Week 1

Introduction to Documentary 

Narrative and aesthetic approaches to documentary storytelling -
To understand the different narrative and easthetic approaches we were shown a few shrt documentaries.


LIFT
Directed by Marc Isaacs.



This short film is based on how the filmmaker has placed himself in the lift, observing the people that live in the building. As the film progresses, the people and himself get more comfortable with each other and the documentary moves from observational to interactive as he starts interacting with the people. 

The filmmaker had some interesting shots, such as the shot of the fly which could connote that he was a fly on the wall, as he observed the people going in and out of the lift. 

Introduction to camera angles -

We learnt the importance of camera angles in order to convey specific meaning within the film. 

• Establishing shot - Used at the start of a scene/film to set up the setting of the scene.
• Medium shot - Used mainly during a dialogue. Commonly used in Tv and sitcoms. 
• Close up - Usually framed from above shoulders, closeup on actors face to see their emotion.  Also used to draw the audiences focus to something, used for closeups of hands or feet etc. 
• Low angle - a shot from a camera angle positioned low, looking up. This makes the subject look powerful. 
• High angle - Camera positioned above, looking down on the subject making them seem vulnerable. 

We were put into groups to start working on our 1 minute documentary.
The topic was 'My first day at Sussex.'  

To familiarise ourselves with the equipment we were sent out to film around campus, we could later use these as Broll for our 1 mi doc.