Amy: Documentaries

Question 1

What is a documentary and what are conventions of it?

Answer 1

Movies, Television. based on or re-creating an actual event, era, life story, etc., that purports to be factually accurate and contains no fictional elements. (However, this might not always be the case)

Conventions: Interviews, breaking of 4th wall, voiceovers, soundtrack, handheld shots, archive footage, graphic, title page, captions for who individuals are, expert opinions

Question 2

What are the types of documentary?

Answer 2

Expository (logical argument, proper answers)- Blue Planet
Poetic (subjective, artistic expression)- Moana
Observational (‘window on the world’)- Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones
Participatory (filmmaker is acknowledged)- Bowling for Columbine
Reflexive (awareness of process)- The Arbor
Performative (filmmaker as participant, somewhat opinionated or biased)- Supersize Me

Question 3

What are issues to address in relation to documentary?

Answer 3

Objectivity, truth, reality, focus on emotional truth, aesthetics and the ‘cinematic’