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DOCUMENTARYDOCUMENTARY FILM & TVFILM & TV

Barnouw’s- “Chronicler”Another way of saying “Compilation Another way of saying “Compilation

films”films”Compilation filmCompilation film: “A film made : “A film made

primarily from existing film or primarily from existing film or photographic material”photographic material”

Today the massive available Today the massive available film/video record makes this even film/video record makes this even easier to do & far more important easier to do & far more important

ESFIR SHUB Worked with Vertov -- recutting Worked with Vertov -- recutting

newsreelsnewsreels Helped estab. 1st film archive in Helped estab. 1st film archive in

Russia (Moscow)Russia (Moscow) Began producing films with this Began producing films with this

material -- material -- The Fall of the Romanov The Fall of the Romanov DynastyDynasty most importantmost important

Real Surge after W.W. II The documentarist as “historian” - The documentarist as “historian” -

a new rolea new role Availability of wartime footage (& Availability of wartime footage (&

movie newsreels, military footage, movie newsreels, military footage, government films, etc.)government films, etc.)

The advent of television The advent of television broadcasting provided a ready broadcasting provided a ready market for “historical” docs.market for “historical” docs.

David Wolper Bought the entire Nazi film Bought the entire Nazi film

archive at auction in N.Y. for archive at auction in N.Y. for $10,000$10,000

Began producing series for TV:Began producing series for TV:Victory at SeaVictory at Sea, , 20th Century20th Century, etc., etc. Compilation series almost Compilation series almost

standard TV fare todaystandard TV fare today

Important Compilation Films

City of GoldCity of Gold - Colin Low & Wolf - Colin Low & Wolf Koenig -- Nat. FB of CanadaKoenig -- Nat. FB of Canada

Night and FogNight and Fog - Alain Resnais - Alain Resnais The World at War SeriesThe World at War Series -- --

Thames Television /BBC Thames Television /BBC until recently, the most successful until recently, the most successful

compilation series ever madecompilation series ever made

Value of “Historical” Films1. Vividness in bridging time1. Vividness in bridging time2. Condensed perspective of a situation2. Condensed perspective of a situation3. Can confirm actions that might 3. Can confirm actions that might

overwhelm written accountoverwhelm written account4. Physical condition of people / places4. Physical condition of people / places5. Attitudes of people shown in them5. Attitudes of people shown in them6.Sense of personality (Roosevelt, Hitler, 6.Sense of personality (Roosevelt, Hitler,

Kennedy, King)Kennedy, King)

Problems with Film as “Historial Evidence”

1. Availability -- collections, 1. Availability -- collections, archives, private owners, etc.archives, private owners, etc.

2. Preservation / storage2. Preservation / storage3. Indexing, cataloging, dating3. Indexing, cataloging, dating4. Finding supporting materials4. Finding supporting materials

What is a “primary” source?What is a “primary” source?

Film as Historial Document

For 1st time filmmakers trying to For 1st time filmmakers trying to confront issues familiar to historians:confront issues familiar to historians:

1. dating materials1. dating materials2. questions of authenticity, verifying 2. questions of authenticity, verifying

accuracy of what we are watchingaccuracy of what we are watching3. point-of-view -- eliminating bias3. point-of-view -- eliminating bias4. sponsorship4. sponsorship5. supporting info. - notes, diaries, etc.5. supporting info. - notes, diaries, etc.

Christopher RhoadesRanked value of film/video materials Ranked value of film/video materials

as “historical evidence”:as “historical evidence”:1. unedited with cameraman’s notes1. unedited with cameraman’s notes2. unedited2. unedited3.edited only to remove technical errors3.edited only to remove technical errors4. edited in way that changes context 4. edited in way that changes context

(newsreels, news reports)(newsreels, news reports)5. the more “manipulated” = less value5. the more “manipulated” = less value

Steven Okazaki

DAYS OF WAITINGDAYS OF WAITING(1991)(1991)

Won Academy Award for Won Academy Award for Documentary short subjectDocumentary short subject

Ken Burns Best known & most successful Best known & most successful

compilation filmmaker in the world compilation filmmaker in the world todaytoday

The Statue of LibertyThe Statue of LibertyThe Civil WarThe Civil WarBaseballBaseball

Other Compilation Films

The Nazi Officer’s WifeThe Nazi Officer’s Wife (2003) (2003) Liz GarbusLiz Garbus

Easy Riders, Raging BullsEasy Riders, Raging Bulls (2002) (2002)Kenneth BrowserKenneth Browser

Other Compilation FilmsGrizzly ManGrizzly Man (2005) (2005)

Werner HerzogWerner Herzog

Why We FightWhy We Fight (2006) (2006)Eugene JareckiEugene Jarecki

Won the Grand Jury Prize at Won the Grand Jury Prize at SundanceSundance

Tarnation(2004)(2004)

Jonathan CaouetteJonathan Caouette

Uses family films, vids, photos Uses family films, vids, photos with computer graphics with computer graphics

programs, drawings, titlesprograms, drawings, titles

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DOCUMENTARYDOCUMENTARY FILM & TVFILM & TV