Jeremy Lawang
For my Assignment 4 research project, I wanted to select a topic that both intrigued my interest’s as well as be a challenging task. Personally, being a fan of all sorts of documentary styles and genres, I thought that selecting my research project on specifically historical documentaries would be a fun and engaging task. I realised that there are important forms of stylistic filmic techniques that define historical documentaries what they are. For my assignment 4, I focused purely on the works of director Peter Watkins, who in his works, consists of a unique and radical style of filmmaking. Many of which Watkins’ work involves creatively incorporating a ‘live camera crew’ whilst documenting events, this style truly defines Watkins’ attitude to film, as he uses this technique in majority of his works. Nonetheless, historical documentaries are truly captivating, as they take viewers to a journey through the past. Inevitably, this assignment helped me boost my knowledge on understanding the different camera coverage that differ historical documentaries from other documentary styles. Lastly, from watching multiple of Watkins’ films, I have also discovered that his approach to his own films consists of him not hiring professional actors as well as the constant breaking of the fourth wall. Overall, the use of interviews, reenactments, archival footage, narration and the use of desired camera movement and angles. These are all, the codes and conventions that make historical documentaries what they are known for.
Link to my MediaFactory website that includes my A#4 project;