Initial idea one;
Initial idea two;
Initial idea three;
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Monday, 28 April 2014
Friday, 25 April 2014
Monday, 21 April 2014
'Documenting Documentaries'
In this assignment I will be defining each of Nicholls modes; The Expository Mode (voice of god), The Observational Mode (window on the world), The Participatory Mode (also called interactive), The Reflexive Mode (awareness of the process) and The Performative Mode (filmmaker as participant). Also explaining how and why conventions, realism, dramatisation and narrativisation are used.
The Expository Mode (voice of god):
The expository mode is when the producer interprets how they would like the audience to view the documentary, as it is emphasized through verbal commentary known as 'voice over' and argumentative logic by using a narrator. The logical argument is used help the audience understand something for example whether it may be common sense (cant argue with the logic), as this is answered by an direct response/address used by News reports as if the audience in front of them.
An example of this mode within a documentary I have used is Victory at sea, as the narrator is not physically shown within the documentary as only the voice is heard mimics the 'voice of god' (not literally, metaphorically) we can hear this straight away at (1.40). As we can see the archive footage and image within the documentary with a narrative explaining each point helps the audience interpret the mode by focusing on the facts rather than showing the filmmakers opinion through subjectivity rather than objectivity. Some examples of conventions used within the documentary range from a slow pace editing montages, constructing a version of reality often using narrative techniques and archive footage. The producer of the documentary is trying to achieve an objective feel through the facts shown throughout enabling the audience to create their own personal opinion on what is being shown to them however with this documentary the filmmaker selects which sections they choose to show the audience. The documentary producer uses narrativisation in the documentary through aspects of narrations and narrative techniques throughout. These convention help build the story line effectively by the use of suspense and concealing the outcome until the very end, this is done in order to the facts accurately. As this helps the viewers understand exactly what is going on rather than just viewing footage unaware of what is going on through the direct address and preferred reading.
The Observational Mode (window on the world):
The observational mode is when the producer tries to capture as much footage (archive) as possible in order to observe the situation as the filmmaker is the neutral observer mimicking a fly on the wall as nothing is staged or scripted. This mode first emerge in the late 1950's to early 1960's.
An example of this mode within a documentary is 'Celebrity Big Brother' as the filmmaker in this case remains hidden from behind the camera throughout the footage as they do not influence or change the event that is being recorded. At (1.00) the audience is shown what each contestants is doing within the house to help capture the sense of realism throughout the documentary. The documentary producer uses realism through the use of conventions such as close ups to view the expression of each house mate to make the audience aware of what the atmosphere is like. Disjoint editing is used to capture different sections of the event as no voice over or presenter is used. However this is used in order for entertainment purposes to help keep the audience focused and interested in each story line shown through a chronological order. The producer of the documentary is trying to achieve a truthful and realistic documentary without adding any subjectivity as this allows the audience interpret the mode to be accurate through the use of balance and is also unbiased as it shows each side of an argument or discussion. As the filmmaker has not used narrative or dramatisation in the documentary. Which we can see at (9.20-10.10) the conversation has no been selected by the producer but by the constants shows the realistic nature of a conversation.
The Participatory Mode (also called interactive):
The participatory mode is when the filmmaker of the documentary is filmed but is not the main focus or subject throughout the documentary. However the filmmakers events and actions being recorded are acknowledged throughout the documentary.
An example of the participatory mode I have used within a documentary is 'Kingdom of the Little People'. Throughout the documentary we can see direct engagement between the filmmaker and the subject which we can see at (3.01) the presenter uses direct interaction with each of the main characters. The presenter is continuously shown in every shot this enable the audience to see the reaction of the presenter to create their own impression on the situation. However in this mode the presenter states her personal opinion on the kingdom of little people at (0.59) as the 'run down abandoned theme park' had made her feel uncomfortable. The documentary producer uses narrativisation as the presenter talks through what is happening during that present moment as helps the audience to understand as well as the story line developing through the voice over. However the direct response of the main subjects adds to the realism as they are being themselves as what is being said is not scripted or staged in any way. Dramatisation is also used by the producer through the music and graphics for entertainment purposes which engage and interest the audience as we can see (2.10) which includes some humorous aspects. Some of the conventions used in this documentary are interviewers and framing as this normally done with someone who is related to the event and in this case it is the adults suffering from dwarfism informs the audience what life is like at kingdom of the little people, (3.30) and (5.56).
The Reflexive Mode (awareness of the process):
The Reflexive mode is when the constructed nature is being acknowledged within the documentary and flaunts it conveying to the audience that this is true but not necessarily the exact truth as this is done through reconstructions of the event or situation.
The example I have used for reflexive mode is 'The man with the movie camera (1929)' is based on filmmaker recording events with his camera as the artifice of the documentary is exposed as the audience are made aware of editing, sound and recording. As this is a constructed the documentary process becomes biased and exposed as the techniques are not the truth but are true. In this documentary the producer uses both realism and dramatisation throughout but narrative is not used as there is not chronological order of a story line nor a presenter or a voice over. The realism shown within the documentary are people practicing chores, packaging goods (at work), at the beach and more which we can see at (1.01.49), as this is a reconstruction no cliff hangers or suspense is used. Dramatisation is also used within the documentary for audience entertainment purposes for example the instrumental background music is played throughout the video to engage and interest the audience which we can hear straight away at (0.01). The type of technique impacts the audience as they are able to recognise what life was like slightly in the 1929 era. Some conventions used is the editing quite fast paced as well as archive footage which is shown throughout the documentary.
The Performative Mode (filmmaker as participant):
Performative is when the filmmaker within the documentary gets involved within the event or situation taking place as this emphasizes the subjective nature of the documentarian as well as acknowledging the subjective reading of the audience. As notions of objectivity are replaced by emotion and affect.
The example of a documentary that I have used for performative mode is 'Undercover Boss US', this is a good example of this mode due to the emphasise of emotion and social impact on the audience towards the end where suspense is built. At (33.48) the boss reveal enable to the viewers to see how they felt rather than being objective, this mode is very similar to the participant mode as this is not staged or scripted. The documentary filmmaker is the main subject at this point as there experience includes of a emotion response which we can see at (35.10). The documentary producer uses dramatisation for entertainment purposes at (1.57) we are able to hear music, fast paced editing and graphics also including close ups of the performance engages the audience. However realism and narrative is also used to represent the real life employees of the organisation and making the audience aware of what is happening throughout through the voice over of the main subject used. Some conventions that have been used are interview like discussions which include of a emotional conversation (24.25) and actuality footage. The impact this has on the viewers overall is effective as they may be able to relate to the situation within the documentary.
The Expository Mode (voice of god):
The expository mode is when the producer interprets how they would like the audience to view the documentary, as it is emphasized through verbal commentary known as 'voice over' and argumentative logic by using a narrator. The logical argument is used help the audience understand something for example whether it may be common sense (cant argue with the logic), as this is answered by an direct response/address used by News reports as if the audience in front of them.
An example of this mode within a documentary I have used is Victory at sea, as the narrator is not physically shown within the documentary as only the voice is heard mimics the 'voice of god' (not literally, metaphorically) we can hear this straight away at (1.40). As we can see the archive footage and image within the documentary with a narrative explaining each point helps the audience interpret the mode by focusing on the facts rather than showing the filmmakers opinion through subjectivity rather than objectivity. Some examples of conventions used within the documentary range from a slow pace editing montages, constructing a version of reality often using narrative techniques and archive footage. The producer of the documentary is trying to achieve an objective feel through the facts shown throughout enabling the audience to create their own personal opinion on what is being shown to them however with this documentary the filmmaker selects which sections they choose to show the audience. The documentary producer uses narrativisation in the documentary through aspects of narrations and narrative techniques throughout. These convention help build the story line effectively by the use of suspense and concealing the outcome until the very end, this is done in order to the facts accurately. As this helps the viewers understand exactly what is going on rather than just viewing footage unaware of what is going on through the direct address and preferred reading.
The Observational Mode (window on the world):
The observational mode is when the producer tries to capture as much footage (archive) as possible in order to observe the situation as the filmmaker is the neutral observer mimicking a fly on the wall as nothing is staged or scripted. This mode first emerge in the late 1950's to early 1960's.
An example of this mode within a documentary is 'Celebrity Big Brother' as the filmmaker in this case remains hidden from behind the camera throughout the footage as they do not influence or change the event that is being recorded. At (1.00) the audience is shown what each contestants is doing within the house to help capture the sense of realism throughout the documentary. The documentary producer uses realism through the use of conventions such as close ups to view the expression of each house mate to make the audience aware of what the atmosphere is like. Disjoint editing is used to capture different sections of the event as no voice over or presenter is used. However this is used in order for entertainment purposes to help keep the audience focused and interested in each story line shown through a chronological order. The producer of the documentary is trying to achieve a truthful and realistic documentary without adding any subjectivity as this allows the audience interpret the mode to be accurate through the use of balance and is also unbiased as it shows each side of an argument or discussion. As the filmmaker has not used narrative or dramatisation in the documentary. Which we can see at (9.20-10.10) the conversation has no been selected by the producer but by the constants shows the realistic nature of a conversation.
The Participatory Mode (also called interactive):
The participatory mode is when the filmmaker of the documentary is filmed but is not the main focus or subject throughout the documentary. However the filmmakers events and actions being recorded are acknowledged throughout the documentary.
An example of the participatory mode I have used within a documentary is 'Kingdom of the Little People'. Throughout the documentary we can see direct engagement between the filmmaker and the subject which we can see at (3.01) the presenter uses direct interaction with each of the main characters. The presenter is continuously shown in every shot this enable the audience to see the reaction of the presenter to create their own impression on the situation. However in this mode the presenter states her personal opinion on the kingdom of little people at (0.59) as the 'run down abandoned theme park' had made her feel uncomfortable. The documentary producer uses narrativisation as the presenter talks through what is happening during that present moment as helps the audience to understand as well as the story line developing through the voice over. However the direct response of the main subjects adds to the realism as they are being themselves as what is being said is not scripted or staged in any way. Dramatisation is also used by the producer through the music and graphics for entertainment purposes which engage and interest the audience as we can see (2.10) which includes some humorous aspects. Some of the conventions used in this documentary are interviewers and framing as this normally done with someone who is related to the event and in this case it is the adults suffering from dwarfism informs the audience what life is like at kingdom of the little people, (3.30) and (5.56).
The Reflexive Mode (awareness of the process):
The Reflexive mode is when the constructed nature is being acknowledged within the documentary and flaunts it conveying to the audience that this is true but not necessarily the exact truth as this is done through reconstructions of the event or situation.
The example I have used for reflexive mode is 'The man with the movie camera (1929)' is based on filmmaker recording events with his camera as the artifice of the documentary is exposed as the audience are made aware of editing, sound and recording. As this is a constructed the documentary process becomes biased and exposed as the techniques are not the truth but are true. In this documentary the producer uses both realism and dramatisation throughout but narrative is not used as there is not chronological order of a story line nor a presenter or a voice over. The realism shown within the documentary are people practicing chores, packaging goods (at work), at the beach and more which we can see at (1.01.49), as this is a reconstruction no cliff hangers or suspense is used. Dramatisation is also used within the documentary for audience entertainment purposes for example the instrumental background music is played throughout the video to engage and interest the audience which we can hear straight away at (0.01). The type of technique impacts the audience as they are able to recognise what life was like slightly in the 1929 era. Some conventions used is the editing quite fast paced as well as archive footage which is shown throughout the documentary.
The Performative Mode (filmmaker as participant):
Performative is when the filmmaker within the documentary gets involved within the event or situation taking place as this emphasizes the subjective nature of the documentarian as well as acknowledging the subjective reading of the audience. As notions of objectivity are replaced by emotion and affect.
The example of a documentary that I have used for performative mode is 'Undercover Boss US', this is a good example of this mode due to the emphasise of emotion and social impact on the audience towards the end where suspense is built. At (33.48) the boss reveal enable to the viewers to see how they felt rather than being objective, this mode is very similar to the participant mode as this is not staged or scripted. The documentary filmmaker is the main subject at this point as there experience includes of a emotion response which we can see at (35.10). The documentary producer uses dramatisation for entertainment purposes at (1.57) we are able to hear music, fast paced editing and graphics also including close ups of the performance engages the audience. However realism and narrative is also used to represent the real life employees of the organisation and making the audience aware of what is happening throughout through the voice over of the main subject used. Some conventions that have been used are interview like discussions which include of a emotional conversation (24.25) and actuality footage. The impact this has on the viewers overall is effective as they may be able to relate to the situation within the documentary.
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