Tag Archives: film-making

Film TV 2 – Course Reflection

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As a part of the last analysis/ reflection for Film-TV 2, I have been asked to discuss what I have gained from this course and if it has lived up to my expectations. Firstly, I have gained a lot throughout this semester from various elements of the documentary film-making process. It has been a strong learning experience, particularly with the subject topic that we decided to explore. The two documentary segments that we have produced investigates how immigrants assimilate to their new life in Australia, what challenges they might come across and what can assist them to adapt within their new society. With investigating the subject topic at hand, the team faced challenges with interviewing the documentary participants and presenting information. However, it was a good learning curve into how to consider and deal with sensitive topics. Additionally, I gained a lot based on the subject topic that we investigated as I have had a strong desire to explore the topic for a while and it provided me with a great deal of insight.

 

In regards to the technical process, I have also gained insight into what I would do next time and how to approach certain technical elements. Importantly, when making another documentary I would use two cameras instead of one to allow for the team to capture a more diverse range of footage inclusive of various camera angles and cut away shots. The importance of gaining a varied range of footage was evident in the editing process when we had limited stylistic options.

 

Overall, I have highly enjoyed the course that has enabled me with the support and base knowledge to produce documentaries. Furthermore, I am ambitious to continue practicing documentary film-making and am looking forward to making my next piece.

‘The Art of Documentary’, an interivew with Haslell Wexler

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Megan Cunningham’s article titled ‘The Art of Documentary’ features an interview with the reclaimed documentary film-maker, Haskell Wexler.

The article divulges in Wexler’s film-making style, where he often provoked actions from documentary subjects in order to entice drama as well as to present a certain type of documentary. Wexler defines his approach to cinema verite documentary making as “Using your filming ability” (pg. 89), suggestively to present a filmic piece that a director envisions. Interestingly, Wexler tells how he has often foreseen what may be needed to make a cut work better and to enhance a scene. In doing so, Wexler disclosed how he filmed Keith Richard’s jamming, however he recognized at the time that he would need a shot of Richards entering the room to make the shot work and so he made that happen. Although Wexler did intervene with how the shot, I consider this approach a documentary tactic, one that perhaps I should consider when shooting my documentary. In saying this, it is always important to have an awareness of elements surrounding your film, which may be how to make a shot work better, a sound that you pass by or even potential cut away.

 

Wexler tells that, “All images we see are images now presented by the people that want to present them. And they don’t necessarily present the truth” (pg. 89). Wexler’s statement notes a striking veracity. Not only does the author have an ability to present information in a certain way, every decision a filmmaker chooses assists in presenting a certain perception on numerous elements within a film.