Analyse the documentary film text - Grizzly Man

Reflexive mode  - The scene with the coroner suggests a "staged" scene and questions the reliability of the scene. Herzog is a film maker who works both in fiction and non fiction film making. Set in a real location with natural lighting and a handheld camera with recreates authenticity. Herzog uses aspects of the mise en scene to add mock authenticity.

Expository mode - The voice over by Herzog gives a very strong bias. The audience are directed down one narrative path , the agenda and character assassination of  Timothy Treadwell is clearly evident.

Interactive Mode - You can identify Herzog's involvment clearly through dialogue such as questioning which shapes the interviews and scenes.

• Herzog cut a lot of the film which leaves the question what footage has he left out? Also why has he chosen what he did? This again supports the questionable reliability of the film.

• Herzog has constructed Treadwell's character, is it different to the one who actually existed? We only have Herzog's choice of footage to take our information from, and was Timothy Treadwell the same person he portrayed in his films?

• Herzog open about mixing fiction and non fiction techniques, which could have influenced the way he edited the footage and the selection of footage he used.

• There's a binary opposition between Treadwell who shows the animals in a Disney friendly way, talking to them and giving them names whereas Herzog has gone out of his way to show the dangerous side in his footage choice; purposely including his own extra footage of the more savage bears.

Short film synopsis - Kalopsia

 FIRST DRAFT

The film opens with a young couple who are unnamed, with them they have a picnic basket with a copy of Romeo and Juliet in. There is only diegetic sound and there is no dialogue. The film is set in outside on the coast. The couple are walking you see them hold hands and look into each other’s eyes. They are walking up a slope slowly towards a cliff face throughout the film holding hands. The young woman turns to go back for some reason we assume she has forgotten something. The young man pulls her back in a 'tender' but she trips and knocks her head, her hair then has small red flowers in where she hit her head. She looks up and smiles at the young man and they carry on their way, but he gives her a piggy back. they reach the top and admire the view. He then puts her down on the grass, and they both lie down watching the clouds. The man pulls her in and she has his head on her chest and she now has more flowers in her head and the number keeps growing and spreading as he strokes her hair. He kisses her forehead and then proceeds to walk towards the cliff edge. He stands on the edge facing her, they wave goodbye and lets himself fall off the edge as a single tear falls down her cheek. The camera does a 180 degree pan during which it recaps the journey. However it shows the reality of what happened her trying to run away when they are at the base of the cliff but he is violent in pulling her back and he throws her to the floor. She hits her head and appears unconscious we assume she's dead. Instead of flowers her head is bleeding. He then picks her up and starts to walk. He lies her down at the top of the cliff and she bleeding profusely covered in red. He pulls her into him and grips her to tight you can see marks / bruising. He gets up and walks to the edge again to jump but this time when he looks back it’s not a tear it’s a drop of blood from her mouth. He falls and it zooms in on the copy of Romeo and Juliet which has fallen out of the basket and is lying on an open page. You see one of the following quotes.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”

“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder
Which, as they kiss, consume” 

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

The film ends zooming out into an ariel shot of the dead woman lying atop the cliff, in a pool of blood with red flowers.

Film response - Grizzly Man

Grizzly man is a Documentary made by Werner Herzog, known for making both fiction and non-fiction films. In this film Herzog looks at famous wildlife documentarian Timothy Treadwell and the footage he filmed on his final expedition before his death. Herzog focuses mainly on the character of timothy Treadwell and the way in which he portrayed himself on film, in a loveable Disney / Dr Doolittle way. In true Herzog style grizzly man explores the character of Treadwell and how his obsessive behavior and mental state contributed to his death.

The way Herzog has created and shaped the film is both evoking and captivating but the way he so obviously leads you down a certain path, creating biases leads to to ask if he's hiding more information than you first realise, as opposed to merely directing you with his opinions. By using Treadwell's original footage he creates a dual narrative within the documentary, you find yourself following both Treadwell's exploration of nature and the bears behavior as well as following Herzog and exploration of who was Timothy Treadwell and how did his time with the bears effect his grip on reality and his world back home.

Treadwell's Naivete is strongly portrayed in the footage chosen by Herzog, accompanying his Disney View of the natural world and the animals around him. However although this is the character Herzog has chosen to portray of Timothy, the audience still sees authenticity in his screen persona as opposed to another front for the cameras. Herzog appears sympathetic for Treadwell but simultaneously has an air of pity, highlighting his foolishness.

Treadwell's death was highly preventable, but many have taken from the audio footage recorded at his death that he didn't fight back. Some have even suggested that he wished to die the way that he did. Herzog manages to capture the desperation in Treadwell, the need to be noticed and known, even if that meant being foolish and risky with his life. How he detached himself from reality in order to attempt to create the reality he desired.

A hard hitting documentary that no matter your opinion on Herzog's true intentions is a must see.

Short film reviews

Farewell Charlie Power

A charming and quirky film made by postgrads at Leeds Met with an unconventional and fresh narrative. The story is based on a young man with mental health issues in an almost British realism style. The film is edgy and has a great twist meaning it's both comedic yet evoking and emotional. The performance from the actors manages to stop a very heavy subject from getting to deep and although comedy is lightly introduced it retains its sincerity. A must watch and triple threat; a great display of skilled filmmaking, skilled acting and skilled writing.

Indecision

This short film appears to have won many awards and despite this I didn't entirely rate it. The special effects are undoubtedly impressive, but when it comes to narrative and believability from the characters it severely lacks in quality. As suggested by the title, the film is about a young man deciding whether to stay or leave his girlfriend. The narrative however is unresolved, but this isn't done in a suspenseful way as films such as inception have done, it just appears to finish which is both incredibly unsatisfying and has so punch or after effect on the viewer. The poor narrative however is covered up by the great camerawork and special effects. If you're looking for something interesting to fill your time then you've made the wrong choice but however if you're looking to be inspired cinematography and effects wise then you've come to the right place. Here is your indecision.


The Forgotten Hit

A gripping short film with a unexpected plot twist that has the potential to still work as a feature length film. The use of flashbacks was very effective and creates almost a dual narrative within the film, also achieve through skilled and well thought out framing. Although the narrative and framing worked left the film somewhat uneventful, you followed because of the story as opposed to being excited visually. I'd still recommend watching though purely for clever narrative.

Documentary modes of address

Expository Mode -Voice of god

 

Often uses a narrator and has some kind of verbal commentary or logic. It assumes a logical argument and uses a direct address to the viewer. This mode of address is often associated with films such as nature documentary's, David Attenborough  

 

Poetic Mode

 

This is a documentary where the purpose is not necessarily to portray objectivity and reality, instead it is more focused on subjectivity and artistic expression; oaten used to show "inner truth". This mode of address is often associated with films such as Robert Flaherty's Man of Aran.

 

Observational Mode

 

This is when the filmmaker takes on the role of a natural observer often known as "fly on the wall" and attempts to capture reality objectively, and show the world as accurately as possible.

The film maker stays behind the camera and doesn't include themselves in the footage, or influence what they are filming. Nothing is staged and this kind of filming often comes across as looking amateur or roughly cut. This mode of address is often associated Cinema Verite or Direct Cinema, which emerged in the 50's / 60's.

Participatory Mode

This is when the film maker has direct contact with the surroundings and subjects within the film, they engage with the filming and often shape or bias the material captured as the become part of the events being filmed. The often place themselves as a character in the documentary and become part of the narrative. This mode of address is often associated with films by Michael Moor and Nick Broomfield.

Reflexive Mode

This is when the documentary acknowledges the fact that the filming is somewhat constructed and plays up to that, showing that it isn't necessarily the truth but is more a reconstruction of the truth. In this the construction of the documentary is exposed and the audience is aware of the fact it includes editing to sound, filming etc. This mode of address can be found in the film Man with a Movie camera by Dziga Vertov in the late 20's.

Performative Mode

In this mode again the filmmaker is a participant but it emphasises the subjective nature of the documentarian as well s accepting the subjective reading by the audience. This has the effect of emphasising the emotional and social impact upon the audience. This mode of address is found in the film Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock and many say that it can be found with Michael Moore's films also.

 

Detail how props are used to create meaning and understanding in American Beauty

There is a constant use of roses and rose petals throughout the film American Beauty. At first they appear to represent the mundane "American Dream" style life that Spacey leads. Bening opens the film cutting red roses, symbolic of  her cutting the life force from their suburban home. The idea that the roses represent a life force gives Spacey's dreams a new meaning.Many would say that he has the perfect life, a good house, family etc. These are all things that are meant to be beautiful but to him are boring and ordinary, being cut down as soon as they start grow and peak.
 In his dreams about Suvari it represents how her youth and beauty has given Spacey back his life force. In their final encounter there is a vase of roses on the table, this is also when Spacey appears to living his life at the fullest. 

The video camera is used to see things through Bentley's view, which shows us a starker reality. It could be said that it  portrays the way Bentley see's the world and how juxtaposes Spacey's skewed view. Suvari appears to think she is central and she is seen as the stereotypical "American Beauty" and is always shown with the rose petals. Birch however doesn't think highly over herself yet she is always being recorded and is central to many of Bentley's videos.

To Thora Birch the video camera is used as somewhat of a confessional she always shows her true self and honest views. Bentley films the wind blowing a plastic bag around, in this scene he says he films things he thinks are beautiful and it adds a whole new spin on the life that Birch takes as dull and mundane. It shows how there is a beautiful side and drive behind everything in life. The bag itself is made symbolic through Bentley's video and represents the every day beauty in life that people take for granted, things that may at first come across as ugly; a description that is applicable to how the audience view Birch's character.

Film response - Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore

Another classic Michael Moore documentary focusing on the American attitude to Guns and what it was that drove the students of Columbine High school to commit the Columbine massacre in 1999. The documentary has an air of black comedy about it and manages ti stay entertaining whilst still accurate and thought provoking.

The film opens with Michael Moore opening a bank account and receiving a gun as a free gift with his account. He looks into the NRA and questions why it is that America has so much gun crime in comparison to other countries and explore the possible reasons, such as racism and fear withing Americans. He first looks at the more obvious reasons such as the availability of guns in America, but it then develops further and looks at the effect of the government and the media.

Moore has an obvious political agenda in the film and displays his left wing views which comes through as his main agenda further into the film. He highlights the distractions that the government have used to blame for their excessive gun use such as violent pasts, video games and rock music. It still comes across as clever and witty though as opposed to a cheap shot at the right wing government.

There is obvious manipulation within the film and that isn't particularly shyd away from, but the way he develops his train of thought hand his views are explained to the viewer instead of just giving you his view and you take it or leave it, you have the details to make and informed choice of your own decision.

This is a definite must see and brings in a whole new audience to the documentary genre.

Short film idea - Kalopsia/Romeo and Juliet

Summary : Boy has a dead partner but they have mental health issues, meaning they are imagining they're still alive. unknown to the viewer till the end of the film it is the girl / boys fault their partner is dead.
Possible Romeo and Juliet style, boy thinks they both want to die but in reality girl doesn't

Minimal / No speech in a dream like state
Only Romeo and Juliet quotes

Names: Ryan and June?

Maybe only diegetic sound

Goodfellas screenshots

After the film introduction Henry continues to voice over his past. The camera does an extreme close up of Henry's eye, which appears green with dilated pupils, similar to that of a cat eye. it demonstrates his intensity and absorption is the activity across the street, inciting the viewer and drawing them in with his line of focus. It zooms out to a close up and you see Henry looking through a set of slatted Venetian blinds, metaphorical of the separation his family home causes him in order to be a part of and in association with the gangster circle. As well as this there's the more obvious connotations between the bar like shadows cast across Henry and the illegal activity performed across the street that he wants to be involved with so much. During this shot Henry says "They did whatever they wanted" demonstrating binary opposition as he is trapped and blocked off at that moment from being a part of their world. However when he gets involved to him it appears to give him a sense of freedom although that gangster culture and lifestyle is, to many, seen as a form on entrapment in itself.

Henry presents himself to his mother in his new clothes, which symbolise him becoming fully ingratiated with the gangster organisation, she says "you look like a gangster" and it gives the impression that his smart suit holds a similar role to that of a uniform. This time he is outside of the family home, but he looks happy about this in comparison to the almost sour impression he gives off when in the house. Also his mother doesn't welcome him in, instead she keeps him outside like this has symbolised him moving away from her family and into the family of the gangsters. The camera tilts down when he says about his shoes as if his mother is looking down on them, even though they are what he is most proud and is metaphorical of her opinion on his gangster involvement.

Although Paulie is surrounded by people that he refers to as his family he doesn't appear to connect or talk to anyone and somewhat disconnects himself from the people there. He sits centrally at the BBQ but no one looks at him directly and he looks out not making eye contact, and poses somewhat like a deity which could be compared to painting of Jesus of the last supper; in which everyone at the table looks away from him and he looks out of the photo.