🎞️Documentary Forms Unit 16 – Influential Journalistic Documentaries

What's This Unit All About?

• Focuses on journalistic documentaries that have made a significant impact on society, politics, and the media landscape
• Explores the power of documentary filmmaking to shed light on important issues, expose wrongdoing, and drive change
• Examines the techniques and strategies used by documentary filmmakers to engage audiences and convey compelling stories
• Delves into the ethical considerations and challenges faced by journalists and filmmakers when tackling sensitive or controversial topics
• Traces the evolution of the journalistic documentary from early pioneers to modern-day practitioners
• Highlights the role of technology in shaping the production, distribution, and consumption of documentaries in the digital age
• Emphasizes the ongoing relevance and importance of journalistic documentaries in an era of fake news and information overload

Key Documentaries to Know

• "Nanook of the North" (1922) by Robert Flaherty, considered the first feature-length documentary, depicting the life of an Inuit family in the Canadian Arctic
• "The Thin Blue Line" (1988) by Errol Morris, which investigated the case of a wrongfully convicted man and led to his release from prison
• "Harlan County, USA" (1976) by Barbara Kopple, documenting a coal miners' strike in Kentucky and the struggles of the labor movement
• "The Act of Killing" (2012) by Joshua Oppenheimer, confronting former Indonesian death squad leaders about their role in the 1965-66 genocide
  • Uses a unique approach of having the perpetrators reenact their crimes, blurring the lines between reality and fiction
• "13th" (2016) by Ava DuVernay, exploring the connection between race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States
• "Citizenfour" (2014) by Laura Poitras, chronicling the story of Edward Snowden and his revelations about NSA surveillance
• "The Panama Papers" (2018) by Alex Winter, investigating the largest data leak in history and its implications for global corruption and tax evasion

Pioneers and Game-Changers

• Robert Flaherty, often credited as the father of the documentary film, known for his immersive approach and blending of reality and staged scenes (Nanook of the North)
• Dziga Vertov, Soviet filmmaker who pioneered the "kino-eye" theory and the use of montage to create meaning (Man with a Movie Camera)
• John Grierson, British filmmaker and critic who coined the term "documentary" and advocated for its use as a tool for social change (Drifters)
• Albert and David Maysles, brothers who pioneered the direct cinema style, characterized by unobtrusive observation and minimal intervention (Salesman, Grey Gardens)
• Frederick Wiseman, known for his fly-on-the-wall approach and long-form documentaries that explore American institutions (Titicut Follies, High School)
• Barbara Kopple, one of the first women to make a significant impact in the field, known for her socially conscious and activist-driven documentaries (Harlan County, USA)
• Michael Moore, controversial filmmaker who popularized the use of humor, satire, and personal narrative in his politically charged documentaries (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine)

Techniques That Pack a Punch

• Cinéma vérité, a style that emphasizes truth and authenticity through unobtrusive observation and minimal intervention by the filmmaker
• Investigative journalism, using the power of the camera to uncover wrongdoing, expose corruption, and hold those in power accountable
• Participatory documentaries, in which the filmmaker becomes an active participant in the story, often blurring the lines between observer and subject
• Reenactments and dramatizations, used to recreate events or provide visual context when actual footage is unavailable or insufficient
• Archival footage and photographs, incorporated to provide historical context, evoke nostalgia, or contrast with present-day realities
• Interviews and talking heads, used to provide first-hand accounts, expert opinions, and personal perspectives on the subject matter
• Montage and editing techniques, employed to create meaning, build narrative tension, and evoke emotional responses from the audience

Ethical Dilemmas and Debates

• The line between objectivity and advocacy, and the role of the filmmaker in shaping the narrative and influencing public opinion
• The use of hidden cameras, undercover filming, and other covert methods to obtain footage, and the potential invasion of privacy
• The responsibility of filmmakers to their subjects, particularly when dealing with vulnerable or marginalized communities
• The impact of editing and the potential for manipulation or misrepresentation of reality through selective inclusion or omission of footage
• The challenge of obtaining informed consent from subjects, especially in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations
• The ethical implications of paying subjects or providing incentives for their participation in the documentary
• The balance between the public's right to know and the potential harm or unintended consequences of exposing sensitive information

Impact on Society and Media

• Documentaries have the power to raise awareness about important issues, spark public discourse, and inspire social and political change (An Inconvenient Truth, Blackfish)
• Investigative documentaries can lead to real-world consequences, such as policy changes, legal reforms, or the resignation of public officials (The Thin Blue Line, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room)
• Documentaries can give voice to marginalized or underrepresented communities, fostering empathy and understanding (Paris Is Burning, The Act of Killing)
• The success of documentaries at film festivals and award ceremonies has helped to elevate the genre and attract wider audiences (Fahrenheit 9/11, March of the Penguins)
• Documentaries have influenced the style and content of mainstream media, blurring the lines between journalism and entertainment (The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver)
• The rise of streaming platforms and on-demand viewing has made documentaries more accessible and increased their potential for global impact (Netflix, Amazon Prime)

Modern Takes and Digital Age Twists

• The democratization of filmmaking through affordable digital cameras and editing software, enabling a new generation of documentary filmmakers
• The rise of citizen journalism and the use of mobile phones and social media to document and share real-time events (Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter)
• The emergence of interactive and immersive documentaries that allow viewers to engage with the content in new ways (Alma, a Tale of Violence; Bear 71)
• The use of virtual reality and 360-degree video to create more immersive and empathetic experiences for viewers (Clouds Over Sidra, Traveling While Black)
• The impact of algorithms and personalized recommendations on the discoverability and consumption of documentaries in the digital age
• The challenge of verifying the authenticity of user-generated content and the potential for the spread of misinformation or propaganda
• The role of data visualization and infographics in presenting complex information and enhancing the storytelling of modern documentaries (The Secret Life of Chaos, The Joy of Stats)

Why It Matters for Future Journalists

• Documentaries offer a powerful tool for journalists to investigate, educate, and inspire change in an increasingly complex and interconnected world
• The skills and techniques used in documentary filmmaking, such as research, interviewing, and storytelling, are transferable to other forms of journalism
• The ability to critically analyze and evaluate documentaries is essential for journalists in an era of information overload and fake news
• Documentaries provide a platform for journalists to explore long-form, in-depth storytelling and tackle subjects that may be overlooked by mainstream media
• The success of journalistic documentaries can help to restore public trust in the media and demonstrate the value of rigorous, fact-based reporting
• The intersection of journalism and documentary filmmaking offers new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and impact in the digital age
• Aspiring journalists can draw inspiration from the work of pioneering documentary filmmakers and adapt their techniques to the evolving media landscape