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.