'ALL THIS MAYHEM' - FILM ANALYSIS

'All this mayhem' is a 2014 documentary directed by Eddie Martin, the documentary
focusses on providing the audience with a dark insight into the lives of two brothers. Detailing the destruction of Tas and Ben Pappas as they rise to being two of the worlds most renowned professional skateboarders, also delving into the development of skateboarding as a sport, displaying the effect commercialisation had on the culture. The documentary effectively uses a combination of archive footage and talking heads to include a gripping narrative within the film. Portraying how both of the brothers raw talent and intense determination swiftly started to fade as a downwards spiral of self destruction occurred , this downfall heavily influenced by the copious amount of drugs accessible due to the success sparked from their talents. I thought the manipulation of archive footage within the film was very effective as the true grit within the footage reflected the story it self, displaying the various stages of the brothers as they proceeded to become two of the worlds most highly ranked skateboarders regardless of their notorious involvement with drugs. Sound was an obvious tool used to enhance this change within the narrative as we as the audience reached various climatic points within the film, the selection of music at the start of the film in particular effectively portraying the positivity revolving around a skatepark environment, in combination with the found footage i thought this was able to capture the good vibe evident in the environment on screen. As the narrative progressed and drugs became a major element of the individuals lives , the sound consequently changed and a more negative tone was inflicted upon the films mood, adding more drone sounding noises was very important in enhancing the journey of the viewer as the emotional tone switched throughout the duration of the film, causing the emotions to heighten as the narrative constantly fluctuates through dramatic events in the two brothers lives. 

EXAM PRACTICE

'WHEN WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES, WE ARE JUST AS INVOLVED IN NARRATIVE AND CHARACTER AS WE ARE WHEN WATCHING FICTIONAL FILMS - DISCUSS HOW FAR THIS TRUE IN RELATION TO YOUR OWN STUDIES OF DOCUMENTARY SPECTATORSHIP 

Universal themes surrounding humanity automatically allows the audience to gravitate towards a level of engagement within a film due to reliability and sympathy for people . The construction of narrative and characters in fictional films being effective due to many elements contributing to this audience involvement being structured and injected into the films story purposefully. A documentary can display many similarities and differences to this obvious construction due to the filmmakers having to capture the reality within the various situations and characters in real time, further enhancing the emotive sections in the editing process after the actual production of the documentary. Even though the assumption made when viewing a doc is that it is all factual , it is evident that within many docs various elements are constructed and enhanced to deliver the message of the film with full impact, whether this be through drama recreations or the actual construction of events within the various stories , as said previously the editing process is a major tool for many documentary filmmakers when attempting to maximise audience involvement. The ideology revolving around reception theory will be key when discussing how my case studies effectively involve audience members in the different narratives and characters , looking closely at the elements used in documentary film to create a sense of involvement for spectators. 

My case studies exemplify different routes in which a documentary may take when creating a film that effectively involves audience members. This involvement differing according to the viewers stance when watching the film whether that be active or passive , as well as the type of documentary whether that be expository or observational, these various components all contributing to how involved the viewer comes within the documentary. An immediate example of a very effective documentary that followed an expository format would be 'Blackfish' (2013), directed by Gabriella Koperthwait , a film that swiftly triggered an active audience to react in response to the corruption surrounding company; sea world, this example detailing the impact a documentary can have in terms of involvement among audience members. All though this film clearly focusses on the life and mistreatment of an animal (orka) rather than a person, a narrative in which the killer whales life is explored is used purposefully in order to create sympathy among audience members, this basic narrative structure detailing events through out the killer whales life effectively creating sympathy among audience members , this narrative structure still successful even though it may not possess the same level of complexity which is often found in many fiction films in the modern day.

WEEKLY FILM - NERVE

'Nerve' is a 2016 romantic crime drama directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman , the film follows protagonist Vee (Emma Roberts) as she suddenly becomes involved in a game named 'Nerve', the film provides viewers with an insight into the power that the internet possesses in modern society, detailing the limits in which people will surpass in order to gain popularity regardless of the dangers that may come attached. Nerve itself revolves around a basic concept in which people decide whether to be involved with the game or watch the game through a site, mindlessly entering the site which accumulates their personal details and forms the game around these details, again emphasizing the power which is held within the internet , the game constantly causing problems through out the film due to 'Nerve' gaining this power through these details and devices of the various people involved, exposing and exploiting the various characters through the game itself. We are immediately introduced to the protagonist through a screen, which I personally believe holds a very symbolic point which is explored further as the films narrative develops and progresses, the current impact of technology on people in terms of their immersion in various platforms held within technology is without doubt a message intended to be delivered by the film. It effectively delivers this message by displaying the obsession many people have with the game in the film through dramatic events, enhancing the concept by showing a vast range of people that are willing to become involved with the game due to them believing they hold an anonymous stance, possibly reflecting the danger of the internet as people continuously become involved with illegal antics that would be unavailable if the internet and this particular game didn't have such a strong hold and following impact on society. 

EXAM PRACTICE

 To what extent can the films you have studied for this topic be seen to reinforce rather than challenge stereotypes?

Stereotypes are often used as a mechanism within film to create characters which are three dimensional, possessing a level of depth and realism, films can either manipulate and reinforce these stereotypes in order to to create characters that can immediately be recognised within society, or challenge them. This challenging of stereotypes bringing a level of controversy to the film as the audience are provided with a different viewpoint on a particular type of person they may not of yet accumulated. Often these subverted stereotypes can be seen to revolve around films that focus on the oppressed in society, people that are often misrepresented and consequently fit into a stereotype that is believed by audience members . Filmmakers can play a vital role in challenging these stereotypes through various stories within film, providing the audience with a more detailed insight into the lives of people that are constantly associated with a particular stigma due to well established stereotypes , I believe my selected films for this topic can be seen to both reinforce and challenge the stereotypes they are faced with, displaying key characters in a different light as appose to following all conventions usually used when representing the particular ethnic background the individuals come from.

My focus films within this topic are effective in challenging these stereotypes rather extensively throughout the duration of the films, in particular I will explore how the characters are seen to subvert stereotypes usually associated with them. Due to the poverty evident within the two films a stereotype is immediately built as we are introduced to the locations which are consequently thriving with conflict , this conflict only sparked by the constant oppression faced by the minorities featured within the two films. We gain an insight into the harsh environments surrounding the characters within the films and soon come to realise that these situations are almost unescapable for the protagonists due to the dominant power lying generally with people that possess money, this causing a prominent power struggle between the oppressors and oppressed as conflict ensues, resulting in many bold stereotypes forming the characters we follow throughout the two films.

'MOONLIGHT' - FILM ANALYSIS

'Moonlight' is a a 2016 drama directed by Barry Jenkins , I have selected this particular film as an additional case study due to its commonality in challenging stereotypes associated with masculinity , the films success in winning the most prestigious award at the annual oscars being another prominent element I would like to expand on within the analysis. This film provides us with an insight into the protagonists life through three different stages of his life, allowing us to see clear character development as he continues to battle with his sexuality throughout the stages .This revolving element of his sexuality being a major focus for audience members due to the environment which surrounds him , a neighbourhood in Miami where gang culture is immediately evident  being a location where an individuals masculinity stands as a major feature of their reputation , 'Moonlight' was effective in subverting this stereotype and detailing the irrelevance of the stigma associated with homosexuality in a rather subtle manner. Obvious comparisons with my previous case study 'Weekend' can be made due to the intimate insight into a homosexual relationship we can gain from viewing the films, the low productions budget and juxtaposing success also a aspect of the two films that requires a more in depth exploration , the success of both films immediately inferring there is an audience for films that explore this controversial topic, even though homosexual relationships and characters are underrepresented on a whole , this  underrepresentation most definitely due to the stereotypical ideology surrounding masculinity in modern society.    

VICTORIA - FILM ANALYSIS

'Victoria' is a 2015 crime drama directed by Sebastian Schipper , the film is effective in capturing and providing a brief insight into the chaotic happenings surrounding a young Spanish women  who has recently moved to Berlin, the entirety of the film being captured in one shot enhancing the intimacy and involvement the viewer has with the film. A linear chronological narrative is used as the one shot gives us a brief insight into the various characters lives , unable to use flashbacks for exposition , stereotypes are explored and experimented with as our  emotions towards the individuals changes multiple times through out the film, this clever construction of the various characters causing a rapid increase of tension as the climatic point of the film ensues. The cinematography being an obvious focal point when analysing the film, a completely legitimate one shot film with no cuts meant we took an intimate stance when viewing the film , literally following our protagonist (Victoria) for close to two hours , an intense engagement with the film effective as we follow our protagonist into realistic situations we both were not expecting, the POV viewpoint we are placed in allowing us a real sense of engagement within the film.

FIGHT CLUB PREZI

PANIC ROOM - WEEKLY FILM

'Panic Room' is a 2002 crime thriller directed by David Fincher, possessing themes of humanity, violence and greed the film follows two protagonists who swiftly become part of an ever increasingly dangerous situation in the comfort of their own new found home. Tension throughout the thriller is increased due to our most innocent character featured in the film suffering from diabetes are therefore accessible medication being essential to her health, this very simple addition to the young girls character creates more of a tense atmosphere as we the audience know she needs the medication in order to live, also producing a thriller with a more realistic plot line that may be much more realistic/relatable to families. Cleverly Fincher allows us to become familiar with the layout of the house through the beginning of the film , leaving the audience with an active response as the invasion of the house begins and the audience are aware of each characters movements. I personally think the most effective element of the thriller is how intelligent CGI allows it to look like the camera travels through walls,keyholes and walls revealing the close proximity between various characters, this particular style of CGI being displayed in many of Finchers films and contributing to his style as an auteur.  

WEEKLY FILM - TANGLED

'Tangled' is a 2011 animated adventure comedy directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard. The film explores themes of truth, family, perception , love and the exploration of an individuals character, we follow our protagonist Rapunzel as she discovers the outside world after being trapped and exploited for her magical power since she was a young child. Her journey made possible due the unexpected arrival of thief Flynn Rider who is currently on the run from various characters due to his illegal antics. The misunderstanding of many characters due to judging them from appearance was a consistent theme emphasised throughout the film, the 'mothers' vanity being the reason in which she had originally taken Rapunzel. The appearance of many of the characters met at the ugly duckling automatically allowing us to construct negative opinions on them due to the stereotypical brute/villan displayed in many films, Tangled cleverly flips this opinion leaving the audience shocked when we realise the only real antagonist is the 'mother'. 

WEEKLY FILM - AMERICAN BEAUTY

'American Beauty' is a 1999 romantic drama directed by Sam Mendes, the film includes themes of love,family,freedom,identity and most importantly gives a very different perspective on American culture as appose to many over films which may portray the 'American dream' in an unrealistic light. The film revolves around our protagonist Lester Burnham, a sexually frustrated character who becomes involved in many not so perfect circumstances in his perfect stereotypical A merican neighbourhood. Many circumstances which are not usually dealt with in American films due to the truth within the illegal activities displayed through out the film shedding a negative representation upon American people. However the film was nevertheless very successful gaining 5 academy awards including best picture. 

The film follows a linear narrative structure with the occasional flashback in order to allow exposition for the audience, many topics such as drugs,child abuse,adultery and the sexualisation of teenagers in the modern day is dealt with in a subtle manner, only emphasising the normality of many of these very relevant issues within American society. I personally think the combination of sound and performance is to credit for the particularly eery atmosphere provided for the audience while viewing the film, this experience constructed in this way using the obvious stereotypes alongside the controversial topics that are often not considered when attempting to portray American culture. Much of the film also centred around the insecurities of each individual characters within the Burnham family, I thought this was clear evidence that despite the large house and social class the family had achieved happiness was not evident in any of the characters, again supporting that materialism and 'stuff' is not as important as the bond between family , the lack of their family bond perfectly illustrated by the dinner table scene where they are all purposely quite clearly disconnected from each other emotionally.

FILM DEVELOPMENT - INITIAL SHOOT

After writing a shot list and developing the progression of my film in terms of narrative I decided to travel to one of many locations I will use in my film and attempt to capture my desired footage, I personally think the initial shoot was successful as many clips captured where effective and possessed my desired look aesthetically, the 'trailer' produced above also displaying many of the techniques I intend to use in the actual film itself. Montage editing being an element I would like to perfect progressing towards the final outcome, this style to be accompanied with music in order to attempt to provide suspense of the viewing audience. The cinematography displayed above being something I intend to improve on by reshooting many of the clips, although I think the range of shots included is effective in providing my desired effect.

La Jetée

'La Jetée' is a 1962 short film directed by Chris Marker, the piece is a hybrid of romance and drama and also contains elements of documentary filmmaking. The short film holds themes of war,love and humanity, even though much of the film seems as if it is left to an individuals interpretation. 'La Jetée' tells the story through a combination of still images and a voiceover, providing an experience completely different to any other film I have seen before. The film also following a unique narrative set in the aftermath of WWII, in which a man becomes an experiment surrounding the science of time travel, two key memories becoming the focus of the film as he travels from various stages of his life including the future. I personally think this is a beautiful film telling a story I suspect was very experimental at the time it was made, the visual aspects of the film also taking my keen interest as I find it intriguing how such a complex narrative can be told effectively using still photographs and a narrator. 

COMPLEX - developing ideas

In development and proceeding towards the production of my A2 film I decided to shoot on location at alexandra and ainsworth estate , choosing this location due to its impressive urban architecture and vibrant community which I intend to capture for my A2 film surrounding the major themes of 'wealth and power'. I didn't particularly capture much of my desired footage in the short clips displayed in the video above due to restricted time and the ever daunting problem of light, both elements of production I intend to improve on moving forward towards my A2 film. Although I didn't personally think my short film surrounding the estate was successful I was able to recognise and learn from the practice of shooting the footage and editing , allowing me to have a much more clear picture of the range of shots I will have to capture in shooting my A2 film for the final product to be effective and successfully project the themes I originally intended. I will be returning to the estate in the near distant future in order to gather more footage that I will intertwine into my A2 film in the stages of editing, possibly improving on the footage already captured above as well as enhancing this by including elements of the unique community found in the 'complex' structure of the estate. 

Weekly Documentary - VOYAGEURS 8K

Voyageurs 8K is a short documentary which displays various shots of Voyageurs national park in the region of Minnesota, focussing on landscapes and in particular the pristine lakes and kaleidoscopic colours of the autumn season. I personally thought this short film would be useful in developing my own personal project as I focussed on how colour in particular can be appealing and immersive for the watching audience, even though no narrative was evident the film was still able to captivate an audience due to the enhanced visuals visible in the short doc. This has lead me to believe that with a intelligent use of mis en scene, colour palette and the application of colour grading in post production I will be able to produce a visually exciting experience for the audience through the use of vibrant colours ,combined with innovative cinematography and a provocative theme. 

MOODBOARD part 1

In order to visualise elements I intend to include in my A2 film production I decided to carry out a photo shoot in a location that fitted my desired environment, this location successfully displaying a derelict building that is run down and has clearly been forgotten about hence the vandalism and lack of maintenance on the building. In my A2 piece I intend to develop these photographs into moving image and effectively expose this harsh urban landscape, alongside this I will juxtapose well maintained buildings filmed in central London as appose to this abandoned building located on the outskirts of the city. I personally think this juxtaposition will be effective as I will focus on displaying visually provoking moving image in order to indicate my underlying theme visually rather than informing the audience of the theme through dialogue or text. The focussed themes surrounding my film will be 'wealth & power', I will attempt to expose the extreme difference in wealth using contrasting locations where I focus on the people and environment in the area, the shots I will included in the film emphasising this difference between various social classes in a range of locations. I will attempt to use a number of dynamic shots and include innovative movement in order to display these contrasting environments in a different light, as well as this approach hopefully captivating the audiences attention and allowing them to interpret my intended themes as individuals. 

Samsara - Documentary Case Study

'Samsara' is a 2011 poetic documentary which explores and displays various locations from sacred grounds to impressive industrial structures, filmed over 5 years in more than 25 countries the film is a sequence of visually enthralling shots captured on 70mm film. 'Samsara' is a documentary that subverts the expectation of the more common documentary, instead of informing the audience through narrator,dialogue or text the film focusses on encourages the audiences individual interpretations which are inspired by the visuals and music which combine the ancient with the modern. Exploring the cyclical cycle of life and its reflection in the rhythm of the planet the film projects link between humanity and nature through an expansive range of powerful moving images, these visuals accompanied by fitting cultural music which emphasises the theme and aids create a dramatic atmosphere among audience members. I intend to use this poetic approach in my own A2 coursework as I personally think the immersive style of filmmaking is effective in delivering the intended themes. 

FALL - SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Long Live The Kings - Documentary

'Long Live The Kings' is a 2012 short documentary directed by Clement Beauvais, the documentary provides the audience with an insight into the hopes and desires of those who set out on a motorcycle road trip, personally I felt as if the short doc provoked themes of freedom as the beautiful wide landscapes were captured by the authentic feeling 16mm film camera. In my opinion I felt as if this documentary could be categorised as poetic due to it attempting to allow the audience to understand the emotions felt throughout the doc rather than informing them of how the individuals felt, the visuals displayed being a clear connotation of these vivid emotions. The major theme I felt the short doc projected was freedom, many of the wide moving shots of the bikers gave a real sense of the freedom among the bikers which I personally think was the aim of the film, these smooth flowing shots used frequently throughout gave us (the audience) the perspective of a biker as we gain an insight into the immersive backdrops surrounding the individuals in the film, allowing us to understand the freedom felt by the bikers without informing us through the use of a voiceover or other types of narration. 

What Is Documentary - Part 2

Blackfish - Documentary Case Study

'Blackfish' is a 2013 documentary film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite , the film exposes the controversial captivity of killer whales and focuses on Sea World in particular and how their exploitation of orcas has lead to the increasing danger of both orcas and humans involved in the corrupt industry that had with held information from the public eye for many years until the release of 'Blackfish'. This documentary effectively exposed Sea World and sparked protest amongst many people eventually leading to Sea World bowing to the criticism and unwillingly closing the park, this being a perfect example of how powerful a documentary can be and the affect it can have on any industry regardless of how much money is involved. Blackfish can be categorised as expository documentary as its only purpose is to inform the audience of a current story that many audience members worldwide will be unaware of due to the story being hidden from the public due to the corruption and illegal activity involved with corporation of 'Sea World'.