Watching Documentary Shorts
For our documentary project, I really wanted to watch more documentaries as to get inspiration for filming and editing styles, Kylan recommended a site called shortoftheweek.com and i checked out some cool documentaries on there. These are the notes I made while watching:
One Plastic Beach || https://vimeo.com/18672227 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2011/08/18/one-plastic-beach/ ||
- like the intro and interview with the actual creators. possibly do the same at the beginning.
- inspiring.
- uses photos of their work.
We Live This || https://vimeo.com/168846622 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/06/01/we-live-this/ ||
- introduction to each person is done nicely
- like the use of slow motion and close ups. 7.34-7.37 shots, cut half of his body off.
- contrast between the energetic, uplifting dancing in the subway and then cuts to a scene of tension.
- lighting of interview at 9.05 is nice with the classical, deep music faintly in the background.
- really nice ending. ending is the lasting affect on the audience
Hotel 22 || https://vimeo.com/138190538#at=319 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/09/03/hotel-22/ ||
- no use of music, uses natural noises from the surroundings. no narration. some people speaking but that's it. acts like you're there and experiencing it for yourself.
- how do they film people without them being aware/acting differently/feeling awkward?
- time stamps on a black screen with yellow text. could use to split segments of the experience?
- get no context til the end, when it tells you in a single sentence on a black screen.
Home || https://vimeo.com/58630796 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/17/home/ ||
- not what you expect.
- opening that doesn't tell you much, makes you keep watching
- doesn't give you a lot of information at the beginning. makes you want to know more.
- some really nice shots. i love the one of the open road as they go along, with the symmetry and colour grading.
- also the way the music slowly fades out as you are left with the road and noises.
- nice, slow, calming, long shots
- small time lapse of the clouds
- shows not tells which is effective. i like the end as they show signs of life which the audience notices because of the previous absence of it-the painting, feet, baby, lights on, washing line
- nice ending as the screen goes to black from someone turning the light off.
Richard Twice || https://vimeo.com/231876303 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/09/01/richard-twice/ ||
- clicked on as i saw it had live video AND animation.
- like the funky title/opening shot. very stylised.
- really nice music. at the start you hear 'the finest poet cannot tell you how i feel' as you listen to the music as you assume it's his as the documentary is about him.
- it has chapters which it super coooool
- layered audio; has sound effects, narration, and music over the animation.
- goes to video and to present time. a nice close up of guitar and it moves up to his face, which you never really saw before.
Sea Pilgrim || https://vimeo.com/242346365 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/11/11/sea-pilgrim/ ||
- a 'meditative film'
- begins with water and breathing
- music from distant radio
- voice over sounds like through radio
- soothing, nice visuals and crisp sounds from the environment
a lot of docs made w animation - could we use this in a calming way?
things to consider in the edit/film:
- slow motion/sped up
- tiled frames
- shrink the footage so it doesn't take up whole frame, eg: put in corner or top of screen
- photos
- text
- sound effects - could exaggerate and calm. eg, movement and a release of breath? sound of paper, etc.
- use of light
- hand held
- camera follows motion
- the importance of the ending
- time lapses? - maybe of the emotional baggage corner?- like it cuts as it gets bigger
-close ups of people as they meditate, eyes closed, maybe muffle the leader of the meditation session slowly and add a spacious sound? embody the feeling of meditation. toes, feet, hands, body posture/positioning. would be cool if we could get a bird eye view shot from ceiling, but may not be possible.
- like the intro and interview with the actual creators. possibly do the same at the beginning.
- inspiring.
- uses photos of their work.
We Live This || https://vimeo.com/168846622 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/06/01/we-live-this/ ||
- introduction to each person is done nicely
- like the use of slow motion and close ups. 7.34-7.37 shots, cut half of his body off.
- contrast between the energetic, uplifting dancing in the subway and then cuts to a scene of tension.
- lighting of interview at 9.05 is nice with the classical, deep music faintly in the background.
- really nice ending. ending is the lasting affect on the audience
Hotel 22 || https://vimeo.com/138190538#at=319 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/09/03/hotel-22/ ||
- no use of music, uses natural noises from the surroundings. no narration. some people speaking but that's it. acts like you're there and experiencing it for yourself.
- how do they film people without them being aware/acting differently/feeling awkward?
- time stamps on a black screen with yellow text. could use to split segments of the experience?
- get no context til the end, when it tells you in a single sentence on a black screen.
Home || https://vimeo.com/58630796 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/17/home/ ||
- not what you expect.
- opening that doesn't tell you much, makes you keep watching
- doesn't give you a lot of information at the beginning. makes you want to know more.
- some really nice shots. i love the one of the open road as they go along, with the symmetry and colour grading.
- also the way the music slowly fades out as you are left with the road and noises.
- nice, slow, calming, long shots
- small time lapse of the clouds
- shows not tells which is effective. i like the end as they show signs of life which the audience notices because of the previous absence of it-the painting, feet, baby, lights on, washing line
- nice ending as the screen goes to black from someone turning the light off.
Richard Twice || https://vimeo.com/231876303 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/09/01/richard-twice/ ||
- clicked on as i saw it had live video AND animation.
- like the funky title/opening shot. very stylised.
- really nice music. at the start you hear 'the finest poet cannot tell you how i feel' as you listen to the music as you assume it's his as the documentary is about him.
- it has chapters which it super coooool
- layered audio; has sound effects, narration, and music over the animation.
- goes to video and to present time. a nice close up of guitar and it moves up to his face, which you never really saw before.
Sea Pilgrim || https://vimeo.com/242346365 || https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/11/11/sea-pilgrim/ ||
- a 'meditative film'
- begins with water and breathing
- music from distant radio
- voice over sounds like through radio
- soothing, nice visuals and crisp sounds from the environment
a lot of docs made w animation - could we use this in a calming way?
things to consider in the edit/film:
- slow motion/sped up
- tiled frames
- shrink the footage so it doesn't take up whole frame, eg: put in corner or top of screen
- photos
- text
- sound effects - could exaggerate and calm. eg, movement and a release of breath? sound of paper, etc.
- use of light
- hand held
- camera follows motion
- the importance of the ending
- time lapses? - maybe of the emotional baggage corner?- like it cuts as it gets bigger
-close ups of people as they meditate, eyes closed, maybe muffle the leader of the meditation session slowly and add a spacious sound? embody the feeling of meditation. toes, feet, hands, body posture/positioning. would be cool if we could get a bird eye view shot from ceiling, but may not be possible.
I have enjoyed reading your critical analysis of the films you have researched and seeing how you have related these works to the development of your group video - very good practice Avery
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