BSA 106 (Screen Arts) Semester 2 Week 4 : Cinéma Vérité , Direct Cinema and Mockumentaries
We learned about two types of documentaries: Cinema Verite and Direct Cinema.
The former is a form of breaking the fourth wall, this type of documentary doesn't try to hide the fact that its a film. The subject is interviewed like they would be on a news broadcast, they are aware of being filmed.
Cinema Verite has a subjective point of view, the interruption of the filmmaker on the subject can change the way they act and the filmmaker can manipulate the film to communicate their own personal views.
Direct Cinema is a "fly on the wall" approach, where the natural state of being of the subject is captured. While less common in human dramas, we see this method displayed quite often in nature programs. An objective view point is provided.
Mockumentaries are a parody of the documentary medium, creating fictional stories, but using the same method that documentaries do.
In class we watched the New Zealand Mockumentary "What We Do In The Shadows". Directed by Taika Waititi it sees a fictional documentary crew following around flatting Vampires in Auckland.
Mockumentaries often take a Cinema Verite approach, having the characters talk directly to the audience. This can be used well for both world building, story progression and ,especially in this genre, comedy.
The funny thing about mockumentaries are often the subjects themselves. We find their misfortune or uselessness humorous, talking to the camera can inform this.
Some other great mockumentaries are of course This is Spinal Tap (1984) and The Office (2001).
I think what impressed me about What We Do In The Shadows is how well it juggles its characters and tells a coherent story. It is common for the story and its structure to go missing when working in the mockumentary genre since the nature of it is so loose and free form. What We Do In The Shadows managed the way it delivers information very well and told a story feels planned, not simply improvised. Each character gets time to shine and some of them have clear arcs throughout the story.
The former is a form of breaking the fourth wall, this type of documentary doesn't try to hide the fact that its a film. The subject is interviewed like they would be on a news broadcast, they are aware of being filmed.
Cinema Verite has a subjective point of view, the interruption of the filmmaker on the subject can change the way they act and the filmmaker can manipulate the film to communicate their own personal views.
A good example of this is The Act of Killing (2012),
a film criticized for how much the director influenced the main subjects.
Direct Cinema is a "fly on the wall" approach, where the natural state of being of the subject is captured. While less common in human dramas, we see this method displayed quite often in nature programs. An objective view point is provided.
Planet Earth (2006) is a good example of a documentary series
that can be considered Direct Cinema
Mockumentaries are a parody of the documentary medium, creating fictional stories, but using the same method that documentaries do.
In class we watched the New Zealand Mockumentary "What We Do In The Shadows". Directed by Taika Waititi it sees a fictional documentary crew following around flatting Vampires in Auckland.
Mockumentaries often take a Cinema Verite approach, having the characters talk directly to the audience. This can be used well for both world building, story progression and ,especially in this genre, comedy.
The funny thing about mockumentaries are often the subjects themselves. We find their misfortune or uselessness humorous, talking to the camera can inform this.
Some other great mockumentaries are of course This is Spinal Tap (1984) and The Office (2001).
I think what impressed me about What We Do In The Shadows is how well it juggles its characters and tells a coherent story. It is common for the story and its structure to go missing when working in the mockumentary genre since the nature of it is so loose and free form. What We Do In The Shadows managed the way it delivers information very well and told a story feels planned, not simply improvised. Each character gets time to shine and some of them have clear arcs throughout the story.
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