Analysis
'Nanook of the North' Robert Flaherty 1921. Mode-participatory mode/observational Style:Etnofiction documentary. Robert Flaherty creation of the feature length documentary on an inuit eskimo (Nanook) told an emotional story through written words and visual motion images.He used only the sound of a mellow sound track that was in a seamless rhythm with the moving images.This is an ethnofiction documentary which uses the particpartory mode within the documentary as due to the lack of advancement in technology, staged many of his shots and had interaction with the subject, for example showing him how to use the camera.Stoller,P (1992).This looses all aspects of the decisive moment that i believe if technology was more advanced during the 1920's Flaherty would have wanted to capture.
'Don't look back in anger' 'Pennebaker Hegedus- 1967 Mode-Poetic mode/Performative mode/Expository mode Style:docufiction/observational/participatory/ Pennebaker stated that the most influencial documentaries of all time was Nanook of the North (http://www.phfilms.com/index.php/phf/film/dont_look_back/-documentary) and could be argued an influence into her works in the production of the documentary following Bob Dylan touring around the UK.This captured footage of concerts,hotels and backstage banter capturing the most unpredictable decisive moments that were adequate to her footage.the true spontaneity of this documentary really captures the cinema vetire being an angry,opinionated,domineering world famous singer/ song writer.
'Frank,E. Butler- 1894 Mode: participatory/observational Style: Performative. This is the short film that made Annie Oakley into an international superstar creating a role for her within the Wild West show Buffalow Bills Wild West. It was this film that was created by her husband; Frank E. Butler that overall was the creator of her fame and highlighted her unique talent. Although the film is clearly staged it could still be argued that it can be seen as capturing a decisive moment, as at any point it could have gone wrong for Oakley and butler could have been physically hurt.
Strong-man Eugene (Eugen) 'Thomas Edison 1894' Eugen Sandow was an influential sports man that changed the opinions on the physical physique of our bodies. He was known as the strongest man and was without force to be the founder of 'muscular Christianity' in which it was believed that the best Christians were the fittest and the strongest. This film outlines just how muscular Sandow was showing various amounts of poses in creating definition on each singular muscle. The use of one singular camera shot being a medium long shot enabled the director to manipulate the audience into focusing on the physique of Sandow and nothing else. This also brought a sense of reality as by using only one shot did not manipulate the audience by manipulating size for example by using a low camera angle it usually manipulates the audience to convey size or importance. However as there is no manipulation the focus on his sculpture of his body is highlighted. Another technique that contributes to this is the lack of mis-en-scene in which Sandow is placed in front of a plain black wall causing the focus to be pin pointed at Sandow. 'Nick Broomfield 2002' Mode:Reflexive/Participatory/Expository Nick broomfield is known for his participatory documentaries in which he participates into becoming the primary sorce.This is shown within the Biggie and Tupac documentary where he uses himself as the primary and shows his jorney into finding the answer.During the start of the documentary Nick uses the first ten minuites of the docuymentary to give a background information of what actually happend between biggie and tupac and thier fued.In many ways he does this thriough using the vioce of god which directs the audience to particular areas of what is being visualized and using archive footage.However as during some aspects of film their is alot of information that is given he adds signitures that add breathers for the audience.The main being the photograph of Biggie and Tupac when they were friends,he uses this to enable him to give more information by using the vioce of god.Nick also uses informal structured interviews through out his documentary in order for him to manipulate to gain the best results and the specific answers that are needed.
Man with a movie camera Dziga Vertous (1929) Mode: Reflexive/participatory Vertous when filming this documentary made it clear that it was the creation of a documentary on the lives of the soviet union by adding scenes of the camera and various amounts of cuts creating various amounts of signatures used one after the other to portray a story.In addition to this this documentary goes against all other documentaries as their is a constant use of visual camera sightings that gives the audience an unrealistic feel.This documentary is clearly staged by this creating no deceive moments. The Thin Blue Line
Errol Morris (1987)
Mode:Reflexive mode/expository and participatory
Style:Docudrama
This was the first ever film to use the area of hybrid documentaries successfully as he uses the vioce of god to narrate the story but also use formal interviews within a cinema virtire way.As the setting was clearly changed for all interviews and some aspects were staged such as the reeanactments if what happened the night taht randell adams murdered a police man in the 1976.
Unreported world Reporter-Oliver Steeds Director-Ed Braman Mode-Expository/Participatory/cinema verite. Uses the voice of god to inform the audience of information and background but also as well as this uses cuts of scenic shots or shocking imagery to implement the information. In addition to this uses cinema verite to capture reality in favour of his subjected view of the controversial Aboriginal population. Top do this he Uses interviews to gain the answers that he wants through subjective manipulating questions. However he still uses the decisive moment to represent reality.Click here to watch the documentary.
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kaDVovGjNOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHXjUMwmgk  |
