Documentaries
Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 9:48 pm
Every year I see scores of amateur documentaries. It must be the most popular
form of movie making.
If we put travelogues and holiday films to one side we seem to be left with
two broad groups of documentary which I will tentatively designate "smooth"
and "rough" - though these are inadequate terms. I am talking now about good
work, the sort which wins competitions and is widely enjoyed.
The smooth ones show every sign of being made by someone (or a team) with
an eye for visual style, with a sense of tempo in the editing and with a
structured soundtrack often blending many elements.
The rough ones sometimes seem almost bumbling. Their images are sharp and
clean but not composed, their editing workmanlike but inspired and often
monotonous, soundtracks clesar but usually limited to a single element at
a time: voice, actuality or music.
Is this only my perception?
Both types tell their story fairly well. Both types can go badly wrong (!)
Very often both types pick up awards ... but often the top prizes seem to
me to go most often to the rough ones.
Is it me?
Dave McPuzzled
form of movie making.
If we put travelogues and holiday films to one side we seem to be left with
two broad groups of documentary which I will tentatively designate "smooth"
and "rough" - though these are inadequate terms. I am talking now about good
work, the sort which wins competitions and is widely enjoyed.
The smooth ones show every sign of being made by someone (or a team) with
an eye for visual style, with a sense of tempo in the editing and with a
structured soundtrack often blending many elements.
The rough ones sometimes seem almost bumbling. Their images are sharp and
clean but not composed, their editing workmanlike but inspired and often
monotonous, soundtracks clesar but usually limited to a single element at
a time: voice, actuality or music.
Is this only my perception?
Both types tell their story fairly well. Both types can go badly wrong (!)
Very often both types pick up awards ... but often the top prizes seem to
me to go most often to the rough ones.
Is it me?
Dave McPuzzled