This collection of iconic interviews helps demystify the documentary filmmaking process by deconstructing the most relevant and important scenes in some of today's most well-known documentary films. It offers concrete, real-world examples of the situations and decisions that filmmakers navigate. We go behind the scenes with the creators to learn the methodologies and approaches these directors, cinematographers, editors, and sound recordists have taken to bring these amazing documentaries to life.
What makes a great scene? Why are they so important in the construction of a great film? The interviews included offer excellent insights from the directors of the award-winning The Truffle Hunters, My Octopus Teacher, Collective, Knock Down the House, Dick Johnson Is Dead, and Trapped; the cinematographer of RBG, Julia, and Fauci; the editor of Time; and sound recordist of Tiger King. Award-winning documentary filmmaker and esteemed Sundance advisor Maxine Trump goes in-depth with each filmmaker, asking about their creative process. Why did these scenes make such a deep impression on both the filmmakers and their audience? Was it the cinematic style, the dynamic dialogue, the magic of observational filmmaking, or a surprising turning point?
This technical but creative and accessible resource is suitable for documentary filmmakers, aspiring directors, producers, editors, and cinematographers of non-fiction film. Each interview offers a fresh perspective to the emerging or professional filmmaker and audience alike.
Author(s): Maxine Trump
Publisher: Routledge/Focal Press
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 202
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Foreword
1. Introduction—Scenes, Styles, and Genres
Scenes
So why look at documentary styles and genres?
Style
Genres
2. Observational—The Truffle Hunters
Introduction
Interview
3. Interview-Led—Trapped
Introduction
Interview
4. Hybrid and Performative—Dick Johnson Is Dead
Introduction
Interview
5. Poetic and Character-led—Time
Introduction
Interview
6. Archive—RBG
Introduction
Interview
7. Natural History Genre—My Octopus Teacher
Introduction
Interview
8. Competition Genre—Knock Down the House
Introduction
Interview
9. Investigative Genre—Collective
Introduction
Interview
10. Crime Drama Series—Tiger King
Introduction
Interview
Addendum—Film List by Style and Genre
STYLE
Archive
Docudrama/Hybrid Documentaries Using Recreations
Essay
Experimental (please also see hybrid/docudrama)
Interview-Led
Observational
Performative (see also Personal)
Plot-Based
Poetic
GENRES (again there are many films that are multi-genre but we will list the film once)
Action and Adventure
Activism
Animal and Mollusk (Natural History)
Animation
BIPOC
Children and Teens
Classic Documentaries
Competition
Courtroom Drama
Crime and Political Drama—Series
Disabled
Economic Injustice
Elderly
Environmental
Family Drama (not to be confused with films for the family)
Fight the Power
Food/Cooking
Heists and Conmen
Human Rights
Humorous
Illness or Disease
Investigative
LGBTQIA+
Music
Personal Films
Political
Portraits/Biopic
Religion
Shorts (there are many many short films, here are some my favorites)
Sports
Thriller
War
Women's Rights
Acknowledgments
Index
