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Non-Fiction Films

Non-Fiction Films. An Introduction. Fiction vs non-fiction. Fiction films / Feature films Fictional in nature. Tell stories. Stuff you’d see at the AMC Non-fiction films / Documentary films “Document” real life Tell stories…about “real” people Unlikely to see at the AMC

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Non-Fiction Films

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  1. Non-Fiction Films An Introduction

  2. Fiction vs non-fiction • Fiction films / Feature films • Fictional in nature. • Tell stories. • Stuff you’d see at the AMC • Non-fiction films / Documentary films • “Document” real life • Tell stories…about “real” people • Unlikely to see at the AMC • For every one Dark Knight, there are probably HUNDREDS of documentaries made! We use these terms interchangeably!

  3. What makes a film non-fiction? • Facts drive the story • Vs. • The story includes or is based on facts that are molded to fit the narrative

  4. Fact-Based Vs. Factual Fiction

  5. Non-Fiction Film = Documentary • “A documentary film is a factual film, which is dramatic.” • -Pare Lorentz, American documentary filmmaker known for his films about the New Deal.

  6. Documentaries Can Be about Anything!

  7. But… • EVERY text has a bias (some perspective / slant) • Even documentaries have biases. • Think…”for” or “against” a topic. • Making a topic look good, bad, silly, serious • There is a spectrum of bias • Stuff you watch in biology class is “less biased” • Life Cycle of the Bee – less bias here! • Others may be more biased • Super Size Me, Freakonomics – more bias here!

  8. Modes of non-fiction (there’s a podcast on this later!) • At one end of the spectrum: • -Attempts to be unbiased • -Life “as is.” Filmed as if from the perspective of a fly on the wall. • -Biographies, profiles, historical, educational

  9. What’s Typical? • Viewed on TV channels such as Discovery, History, Animal Planet, and PBS … rarely shown in mainstream cineplexes EXCEPT as IMAX releases. • Topics: • -World War I -Space exploration • -U-Boats -Oceans • -Civil War • -U.S. presidents • -Sports

  10. Modes of Non-fiction • At the other end of the spectrum: • Argues a perspective, sometimes without balance • Uses cinematic conventions of editing, sound, lighting to make that argument. • Involves a call to action, often political in nature.

  11. What’s Typical • Made for theatrical release on par with fictional films. • Topics: • -Political corruption (Fahrenheit 9/11) • -Corporate greed (Inside Job, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) • -Animal abuse/cruelty (The Cove) • -Human exploitation (Born into Brothels)

  12. conventions of non-fiction (Podcast on this too, later!) • -Archival film footage • -Interviews • -Re-enactments • -Following subject(s) over a period of time. • -Features “real” people not actors • -Low(er) budget

  13. Non-Fiction Films An Introduction

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