We are talking about Docs in our 2nd-year Comm for Television course. A couple weeks ago we discussed the difference between Docs versus Reality TV. Really, the emergence of Reality TV and also the proliferation of Web Docs has made a crash course in Documentary Literacy more useful than ever.
Topics to ponder:
1) Narrator's Voice
Consider Freeman versus Herzog in
March of the Penguins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB_GisVFboU
vs.
Grizzly Man
(vs. Grizzly Man Treadwell himself)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLidFrcp5Eo
On the topic of narrators, close your eyes and notice how just a narrator's voice can summon up an era
City of Gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGxHHAX1nOY
Eerie!
2) Documentary Montage
No discussion of Documentary Editing & Post choices would be complete without discussing Sergei Eisenstein.
Eisenstein's Montage is best understood watching clips from
Battleship Potemkin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euG1y0KtP_Q
or Oktober
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usou1m8H1CQ
After you watch the Eisenstein clips, watch the trailer for March of the Penguins again to see the editing similarities.
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The thoughts from Almost Live Productions (Terin, Geoff, Casey, Torey, Jay, Rae-Anne)
ReplyDeleteUse of multiple voices given were effected because they were influential people
Main narrator voice was fitting considering it was about war
Editing was narration for the first few minutes as they built the mood and told the character through editing
Editing established the humanity of war
Very powerful narration, one sided, made the speaker seem justified “to air is human”
Editing built up suspense
The thoughts from Bellatrix Productions (Allison, Andrea, Bryan, Cailin, Kaisha, Shenyan)
ReplyDeleteNARRATION
-The narration from Rob McNamara is biased because it is coming from his point of view, there aren't any other point of views
-Usage of stock footage and recent footage puts forth an interesting contrast of his past when he was in office and the present
-His story telling helps move the story along
-The phone conversation with President Kennedy shows how McNamara was trying to push blame on someone else so that it made it seem like he was never at fault.
EDITING
-The pacing of the beginning interview with McNamara is very unique and interesting
-Good contrast of stock footage and current footage
-Juxtaposition of the news paper comments of admiration is used well
-creates truth to what actually happened, as opposed to solely being biased
-Raw audio of the mushroom cloud explosion grabs an emotional response from the audience
-everyone relates the mushroom cloud with death and destruction
#DARK SIDE PRODUCTIONS#
ReplyDelete“Fog of war” uses one narrative voice throughout. This documentary creates effective juxtaposition using both past and present perspectives. The opening sequence is quite random and definitely does not follow any particular pattern. It’s editing style is jarring and non-linear. The subject matter matches the editing style very well and sets a dark uneasy tone. The fast paced montage of the newspaper clippings definitely continues to build tension. Simply amazing!
Friendly Fire Productions
ReplyDeleteEditing:
Good opening with contrast of the soldiers and different positions they had to set the era and what they were involved in.
Introduction of the main character was displayed along with a number of related visuals, which gave the general perception of the public towards the general of defense. Very select footage of Macnamara’s moments while he was in position, during his presentations.
During the conversation between Macnamara and the president, visuals of related artillery and civilian population set a good atmosphere for everything involved in their tense predicament. The choices to be made and consequences to follow were laid out in a suspenseful way, even though these events have already taken place.
Good editing and pacing of visuals during the words spoken added the appropriate emphasis to move the documentary forward.
Narration:
Qualified himself by his previous experience within war. Also was supplied by CBS authority who ‘dubbed’ him ‘IBM guy’ multiple voices were effective as they were the people who were involved in the situation (Macnamara himself + JFK)
For the Muhammad Ali Documentary:
ReplyDeleteFriendly Fire Productions:
Narration: We found that the voices they used painted Muhammad Ali in a very "hero-esc" Light. The symbolism used, such as the arena and the blood reference of the gladiators that used to fight them. The retoric of Muhammad Ali was featured quite substancially featured - creating a entertaining affection with the audience, whereas Foremans reply or response was never feautred.
Shots: The shots of Muhammad were typically shot in "Hero Style" (shot from below - making him look bigger) Where as shots of Foreman were typically shot from above - making him appear smaller.
Muhammad Ali Documentary Entry From Bellatrix:
ReplyDelete"What techniques are made to make Ali Heroic?"
-Camera angles looking up at Ali make him look like he has a lot of power
-Foremen is barely seen in the doc
-The clips of Ali portrayed him to be an underdog
-The clips of Foremen made him seem "evil" and "the bad guy" (IE. Reporters say "he's a monster")
Almost Live Production:
ReplyDeleteNarration:
We found that for narration. They protrayed Ali as sort of the good guy, he was cocky yet clever and witty, but at the same time, everything he said could be backed up with his actions. They showed him as a hero.
Shots: A lot of the shots were looking up at Ali making him look like more of a hero, alot of the other shots was stock footage of different events that relate to the story and the build up of the Ali vs Foreman fight
Darkside Productions: Muhammad Ali Documentary
ReplyDeleteTechnical aspects that made him look powerful are:
Shots of him fighting his opponents successfully
Him being considered the underdog in the end
Cameras angles looking up at Ali a lot of the time
Foreman is made to look like the bad guy while Ali is made to look like the hero
Tonnes of his fans everywhere
People chanting his name in the crowds