#rtrmodule

[abeemovie]

The Importance of Research in Documentary Filmmaking (RTR)

The importance of research:

It can help you work around what the ‘central’ or most important question of your work is. A film has to have a question or argument that can be backed up. Without a question/argument, the film can fall flat and become unimportant.

It can help you to choose a subject you are passionate about. Nobody wants a documentary made about something that has no meaning to you as a filmmaker. It will show through your work that you are not passionate about the subject and the film will not be engaging. 

It can add a level of depth to your work. 

How to approach researching a subject?

Investigate from all angles. Look from every argument to find what makes your argument the strongest and the one which needs to be told. 

Understand that becoming an expert about the subject will help you grow as a filmmaker and learn so much more about the world.

Sources of research can include:

Books, articles, essays (google scholar, library, internet).

Films (cinema, library, websites).

Photographs (galleries, books, archives).

Art forms (museums, galleries, books).

Location visits (galleries, studios, houses).

Formal interviews (main character, family members, experts).

Researching through observation means to follow a place or person and observe the environment from an outward perspective, thus giving you insight into a routine or character.

Researching through immersion means to go to a place or environment in which you take part in a routine etc., thus helping you gain a better understanding and overall empathy towards the subject.

What to do with research?

Record and document. 

Make notes on what is useful from viewings and copy down quotes, write summaries etc. 

Print out any needed photography for research and make notes on why it is suitable and relevant. 

Record and transcribe interviews.

Make notes about specific routines encountered through observation or immersion and add a personal reflection which can be added to documentary.

[abeemovie]

Representing the Real

Exercise 1 -- documentary notes

All Representing the Real posts will be tagged under #rtrmodule

‘Portrait of Ga’ (dir. Margaret Tait)

This was by far my favourite film within the viewings due to the originality in formatting compared to the traditional use of formatting seen in mainstream media. The documentary wasn’t told with a professional interview but rather took the form of abstract cinematography of the filmmaker’s mother in the Orkney Islands. The cinematography especially highlighted the importance of the subject matter to the filmmaker and how they view ‘Ga’ in a very loving and intimate sense. The film didn’t answer a question, but rather took the form of what I would consider to be a very insightful and heart-warming observation of two people’s family relationship.

 If I was to do anything differently: I would try and add more on the cultural importance of the Orkney Islands and even speak to ‘Ga’ herself to get a better insight into the relationship.

  'Pigeon Seduction’ (dir. Lisa Peterson and Nicky Spears)

For this documentary, I felt the delivery fell a bit flat due to the traditional formatting of filmmaking used. The subject matter is a bit confusing with not enough context given to what James does with the pigeons. Although this problem, the interview with James is laid-back and free going, making him very entertaining to listen to. A phone call exchange between him and his son helps to ground the film in the sense of personal aspects, and this creates a more enjoyable and sympathetic viewing nature. You can clearly see where James’ passion lies and how keeping the pigeons are not only important to him, but for the filmmakers who have a general interest in what he does and his passions.

 If I was to do anything differently: I would give a lot more context as to what James’ does with the Pigeons and make the interviews a bit more coherent. Also, adding subtitles due to James’ thick accent may be a lot more beneficial for the viewers, especially if they aren’t familiar with the accent and dialect.

  ‘Same But Different’ (dir. Louise Leitch)

This documentary discusses the way a friendship changed over time between two friends as one transitioned into a woman. It had a clear focus and was a very professionally done film with the clear point of the loving nature between two friends being obvious. Finding out the relationship between Neil and the filmmaker (his wife) makes the standpoint of this documentary easier to understand by doesn’t exactly sit right with me as the focus is directly on Neil’s side of the story.

 If I was to do anything differently: I would have made this documentary a bit longer. For such an important story, I don’t feel like all of it was necessarily told or focussed on the right aspects of the story. The documentary heavily relied on Neil’s feelings rather than his friend’s transition and her story.

  'Lester’ (dir. Luke Fowler)

This film differed from a lot of the others shown in the sense that it never had a purpose to answer a question, but rather be an examination of character. We understand the filmmaker on a deeper level and who they are as a person due to their belongings. We understand parts of their personality not able to be seen within many other documentaries. The artistic approach to this film with flashing abstract images of Lester’s apartment gives the documentary an amateur feeling which gives us a better sense as to who the filmmaker is.

 If I was to do anything differently: I would try to add more context to the film to make it a much more tangible watch and overall, more enjoyable.