25Documentary film Documentary = film that deals with facts rather than invented elements, made by filmmakers who believe that they're reporting on the real world (other definitions?) But documentaries have been recognized as a combination of “real” and “manipulated” material—e.g., Robert Flaherty (Nanook of the North, l922), American ethnologist & explorer 1. Realist tradition--"Objective" * Frederick Wiseman (Titicut Follies, 1967; High School, 1968; Hospital, 1970) * The Maysles brothers (Salesman, 1968; Gimme Shelter, 1970; Grey Gardens, 1976) * Cinema Verite, Direct Cinema 2. "Midrange"? * Often use existing sources PLUS “narrators” * John Grierson, the British School, and the role of scripting/pre-planning * Often “advocacy” documentaries * Leni Riefenstahl (Triumph of the Will, l935) * Robert Epstein (The Times of Harvey Milk, l984) 3. Expressionist/Formalist Tradition--"Subjective" * Dziga Vertov (Man with a Movie Camera, l929) * John Akomfrah (The Last Angel of History, 1995)26 The Times of Harvey Milk, l984, D: Robert Epstein * Won Academy Award for Best Documentary * "Midrange" Documentary--uses a combination of existing (e.g., news reports) & original (new) footage * “Advocacy” Documentary * NARRATORS - - several types 1. Omniscient (or, "Voice of God") Narrator (Harvey Fierstein) 2. Other External Narrators (news footage, e.g., Dianne Feinstein) 3. 8 Participant Narrators * Insiders * Outsiders-who-became-insiders These “indie documentarists” challenged the status quo * Errol Morris’ The Thin Blue Line, l988 (he later won the 2004 Academy Award for The Fog of War) * Michael Moore’s Roger and Me, l989 (later, he won awards for the 2002 Bowling for Columbine and the 2004 Fahrenheit
View Full Document
Unlocking...