For my final major project I am going to be creating a documentary which follows my uncle, Gene Davies and his band ‘TUN’ where I will be attending gigs, practice sessions, asking questions about their lives, how the band came to be etc.
As this is my first time creating a proper documentary piece I am going to research into old documentaries up to modern ones, the different genres of docs and what topics they follow.
First Documentary Created
According to FilmSite.org, the first official, non fiction, narrative was the 1922 American silent film ‘Nanook of the North’, which was released on the 11th of June and was created by Robert J. Flaherty. This pioneering documentary depicts the lives of Canadian Inuit people from the northern Quebec region and although the piece contains some fictional elements here and there, it does show how resourceful its subjects are when surviving in the harsh climates they have to endure, which reveals why and how they construct and live in their Igloo homes and also how they hunt, and fish to keep themselves fed and healthy. The film also succeeds by capturing the beautiful, yet unforgiving frozen landscapes of the Great White North, far removed from conventional civilisation.
Documentaries have changed since Nanook of the North, from small changes like sound and dialogue being available, and coloured footage to even new forms of documentaries in audio and photographs, with also more genres such as Mockumentaries, a ‘Making of’ Film, sports and Biographical for examples.
Because I am going to be doing an interview on a Band, where I will be talking to the members about their lives, how the band came to be, following them on gigs etc, I will be looking into these types of documentaries and famous pieces to come from them:
- Mockumentaires
- Biographical
- Historical
I will look into famous documentary directors and directors who are know for creating documentaries in my selected genres and their work:
- Louis Theroux
- Michael Moore
- Martin Scorcese
- Rob Reiner
- Chris Smith
For this though I will be mainly focusing on Louis Theroux and Michael Moore and comparing them with each other on their similarities and opposites.
“You talking about me?” A Look into Biographical Documentaries
According to Wikipedia (23rd January 2020) a biographical documentary film, or as its also known a biopic, is a motion picture that dramatises the lives of non-fictional and or historical people or a single person. These biographical docs will usually go through their lives from when they were born, their times through school, careers and what they are famous for, whatever that is. It will either follow their life through that order, or they will jump back and forth through the subjects timeline to where the creator needs.
Here are some famous biographical documentaries:
- Amy (2015)
- Waltz with Bashir (2008)
- Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back (1967)
- Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
When it comes to my documentary, I will be finding out about the different members lives and where they came from, how the band came about and then following them through their lives, to gigs etc.
“None more black” A Look in Mockumentaries
A Mockumentary, or as some people would call them Docucomedy, is a film or television show that follows fictional characters and their lives in fictional worlds, or worlds similar to ours in a documentary setting. These documentaries are usually created to comment, analyse or parody current and or real life events, issues etc, or even the documentary form itself.
Some famous examples of Mockumentaries are:
- This is Spinal Tap (1984)
- What we do in the Shadows (2014)
- Parks and Recreation (2009 – 2015)
- Man Bites Dog (1992)
The reason I am researching into Mockumentaries for my doc is because of ‘This is Spinal Tap.’ My uncle introduced me to the film during the summer of last year, and I enjoyed it so much that I have wanted to make my own mockumentary since. Also the members of TUN have alter egos and characters they like to go by (even though they are already characters themselves) and I have decided that the members of the band will on address themselves as their character names and not their real names.
I have decided that my documentary will be in the biographical form as it will follow the members of the band and their lives, while it goes back and forth talking about their lives, the musics that they grew up with and love to this day, what bands they were in previously and how TUN came to be. My documentary will also follow traits of a mockumentary because of the band members going by their character names, also they are just characters themselves naturally so it all works out.
“Here’s the thing, Mr Thorax” A Look into Louis Theroux
Louis Sebastian Theroux is a famous British-American documentary filmmaker with over 80 documentaries to his name. His work is very popular and well known even by non fans. Here are a few examples of Theroux’s work:
- Louis Theroux: Gambling in Las Vegas (2007)
- The Most Hated Family in America (2007)
- Louis Theroux: Under the Knife (2007)
- Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends (1998)
- Louis Theroux: Surviving America’s Most Hated Family (2019)
Louis Theroux peaked my interest into documentary filmmaking. He does not hide from topics, and subject matter, but also remains respectful to his interviewees by acknowledging their beliefs and opinions and not getting his own opinions and beliefs too involved in the matter. His shy and gentle demeanour allows people to feel comfortable around him and answer anything he asks, even if the person he is interviewing is rather closed and is trying to hide away information, he will always get the answer he is looking for, one way or another and I really admire him for that. I feel that I am similar in that sense as I am someone who a majority feel they can be open with and ask for advice, or just speak to me about anything in general.
A majority of Theroux’s work mainly follows a group of people, separate or together, but always with the same or have a connection to the subject matter. He creates docs on subject matters that previously people would be afraid or worried to create themselves, and I believe that he is the reason why there are no more extreme documentaries out there that focus on very serious or dark subject matters such as ‘Don’t F**K with Cats’ and ‘The Confession Tapes’ for examples.
“White people scare the crap out of me” A Look into Michael Moore
Michael Moore is an American documentary film maker and author and is well known for such works that most frequently address topics of globalisation and capitalism such as:
- Bowling for Columbine (2002)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- Sicko (2007)
- Where to Invade Next (2015)
Michael Moore’s work is seen as very serious in tone and subject matter by many people and what I can see through his work myself. Moore has been hit with a lot of controversy surrounding his work ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ and that this documentary “generated controversy before, during, and after its release.” Moore had problems with his title when he was asked to have it renamed by author Ray Bradbury as he believed that the title of the film was not being appropriate and inspired by his book title ‘Fahrenheit 451’ which was emphasised when the tagline of the book “The temperature at which books burn” was compared to the films tagline “The temperature where freedom burns.” Moore also faced a wide range of different opinions and controversies for the content that was in his film, for example Desson Thomson says that besides its partisan ridicule, “political animosity or ticklish wit” that the film is “well-argued” with his “heartfelt power of his persuasion.” However then Andrew Sullivan, an author and blogger, expressed the completely opposite view, with him saying that the film is “deeply corrosive of the possibility of real debate and reason in our culture.” Even though both opinions are different they have similarities due to them both following different political parties. For example Thomson agrees with Moore’s points and appreciates his questioning due to him most likely also supporting the same party as Moore, however Sullivan is completely against Moore’s views, seeing them as negative to our culture, due to Sullivan supporting the opposite party.
Because of this I have taken into account that with my documentary I should not voice my opinion too much or make out that my opinion and thoughts on subject matters are more prevalent, higher, true etc than anyone else’s and should be open to what everyone has to say and think.
“Moore VS Theroux” Comparisons between Michael Moore and Louis Theroux
Moore and Theroux have similarities in their work and how they work. Both Moore and Theroux make documentaries on very serious and or sensitive subject matters and they both try to get as much information from the people or groups in their respected documentaries. However that’s mostly where their similarities end, Moore is a very opinionated individual with strong political views and his work follows those strongly, and a lot of his work, or even most of his work goes against his opposing political views, such as trump, conservatives etc.
Louis Theroux on the other hand, though he has his own views on politics and opinions, mainly keeps his views to himself and is open to what most if not all of what his interviewees have to say and think, and almost seems to enjoy indulging in their beliefs, practices, hobbies etc. Now I am not saying that Moore does not listen to the people in his documentaries, as any interviewer must always listen to their guests or interviewees, however he is not as open minded and caring as Theroux.
Because of this I will follow in the footsteps of Louis Theroux than Michael Moore as Louis’ content is more humorous, more open to thoughts and opens, and all in all just more appealing to myself and many others. As said previously I believe I share similarities with how he interviews people as I feel people become more open to speak around me, which can be a gift and a burden also. All in all I appreciate both mens work and how they create documentaries, structure them etc, although I do believe Louis’ work will be more beneficial, inspiration wise for my documentary.
Bibliography
IMDb. 2020. Michael Moore – IMDb. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0601619/. [Accessed 12 March 2020].
Wikipedia. 2020. Fahrenheit 9/11 controversies – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_9/11_controversies. [Accessed 12 March 2020].
Wikipedia. 2020. Michael Moore – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moore. [Accessed 12 March 2020].
IMDb. 2020. Louis Theroux – IMDb. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857621/. [Accessed 13 February March 2020].
Wikipedia. 2020. Louis Theroux – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux. [Accessed 27 February 2020].
Documentary Films. 2020. Documentary Films. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.filmsite.org/docfilms.html. [Accessed 6 February 2020].
Wikipedia. 2020. Nanook of the North – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanook_of_the_North. [Accessed 6 February 2020].
Wikipedia. 2020. Biographical film – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biographical_film. [Accessed 6 February 2020].
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