Bowling For Columbine Questions:

1. The key characteristics of the use of film form.

• The use of archive and found footage 
• Close-ups and mid-shots of the people talking 
• Action reaction shots for conversations
• Editing used to orchestrate a certain message and response from the audience. The intention is to make fun of gun lovers and supporters. 
• Questions also used to orchestrate a certain message and responses from and to the audience. The intention is to make fun of gun lovers and supporters. 
• The director is on screen. In terms of his performance, he handles guns which are the topic of the documentary. 

2. The extent to which each of the film form elements are used to create a sense of realism or to be expressive. 3. The extent to which the filmmaker is ‘saying something’ or creating a specific message.

The film form elements tend to be manipulated to orchestrate the message and meaning that the director wants. Although I agree with his message that guns being legal is insane, the documentary does take a biased side in presenting its information which can be criticised. Although, it does show the other side to through other people’s opinions that they interview. The editing and questions and the mot orchestrated to get the wanted response. It’s also often done for humorous purposes. However, despite being orchestrated what the documentary presents isn’t wrong.  

4. The apparent level of interaction and intervention between producer and subject.

The director is on screen interacting with the subjects. Whether this be having a conversation with them or interviewing them. He also interacts with the subject of the documentary, guns, and is open about his childhood and his use/previous use of guns. Moreover, the director is also the voiceover. His questions and the editing of his questions and voice over with the mise-en-scene are orchestrated to convey certain meanings. 

5. The key differences between these films and mainstream fiction features.

The director is on screen which doesn’t tend to happen in fiction features (bar a few). Plus, it’s purely discussing a reality. It’s not exploring real themes and messages but within a fictional plot and narrative. There’s use of found footage which doesn’t usually appear in fictional features. 

6. The key similarities and differences to mainstream news/media programming.

• The use of interviewing subjects. 
• The use of archive footage possibly. 
• Possibly giving across a specific message deliberately.
•  Exploring real things, not fiction. 

7. The extent to which digital filmmaking technology influenced, or could have influenced the form and outcomes of the film.

• Later on in the documentary, there is an animated sequence 
• The ability to edit what you have recorded in a way that possibly changes the situation to make it seem a certain way and/or emphasize the truth

Divorce, Iranian Style Questions: 

1. The key characteristics of the use of film form.

• Tends to be one take of a scene or edited one scene in a continuous way 
• Use of close up and mid-shots 
• Use of voiceover 

2. The extent to which each of the film form elements are used to create a sense of realism or to be expressive.

• The film form just shows the reality. It’s not orchestrated in anyway. 
• It uses continuity in its scenes to get across meaning

3. The extent to which the filmmaker is ‘saying something’ or creating a specific message.

• The film maker is getting across the unfairness and inequality in regards to gender, specifically in divorce. This is conveyed without orchestrated editing, mise-en-scene or cinematography and through voice over. However, all any of it does is state and show the truth. 

4. The apparent level of interaction and intervention between producer and subject.

• There is no interaction. It’s observational. 
• The voiceover interacts with the audience. 

5. The key differences between these films and mainstream fiction features.

• Not based in a fictional setting to get across its meaning and messages. 
• What happens, happens. It’s not orchestrated. 
• No plot. 

6. The key similarities and differences to mainstream news/media programming.

• Getting across real information 
• No interaction with the subject 
• Long continuous scenes 

7. The extent to which digital filmmaking technology influenced, or could have influenced the form and outcomes of the film.

• Made it easier to film
• Could have been influenced by the use of multiple cameras

For more information about the directors:

Documentary Resource 3 – Filmmakers theories (1)

‘Amy’ (Asif Kapadia) is a 2015 documentary created from found footage of Amy Winehouse telling the story of her career and how fame and some people around her aided her tragic early death.

I was hopeful going into ‘Amy’. Although not haven seen anything from the director Kapadia before I had high hopes that it was going to be a well-made film – I wasn’t wrong. The film did a fantastic job of capturing what Amy was like as a person, and what her desires were as an individual and professionally. It told the true story of how fame and a few people around her pushed her to the edge. It explores the heartbreaking moments were Amy was on the edge which builds and builds as the film continues. Ultimately coming to the incredibly tragic death of Amy which could have been avoided if things in her life had gone a different way.

The film impacts its audience hard with strong emotional blows that are emphasized by the fact it’s a recount of a true story. The use of archive footage is utilized not only in a way to get across the messages and story but to make it more emotional.