 |
| image by wen wen lin 2011 |
Does documentary film need a script? it sounds weird! doesn't documentary film "Just follow" the event or a character, as the events develop as they are? does the audience feel cheated if a documentary film involved great deal of writing which shows great degree of the film maker's control and "will" it to happen the way they want to film it?
Documentary film is the same as any film, it starts with an idea, and a blank pc of paper. The Writer/film maker has to turn that idea into a film. There is the initial script, and the blue print that the film is based on; and in every shoot, a pre-shoot script, and post shoot script , and when all the shots are taken, hrs of footage seem formless, the writer/film maker has to write a second script to organizes the footage, find the shape, and line of development to see if there is a film yet. There is "real life", and there is "reel life"-- what happen in real life, a good writer can use them, and WILL them to create emotions and meaning at the "reel life" time. Docu film can be fluid and organic, and at the meantime has the structure of a dramatic narrative film that appeals to the viewers.
There are a few quality that seems so essential (for the film maker )in making a good docu film:
(1) playing the detective: It is more like a playing detective/investigative reporter, digging into information, material, fiercely and passionately, finding clues to solve the mystery, as David Gelb, director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi recounting his experience in making the film. Life is stranger than fiction a lot of the time.
 | |
| Jiro Dreams of Sushi, directed by David Gelb-- Sushi chefs line up |
(2) be stubborn with a lot of perseverance: be persistent especially with the characters who does not want to be interviewed. keep on knocking on the door. Cannot be a reject-phobiac. Take rejection as viable as drinking water. Mila Turajlic, director of Cinema Komunisto, has to endure a lot of indifference in people when looking for archival materials for the film, and sometimes one request, it takes multiples of trying and yrs of waiting for the right thing to happen.
 | |
Cinema Komunisto directed by Mila Turajlic |
(3) passive waiting type vs. the active creating type-- which kind of docu film maker are you? :)) or, somewhere in between?
 | |
| Love Always, Carolyn: directed by Maria Ramstrom |
good night. sweet dreams on this heavenly pleasant spring day.
wen wen
No comments:
Post a Comment