https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjfsOOlWLG8

In this week, I learned a lot about contemplative documentary, it was a new concept of documentary for me. Due to the current strict environment, we could not go to the class to discuss this with others, it is indeed a challenge for me. However, I have watched the video and resources online, helped me get to know “contemplative documentary”. In Hughes’s words, the importance of environment is an unavoidable and elusive concept in the movie industry. The contemplative documentary use an different way to show the environment, which leaves more space for the audience to think and imagine. This is a more subjective expression, without much modification to the film, or even without music and narration, presents the real things directly.

In Our Daily Bread(2005), the director shows the process of a food industry, it was complex and diverse, but it intuitively shows the operation of a factory. After watching this film, I get to know how is our necessities food works in system. Although, there is no background music or people’s voice, the whole process still makes me feel the greatness of farm industry. In another documentary 13 Lakes(2004), it used many long shots to show different lakes in different weather. It also filmed by contemplative documentary, the director used nearly the same angle to shoot different lakes, without any vocal, background music, there is only the sounds of nature, gives people a pure visual experience. In the modern film industry, few popular movies have used such shooting methods to record scenes and events. People are pursuing excitement of sense organ and often ignore the most authentic part. In my video, I also shoot the lake, due to the limitation of condition, I can’t shoot different kinds of lakes, but I tried to bring the real scenery to the audience. In my video, the sound of wind was too loud which made me a little bit confused, that’s why I added the background music to cover it up. I shoot the scene that people fishing, and playing basketball, it was an peaceful and joyful environment, the background music that I added will not disturb the audience. My phone shakes a bit in windy weather, I think next time I will use more professional equipment to improve that.

Reference:

Hughes, H. (2014). Green documentary : Environmental documentary in the 21st century. Bristol: Intellect.

Benning, J. (2004). Thirteen Lakes.

Geyrhalter, N.(2005). Our Daily Bread .