Documentary conventions 1
What is a documentary?
This term refers to a style of filmmaking that aims to capture real-life events and people without scriptwriting.
What is a setting?
the location or place a film is set
What is the main shot used in an interview and why
Medium or close up shot. This is so that the subjects emotions and facial expressions can be clearly seen.
List three examples of social values
honesty
responsibility
bravery
empathy
compassion
ect.
What is an interview?
Interviews are a series of questions asked to a subject on a particular topic.
Through interviews, filmmakers can capture a range of perspectives and give voice to those involved in the subject matter. .
What is a Vox Pop?
Latin for 'Voice of the population'.
When interviews are conducted in public spaces with random participants
People provide their thoughts, feeling and opinions on a certain topic
What are examples of body language in film?
Expressive movement
facial expression
gestures
What is a diegetic sound?
A sound that has a source on screen
Sound that subjects/characters in the film can hear
Define: What is a social value?
A quality that social values and deems as important in order to function harmoniously.
Example : Honesty
What is a point of view?
involves the storyteller's/subjects perspective, opinions, thoughts and feelings related to the documentary subject
What is a talking-head shot?
Documentaries often use this type of interview setup where the subject is framed talking directly to the audience or interviewer.
What is non-diegetic sound?
This type of sound is added in post-production and is not naturally occurring in the film's environment.
What is a montage?
A collection of different shots to show a passage of time of an event.
This editing techniques allows filmmakers to present multiple points of view by showing conflicting statements or evidence from different sources.
What is a representation?
The way a person, group, place, community ect is portrayed on screen
What is linear narrative?
This narrative technique structures real-life events chronologically to give the audience a clearer understanding of the storyline.
In documentaries, this visual element often conveys unfiltered reality without manipulation.
Footage of reality
What are different ways directors can create moods in film?
Emotive visuals (footage/images)
Types of music
through showing character's facial expressions
What is cross cutting?
What is social justice?
Highlighting the struggles of marginalized people and groups and advocates for equality and justice
Why are re-enactments an important part of documentary films?
They help the audience to understand the event in more detail. They show the audience an interpretation of what happened and can manipulate their understanding and feelings on the topic
What is archival footage?
Documentaries often rely on this visual element, which includes historical footage, photos, or documents to support the facts presented.
Why is colour significant in film-making ? Provide an example of how colour can make meaning for an audience
Colour can set the tone or mood of scene. Audiences can make associations with colours to help enhance their understanding of what they are seeing.
Example: Red = danger
What is colour grading?
Colour technique applied to footage to evoke a specific emotional response or indicate different time periods (Example black/white or sepia for historical re-enactments)
What is misrepresentation?
When a filmmaker manipulates footage in a way which is untruthful or misleading
What is a balanced perspective in a documentary?
Documentary includes multiple subjects to represent different viewpoints and create a balanced view on a topic.