Considering my work was heavily inspired by that of Frederick Wiseman, who practises in an observational mode of documentary film making, I think that majority of my film conveys a sense of authenticity, and represents the real world consistently.

The observational mode I took inspiration from, and made my film practising, involves not interfering or staging what is happening in front of the camera, rather allowing real life events to unfold with un-cast people. the mode also avoids re-enactments and or narration/voiceovers, however typically includes long takes (Staff, 2023). This mode of documentary film making is also known as ‘cinema verite’, which translates to ‘truthful cinema’ (Kellerman, 2019).

For almost the whole length of my film, I think that the audience is encouraged to consider and think about pub culture in Melbourne, particularly about the different groups of people at the particular venues. Through the sound and compilation of shots, audiences recognising the different kinds of voices, clothing, gender, and practises in each of the pubs should encourage deeper thinking and consideration of the geographical area of the venues, and the typical rituals of visiting pubs in Melbourne.

An area of my project that I think specifically encourages this thought and that conveys a sense of authenticity is the contrast between the second and third pub. Shots in The Precinct (second pub) such as the pan shot of ‘blokes’ talking around the table, and various shots outside where people (mainly men) are watching the football, drinking beer, and gambling get across to the audience that this pub is very sporty, and attracts a slightly older and less exotic crowd. However when we see the Union Hotel, there is distinctly both male and female voices, you hear an order for a lemon lime bitters drink (as well as see it being made), and there are both males and females around the pool table. This hopefully brings the audience to consider the type of crowd attending this pub, and the type of crowd at night.

The transitions between the streets and local area surrounding the pubs also encourages the audience to consider the impact and importance of local venues in bringing locals together and providing a social space for specific suburbs. This is most effective at the beginning of the film, with the transition of sound from busy traffic to a crowd of people in the pub talking and laughing, as well as seeing the bar tender laugh with a customer. The impact of community and significance of pubs should hopefully be conveyed to the audience in this specific sequence.

Bibliography

Hellerman, J. (2019) What is cinema verite and how can you use it in film and TV?, No Film School. Available at: https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-cinema-verite (Accessed: 26 May 2023).

Staff (2023) Documentary: What is The observational mode?, So The Theory Goes. Available at: https://www.sothetheorygoes.com/documentary-observational-mode/#:~:text=In%20an%20observational%20mode%20documentary,for%20this%20kind%20of%20filmmaking. (Accessed: 26 May 2023).