uIu0j-Y


What I like about this particular viral is the simplicity in its production, which allows the idea, script and performance to show through and carry the clip. This was produced shortly after the original Sony Bravia TV advert, but allowed enough time for people to become familiar with it before unleashing this clever spoof. As a result of this topicality, the viral works without the need for explanation and is therefore short enough to engage the viewer. The fact that the character is covered head to toe in multi-coloured paint, (as well as the block of flats in the background) immediately reminds the viewer of the original advert.

The intro-graphic of 'Breaking News' gives the clip an element of authenticity and further helps the viewer to work out what is going on as it indicates a reaction of some sort. The alternation of mid shots and close ups are sufficient in adding visual variety and also help to keep hold of the audience's attention. There is no need for any other type of shot or complicated edit because the humour in the idea is strong enough to make the viewer want to watch again and pass it on to a friend.

I like the subtle considerations of sound effects; a slight breeze, birds singing and his 'dog' barking all add to the illusion that it was filmed at the original location. Smaller details such as the squelching sound of paint in his shoes as he walks off camera are important in the overall quality.

This Viral has no advertising purpose, other than to perhaps advertise the company that produced it; it is otherwise purely comedic and entertaining. Nevertheless I think it would have been further healthy advertising for Sony Bravia if they were to use the Viral as their own, perhaps during the same commercial break that shows the original advert.

The main attributes of this viral that I will consider when producing my own work will be the simplicity yet quality in its production due to the details of title graphics, sound effects and concise edit.


Rebel Virals: EASTER CHICK



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1nKo-F6m18

This Viral was produced for the Easter period of 2007 with the main purpose of attracting attention to Rebel Virals. With nearly 250,000 views on Youtube alone, in quite a short space of time, it proved to be effective due to its strong viral qualities. One of the key factors of enabling the video to spread more rapidly is its universal appeal due to there being no language barrier. It communicates in the same way to all nationalities. This is something worth considering for the 'Nando's' viral I will be producing because having studied their website it is quite evident that Nando's take pride in having a chain of restaurants across the world. Therefore the viral may need to appeal to this wide range of customers.

What I like about 'Easter Chick' is the anticipation in the build up, which culminates in something quite unexpected and shocking when the frustrated 'boyfriend' squashes the 'cute' chick with the crashing palm of his hand. The shock factor is heightened somewhat by the sense of realness that is achieved with this action. Also, in lingering on the cute chick 'tweeting' on the table and the irritating attention it is given by the 'girlfriend', the audience is lured into a false sense of security, only to eventually be taken by surprise so emphatically. Despite this, elements of anticipation creep in each time the camera turns to the increasingly irritated 'boyfriend' who is trying to read his morning paper in peace.

From a technical point of view, the visual quality of this film is something I aim to achieve when producing my own work. The filmic effect caused by the type of lens used gives the clip a very professional aesthetic.


Rebel Virals: CADBURY"S GORRILLA SPOOF



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUnIvwyrfLg

Again here Rebel Virals responded quickly to an existing advertisement in order to gain recognition for the company's capabilities. This spoof of the gorrilla playing the drums has been viewed nearly half a million times on Youtube. What I find interesting is that the original TV advert had predominantly viral qualities, as it had nothing to do with the product yet it was engaging, memorable and addictive due to its novelty and eccentric content. Therefore the success of any parody is instantly kickstarted (providing the parody works). The audience is already very familiar with the original and so the effect of this particular response on the audience is sped up.

Rebel Virals successfully manage to lure in the viewers' attention and then hit them with the element of surprise. The clip begins with original footage; a close up of the gorilla at the drum kit, slowly zooming out. This foregrounds with familiarity and also heightens the unexpected that occurs next. As the drumming is about to commence, a sudden cut to a wide shot of the 'studio' reveals the gorilla 'going ape' on set, trampling over the drums, throwing faeces over the camera crew as they try to restrain it. The fake imitation of the original set and poor quality gorrilla suit only adds to the spoof and its contrast to the opening footage accentuates the surprise. It is a humorous take on what could have happened if the original advert had in fact used a real gorrilla; it is a fake 'deleted scene' almost.


The Viral Factory: amBX Video Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtcoKpz45Kg



This video has great viral qualities; it is humorous, concise, engaging and has that element of surprise and shock factor that makes it addictive, memorable and therefore likely to be passed on. I especially like the way it purposely uses fairly low quality hand-held footage with highly impressive 3D animation (the video game character). The juxtaposition of the latter increases the surprise, especially because the character is seen as fictional on the computer screen but then suddenly is made real as he bursts through the door to act out his revenge.


The Viral Factory: Ford Sport Ka: Evil Twin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSex9VxlwI



This is such a simple yet very effective viral. The idea is so crisp and clear but also very cleverly edited and post-produced to make it look so real. It manages to communicate the message of the campaign without the need for dialogue whatsoever. I also like the way it remains as one single shot; there is no need to complicate the idea, it works so well in this simple format.


Carlsberg Viral



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAcc8CPhlO4

I came across this particular viral by accident on youtube and was caught completely unawares, not realising it was a viral at all. I was expecting it to follow the trends of the videos I had been watching previously, which were of people exploding bottles of diet coke by dropping mentos (hard boiled sweets) into them. As a result the impact of the surprise element of this viral was very strong. The clip appears to be just another mentos experiment, but in this case with Carlsberg lager instead of diet Coke. A man is sat at a table outside near to a road and prepares his friend behind the camera (handheld to add to the home-video effect) for the mentos/carlsberg prank, building up the suspense through his dialogue. As soon as he drops the mentos into the glass of lager, he backs away in his chair anticipating an erruption of beer. His actions rub off on the viewer and there is a shared suspense, until out of nowhere a lorry speeds past and dramatically hits the man who has unknowingly moved back in his chair into the road!

I was completely shocked, amazed and entertained. As I addictively watched the clip back I soon noticed that the lorry that hits him is actually a Carlsberg delivery lorry! Small details like this really add to what I think is a great viral advert.


Marmite Viral



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoRcU0Ul7tU

This video takes the 'you either love it or hate it' theme from the TV advert level to a very viral style. It shows a mother breast feeding in the middle of the night, at the same time waiting for some toast to 'pop-up'. We then see her squeeze marmite all over her toast and take a large bite. Within seconds the baby stops feeding and vomits all over the mother (suggesting that it could taste the marmite in the milk). The scenario is great to advertise the fact that Marmite have a new 'squeezable' bottle as the mother obviously only has one hand free to put the marmite on her toast. I think the concept works brilliantly for the 'love it or hate it' campaign. I like the way there is no need for dialogue for the video to work, the actions and sound effects are enough to build up anticipation and ultimately entertainment.


Skittles Advert



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSeJr8rLEy8

Although this is not strictly a viral advert, I think it definately posseses the qualities of one due to its re-watchability, addictiveness, oddness and its impressive visuals that make you want to share it with a friend once you have watched it twenty times! It is one of those sketches that make me wish I'd thought of it and know how to execute it. The advert is about a man who, just by touching anything, can turn objects into skittles. Whilst his colleagues watch in awe of his gift, the man is far from impressed as he lectures them about this burdon that he carries, unable to 'hold his new born son' or 'dress himself in the morning'. This sudden serious tone that interrupts the novelty of seeing a man touch a stapler and turn it into a pile of Skittles is the hook that draws the audience in and gives them the unexpected. The mundane setting of a library (in which he works) is all the more ironic as the last thing you would expect to see there is a man with this kind of gift, going almost unnoticed. I don't think the idea would have worked as effectively if they had simulated a news story about it and brought attention to it.
Aside from its special effects I think that what carries this idea off and what makes it so addictive is the performance. This is something I have come to regard as one of the most important aspects of viral advertising. It can make or break an idea; and in this case the emotional, heartfelt monologue of the protagonist is so engaging yet hilariously funny when juxtaposed within the context of an advert for Skittles.

Cadbury's Advert: Airport Runway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biWhtZXlb7s



Following the 'Drumming Gorilla' Cadbury's advert, which I thought was very effective advertising, I am less impressed with their latest 'advert which has nothing to do with our products'. I think there are some great examples of quality filming and editing, but I don't like the idea/concept as I am left irritated by a few things when I watch it. Firstly the advert is for me, basically like watching a less exciting tacky episode of Top Gear. I can see that the novelty of the race down the run way is the fact that they are driving luggage carriers and airbuses. However, after the big build up, when the race gets going it looks like a toy vehicle set being driven at a less than thrilling speed on a low budget. For me, it is missing excitement, explosions, mid air collisions etc. The intention may have been to have them driving rigidly and sluggish but if this is the case I don't think it comes across enough. Perhaps a more 'Wacky Races' approach would have been more entertaining, seeing more dirty tricks between the drivers and building up to a climax of wondering who's going to win? Instead the lack of excitement and hint of storyline leaves me with the feeling of 'oh, is that it?', similar to when a movie ends at an unexpected moment. I also don't like hearing the sound effects over the top of the music as i don't think the two fit well together. Perhaps the sound of engines and crashes would still work if it were a different song? Although I am a fan of the track, I can only negatively associate it with cheesy clubs that play it over and over where everyone loves the fact that they know all of the words. Its too obvious, too well known and poppy for this advert in my opinion. On a positive note, I think there are some great shots and nice edits in there. The overall look in terms of colours and lighting fits well and I also like the fact that the purple sky is the only loose connection the advert has with the brand. It is subtleties like this that work so nicely and can make all the difference when advertising.

Dove Evolutions



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Not only is this visually strong and engaging, but also the message behind gradually becomes clearer and stronger as it unfolds and is so effectively communicated when the camera pulls away from the woman's face to a main road where we see her image on a billboard poster. It is particularly impressive and watchable due to the fact that people are aware of the way models are airbrushed and impecibly portrayed but it is rare that one gets a chance to see how its done from start to finish. The transformation is so quick and seamless, this all adds to the impression it leaves on the viewer. I particularly like the pacing of this (anti) advert. It begins quite slowly, building up intrigue and curiosity until the lights turn on and the work on the model begins. Suddenly the viewer is taken along with the fast flow of the footage and you can't help but be transfixed as the transformation builds up to a crescendo and then out of nowhere returns to the original pace, in order for the viewer to take in the big reveal and also reflect on what has just flashed by them.

New Vauxhall Meriva Advert



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYO333Ot13Y

This isn't a viral advert but it has some great qualities that can still be applied to the viral world of advertising, which like almost everthing in this post, will inform my practice and inspire creativity and technique. This advert in essence is a very simple idea, but it is so tastefully and superbly executed. A lot of creativity and ingenuity has been put into coming up with the different scenarios/scenes that stem from the initial simple idea. All of the scenarios are such that the viewer can relate to them, such as not having enough room to walk past the car in the garage, or a narrow street stopping two cars from passing each other. The idea of being able to solve these spatial problems in such a satisfying way is what makes the advert so appealing and 'feel-good'. On top of this the music adds to the tone of the advert very effectively.