Documentary - Personal Statement Example

(Rosenthal 1996, 31-35) So while the genre title 'f 'documentary' is a useful one for Video Store owners, the conventions and styles used by documentary filmmakers vary so greatly that the term documentary really does not give the viewer much 'f an idea as to what to expect from their viewing experience. One mode 'f documentary is the institutional documentary. Institutional documentary is, in its most generic meaning, a documentary that is financially and legally supported, and more often than not, ethically regulated by the organisation that funds the project.

Because 'f this, there is no one film maker behind the documentary who has creative control, as the institution funding the project is primarily concerned with documenting it's cause and this drives the content and often the style 'f presentation. The style 'f these documentaries are not really exciting and do not rely on dramatisation, rather they rely on using the power 'f the content to influence the viewer. This may make the documentary less interesting to watch but what we must realise in institutional documentary is that the institution is driven by a desire to convey a strong message but often limited by a strict budget.

This leaves no room for special effects or extra scenes that may not be cost efficient, even if they may the documentary more 'entertaining'.The documentary film Facing the Music directed by Bob Conolly, a part observational and part performative documentary, is an example 'f an Institutionalised documentary. Concepts 'f the institution, the issue 'f funding and sponsorship, the questions 'f authority and resistance are all enmeshed in this documentary. The documentary follows the protagonist, Ann Boyd as she fights against the system that ultimately aims to destroy the music department at the University 'f Sydney.

The directors in this case follow the institution 'f the Music Department, and document on what they see happening from their perspective. (Rabiger 1998, 1-7; Bruzzi 2000, 15-17) The film did not have a large budget and relies heavily on presenting the talents 'f the musicians studying at the University, and the passion and determination 'f Boyd to influence the viewer to see that the department should receive funding to continue to develop these amazing talents. The film moves slowly, does not make use 'f special effects and relies heavily on content to influence the viewer.

The content 'f the film is driven by the Music Department's desperate need for funding and aims to show the viewer just how important this Institution is. The film's purpose very much influences its style. While Institutional documentary is one form 'f documentary film, it differs greatly from other modes 'f documentary.Self Reflexivity is also another principle 'f documentary. It is defined as "any aspect 'f a film which points toward its own process 'f production" So since we are aware 'f the processes through out the documentary that created it, such as camera equipment in view, the voice 'f a person behind the camera to an interviewee or anything that points towards this aspect, it in fact makes the Documentary feel more