History & concepts of documentaries / Marianna Kaat
5.9. Assignments total 4, participation 70% min.
Deadlines: 23.9., 3.10., 28.11., 18.12.(video!)
Nb: some assignments can be made adjacent to other courses work. Groups of max- 4 people.
→ Mariannas class were video doesn't need to be tech-wise the best, can be eg. iPhone quality. Send questions to docs@tlu.com
Task: Discuss art vs fact
Summary: subjective vs objective, metaphysical vs tangible, human oriented vs wholely independent, art mirrors vs fact is mirrored aka corroborative.
Next up the classics: lumiére brothers "workers leaving the factory”, “The train” etc.(first more staged, dynamic camera angle, forced perspective and shot size.) In the train one, ones wife, mother in law and child are instructed to look like they're looking for someone
→ Also shot in 3D → google it, interesting
1st Task: 50sec shot max. Needs to include forced perspective, long shot, no sound of editing. Max 4ppl. Deadline is 19.09. In the fashion of the train arriving.
→ David Lynch and others made similar ones with same task, except they did edit.
Watched bunch pf Lumiére bro. actualities
→ Next time first documentaries (jump to the 20's)
12.9. Main Topic: Robert Flaherty, father of documentary
Nanook of the North etc.
Was comissioned by companies to travel to different locations, studied the life of the locals, became a famous expeditioner.
William McKenzie (Canadian Railroad) who previously comissioned him suggested Flaherty brings a camera along to make visual notes on the area
Flaherty became more interested in the filmwork instead of adventure
After 3rd expedition, he began editing and had practice showings, but didn’t like what the focus for the viewers was (more naturebased)
His film material burned (accident? Or on purpose?)
Had negatives left, wanted to finish the film and showed them around to companies in an attempt to raise money. Cut short due to WW1
After the war, Flaherty was funded by Revignon Fréres, spent 16 months in the Inuit area.
Flaherty used in his visual vocabulary concepts used in fiction at that time.
June 11 1922 the film was released - Nanook of the North
Watch: Nanook of the North (1922) notes:
Note cinematic techniques etc :)
The way Flaherty talks of the Inuit is kinda cringe to be honest, but I think thats unfortunately the best he could do? In that time period at least
Flaherty combines footage together that isn’t directly related to one another e.g. Inserts, montage type (like with the wolf/dog)
Thread: continous developing narrative.
Camera work: full of close ups of the characters, focusing on their emotions. Landscape shots establishing their homelands harshness, man vs snowy desert. Wide panoramic shots. Narration through subtitle cards. Graphics displaying information. Reverse shots, collecting different shots together to build a moment, reactions.
Casting choice, Nanook shows his emotions freely and has charm.
— Some things constructed were: Nanook wasn’t his real name, his wife was ”recast” in a way. Hunting scene was done in their traditional way, even though the Inuit already used rifles etc. Flaherty put their lives on the line when they requested rifles when hunting the walrus. Gramophone part was totally staged, they already knew about these modern things. For the scenes in the igloo, they built an open three walled igloo.
In short, this documentary is a white mans exhibitionist dream of showing ”wild simple man”, a hunter gatherer. So, cringe. Marianna brought up that Flaherty isn’t taking a god like point of view of the Inuit and is on the same level as them, which is true for that time.
Questions:
When film makers tell someone elses story rather than their own, what are their responsibilites to the subjects
— Set boundaries, what is the level of involvement, be clear about your intentions with the film. Safewords :D
What are the ehtics that should govern putting someone else on film?
— Transparency and clear documentation of what has been agreed
Should the subjects of the film be shown the footage
—
Should the subjects have a right to decide what is or is not included in the film?
— Yes, but the boundaries should ideally be established before anything is filmed
HUOM. DL for video assignment 19.9., also note that it can’t be staged
19.9.”
We watched all the 50sec films produced by the class.
Dziga Vertov (nickname)
Worked with his wife (editor) and brother (Mikhail Kaufman)
”Man with a Movie Camera”
— Used a range of cinematic techniques in the film
— Multiple exposure, fast motion, slow motion, match cut, split screen, dutch angles, extreme close up, animation, self-reflexive visuals etc.
— inspired by Hollywood films of the era
— Editing inspired as well
— The different cinematic techniques are listed in Google drive as well
Film: ”Man with a Movie Camera”, 1929
After the theatre set up, and the band begins to play, long montage that establishes surroundings and themes (shot sizes vary from extreme close ups of people, places, things, to long shots)
Two clear narratives; one of the film maker, one of the people of the town waking up and preparing to leave their homes for the day. The city wakes up.
Workers preparing the city for a new day, dusting the streets, buses and trams beginning their journeys, and the camera man does his part.
Move on to the peoples daily lives, at offices, weddings, graveyards, hospitals; women giving birth and grieving over lost loved ones; crossroads. People in ambulances. Cut aways to the cameramans eyes and to what he witnesses. Manicures and film editing process, handywork. Call centers and factories.
Stopmotion animation
Group Work:
List different edit choices from the list in google drive (group 8), from 44min-49min of the movie.
Jump cuts
Quick fade ins (from black)
Slower fade ins (landscape to people appearing on the landscape)
Slow motion
Stop motion
Reverse shot
Freeze frame
Homework: make a video in Vertovs style. No timelimit, use at least 4 techniques (match-cuts, dutch angles, extreme close ups etc.) Deadline 3.10.
10.10.
Clip from Nightmail 1936
Leni Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will propaganda film for the Nazi party
Last few lessons about cinema veritee
21.11.
Watching "Grey Gardens”, a bit of “ The salesman” (about door to door bible salesmen)
Clip: interview on direct cinema, Albert & David Maysles
History & concepts of documentaries / Marianna Kaat
5.9. Assignments total 4, participation 70% min.
Deadlines: 23.9., 3.10., 28.11., 18.12.(video!)
Nb: some assignments can be made adjacent to other courses work. Groups of max- 4 people.
→ Mariannas class were video doesn't need to be tech-wise the best, can be eg. iPhone quality. Send questions to docs@tlu.com
Task: Discuss art vs fact
Summary: subjective vs objective, metaphysical vs tangible, human oriented vs wholely independent, art mirrors vs fact is mirrored aka corroborative.
Next up the classics: lumiére brothers "workers leaving the factory”, “The train” etc.(first more staged, dynamic camera angle, forced perspective and shot size.) In the train one, ones wife, mother in law and child are instructed to look like they're looking for someone
→ Also shot in 3D → google it, interesting
1st Task: 50sec shot max. Needs to include forced perspective, long shot, no sound of editing. Max 4ppl. Deadline is 19.09. In the fashion of the train arriving.
→ David Lynch and others made similar ones with same task, except they did edit.
Watched bunch pf Lumiére bro. actualities
→ Next time first documentaries (jump to the 20's)
12.9. Main Topic: Robert Flaherty, father of documentary
Nanook of the North etc.
Was comissioned by companies to travel to different locations, studied the life of the locals, became a famous expeditioner.
William McKenzie (Canadian Railroad) who previously comissioned him suggested Flaherty brings a camera along to make visual notes on the area
Flaherty became more interested in the filmwork instead of adventure
After 3rd expedition, he began editing and had practice showings, but didn’t like what the focus for the viewers was (more naturebased)
His film material burned (accident? Or on purpose?)
Had negatives left, wanted to finish the film and showed them around to companies in an attempt to raise money. Cut short due to WW1
After the war, Flaherty was funded by Revignon Fréres, spent 16 months in the Inuit area.
Flaherty used in his visual vocabulary concepts used in fiction at that time.
June 11 1922 the film was released - Nanook of the North
Watch: Nanook of the North (1922) notes:
Note cinematic techniques etc :)
The way Flaherty talks of the Inuit is kinda cringe to be honest, but I think thats unfortunately the best he could do? In that time period at least
Flaherty combines footage together that isn’t directly related to one another e.g. Inserts, montage type (like with the wolf/dog)
Thread: continous developing narrative.
Camera work: full of close ups of the characters, focusing on their emotions. Landscape shots establishing their homelands harshness, man vs snowy desert. Wide panoramic shots. Narration through subtitle cards. Graphics displaying information. Reverse shots, collecting different shots together to build a moment, reactions.
Casting choice, Nanook shows his emotions freely and has charm.
— Some things constructed were: Nanook wasn’t his real name, his wife was ”recast” in a way. Hunting scene was done in their traditional way, even though the Inuit already used rifles etc. Flaherty put their lives on the line when they requested rifles when hunting the walrus. Gramophone part was totally staged, they already knew about these modern things. For the scenes in the igloo, they built an open three walled igloo.
In short, this documentary is a white mans exhibitionist dream of showing ”wild simple man”, a hunter gatherer. So, cringe. Marianna brought up that Flaherty isn’t taking a god like point of view of the Inuit and is on the same level as them, which is true for that time.
Questions:
When film makers tell someone elses story rather than their own, what are their responsibilites to the subjects
— Set boundaries, what is the level of involvement, be clear about your intentions with the film. Safewords :D
What are the ehtics that should govern putting someone else on film?
— Transparency and clear documentation of what has been agreed
Should the subjects of the film be shown the footage
—
Should the subjects have a right to decide what is or is not included in the film?
— Yes, but the boundaries should ideally be established before anything is filmed
HUOM. DL for video assignment 19.9., also note that it can’t be staged
19.9.”
We watched all the 50sec films produced by the class.
Dziga Vertov (nickname)
Worked with his wife (editor) and brother (Mikhail Kaufman)
”Man with a Movie Camera”
— Used a range of cinematic techniques in the film
— Multiple exposure, fast motion, slow motion, match cut, split screen, dutch angles, extreme close up, animation, self-reflexive visuals etc.
— inspired by Hollywood films of the era
— Editing inspired as well
— The different cinematic techniques are listed in Google drive as well
Film: ”Man with a Movie Camera”, 1929
After the theatre set up, and the band begins to play, long montage that establishes surroundings and themes (shot sizes vary from extreme close ups of people, places, things, to long shots)
Two clear narratives; one of the film maker, one of the people of the town waking up and preparing to leave their homes for the day. The city wakes up.
Workers preparing the city for a new day, dusting the streets, buses and trams beginning their journeys, and the camera man does his part.
Move on to the peoples daily lives, at offices, weddings, graveyards, hospitals; women giving birth and grieving over lost loved ones; crossroads. People in ambulances. Cut aways to the cameramans eyes and to what he witnesses. Manicures and film editing process, handywork. Call centers and factories.
Stopmotion animation
Group Work:
List different edit choices from the list in google drive (group 8), from 44min-49min of the movie.
Jump cuts
Quick fade ins (from black)
Slower fade ins (landscape to people appearing on the landscape)
Slow motion
Stop motion
Reverse shot
Freeze frame
Homework: make a video in Vertovs style. No timelimit, use at least 4 techniques (match-cuts, dutch angles, extreme close ups etc.) Deadline 3.10.
10.10.
Clip from Nightmail 1936
Leni Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will propaganda film for the Nazi party
Last few lessons about cinema veritee
21.11.
Watching "Grey Gardens”, a bit of “ The salesman” (about door to door bible salesmen)
Clip: interview on direct cinema, Albert & David Maysles
