Louis Theroux and the
Nazis
1. How real do you find Louis and the Nazis?
I found that the documentary seemed
authentic and real, however it all told in the perspective of Louis Theroux.
Especially as he calls them out and questions them, they are forced to describe
things they might not have done normally. Having it from Louis Theroux’s
perspective, he asks questions the viewers probably want to know like how they
think this sort of behaviour is ok, however he doesn’t stop them, which keeps
the authenticity of the documentary as he allows them to carry out their usual
lives.
2. What do you think detracted from the authenticity of
the text?
The fact that they knew they were being recorded, which
means they might censor their opinions ro exaggerate them to make them more
memorable to the public who sees the documentary.
We are the Lambeth Boys
3. How real did you find We are the Lambeth Boys?
I found it not very real and faked, as their
expressions seemed to be for show and back then a camera would have been a big
deal so keeping natural would be more difficult, especially if u wanted to get
shots like that because it would take a while to reposition.
Powaqqatsi
4. How real do you find Powaqquatsi?
Very real, it showed the day to day lives
of the manual labourers that lived their and their work without any context,
like you were watching it from a passing car or walking by.
5. What do you think detracted from the authenticity?
The
fact that a camera was probably unusual to see so they might of exaggerated
what they were doing, and the music meant you couldn’t hear the audio of the
footage or what was actually happening or being said.
Night Mail
1. How real do you find Night Mail?
I find it very staged, in 1936 when it was
recorded it would of taken a while to set up those cameras, and a while to
record, so it would be important to make sure the shot was perfect, and I felt
the shots were positioned a bit too perfectly, and a video camera would be
unique to have around so it would be difficult for the workers to act
naturally.
2. What do you think detracted from the authenticity?
The dramatic shots, and how perfect all the footage
seemed to be, and the narration in the background made the documentary feel
more like a movie than a documentary.
Workers
Leaving the Lumiere Factory
8.
How real did you find Workers
Leaving the Lumiere Factory?
I
don’t think it was as staged as Night Mail, as the camera stays in one position
and one angle because the camera takes a while to set up in the 1800s. However,
the workers could have been told to come out at that moment.
9. What do you think distracted from the authenticity?
The
fact you didn’t really know what was going on or whether the workers were
instructed to leave at that time or told how to act. Cameras in the 1800s were
also very rare, so it was likely they weren’t acting how they usually would be
due to the camera being there.
Documentary Mini Task
1. What is a documentary? It’s a factual film or programme to tell a real-life
story, often with the intent on educating and entertaining the viewer.
2. Define the key features of an Expository Documentary
with an example? This type of
documentary is trying to convince the audience of their point of view and
inform them to why they believe it. Blue Planet or Drowning in Plastic would
count as an expository Documentary.
3. Define the key features of an Observational
Documentary with an example? This
type of documentary is about having footage of real life unfold, with no
interviews, soundtrack or narration, so the audience can decide for themselves
what they believe. The documentary Stray would be considered as an
Observational Documentary.
4. Define the key features of an Interactive Documentary
with an example? An interactive documentary
is when the audience can interact or change how they interact with the
documentary through a combination of video, photos, audio etc used in the
documentary. 18 days in Egypt is an example of an interactive documentary.
5. Define the key features of a Reflexive Documentary
with an example? Focuses on the film
maker and themselves, and the relationship between the film maker and the
audience. An example of a Reflexive Documentary is Louis Theroux Weird Weekends.
6. Define a Performative Documentary with an example? This type of documentary focuses on the film maker’s
personal relationship and connection to their topic as a starting point at
looking at bigger and more complex issues and focuses more on composition and
the aesthetics of the documentary. An example would be Fahrenheit 9/11.
7. Conclusion: Which format is your favorite? Which
format presents information in the most objective / unbiased way? Do you
believe that documentary producers must have a contract with the viewers to
show them honest, accurate and unbiased information or are documentaries purely
for entertainment? My favorite format is Performative as I like how it
starts off as personal and then delves into more broader and complex issues
which could affect everyone. I also enjoy seeing creative and new camera shots
and soundtracks if it doesn’t take away from the authenticity of the documentary.
I don’t think documentary producers should have a contract about making it
unbiased, but rather disclose at the beginning of the documentary that aspects
of it might be altered, changed or exaggerated to present a more entertaining
documentary rather than a fully factual one if that’s what they plan on doing.
That way the audience is aware of what they are going to be watching may not be
entirely true and an exaggerated version of reality, or someone else’s version of
reality and truth. Its difficult to present something as truly unbiased or
honest as everyone has their own opinions of fact and honesty, and what might
be the truth for someone might be a big hoax for another, so signing a contract
like that would mean different things to different audiences and it would be impossible
to keep to it.
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