Documentary and experimental approaches to documentary:

I watched a number of short films in a recent seminar. Here are my views...

Steel Homes by Eva Weber: (Short Clip)

• I loved the different compositions of shots within this film and the depth of field used.   I think that it enhanced its almost 'eerie' atmosphere. I think that the distant view of the film taken from camera angles such as from around corners, could be symbolistic of the subject's 'distant memories'. 
• I feel that the themes of memories and death are visible in what i think is the directors primary aim. This being to portray a negative view on why people store certain possessions. 
• The main focus is the concept of attachment..and the different ways people deal with it. 
• The use of sound in this film probably stood out to me most. I love the way that it is often silent with diegetic sounds of footsteps or gates closing for example. When music entered, I think that it added to the emotional and serious aspects of the piece. 
• I think that the films form related to it's content as their were no face to face interviews, possibly to display an indirect approach to viewing the obscure people. 

Christmas With Dad by Conor McCormack: (Short Clip)

• I didn't like this short film as much as some others, as I felt the style was too conventional and predictable. I wanted it to step outside the box. I did however like some elements, such as the way McCormack blurred each clip before focusing, during the establishing shots at the start of the film. I also applaud that despite it's simplistic nature, I was still drawn into the lives of the family.
• I think that the main theme is the relationship between father and child and these are reflected in what I think is the directors main aim. This being to display an insight into the lifestyle of an untypical father figure.
• I feel that this short film successfully shows how the subject tries to be a good father and portrays his life as he does this. It also presented me with all of the information that I expected.
• The element that stood out to me most was the mise-en-scene, as it exaggerated the films gritty style. I liked the way the camera displayed images of a door, for example. The fact that it was covered in graffiti, scratches and marks enhances the shameless mood of the piece.  
• McCormack often demonstrated a series of interview shots followed by actuality - relating the films theme to it's form.
• A technique i found interesting would be the repetition of music reminiscent of chimes. I think that this could have been used to represent the repetition within this fathers life. I also liked the style of the camera work. It was like an observation and gave the impression that the interviewer and the audience weren't imposing. 

Paperboys by Mike Mills: (Short Clip)

• This was my favourite of all the short films we viewed in the seminar. I like the way Mills often focused on the paperboy in each section in the same style, using short depth of field, as well as the use of slow and fast motion because i felt it added more interest to the piece.
• I think that the directors primary aim was to portray the innocence of a paperboy and how although their lives may appear simple on the surface, something more significant may be hiding underneath.
• I feel that it was incredibly successful in my eyes as the more up-beat approach as opposed to the other short films watched, engrossed me into the story. I feel that Mills' filmmaking technique, depicted the paperboys in a positive light, with the use of bright colouring. This was demonstrated as the camera often drifted off the subject and onto different elements such as grass. I also loved the way that the director chose to use the camera in an almost 'hand-held' notion. 
• The feature in the film that probably stood out to me most was the way it was filmed from the perspective of the paperboys. The part that I feel demonstrated this best, was the moment gangster rap style, non-diegetic music played after the boy described how that was the music he liked. A montage played to the music and i liked how it added to the 'feel-good' qualities of the film. 

The Life Size Zoetrope by Mark Simon Hewis:

• I liked the abstract and artistic style of this piece. I think that the stop motion effect created, made an overall interesting and engaging piece.
• I think that the director wanted to demonstrate the themes of life and death. I feel that the symbolic circular motion of the ride linked to the general concept of the film, being 'the circle of life'. It illustrated life's first experiences and I liked the narrative voice-over, as I believe it gave the film more depth. 
• I consider the film to be successful as it displays what I believe is the intended focus well, through an entertaining medium.
• The whole aspect of a 'life size zoetrope' stood out to me. I like the inventive style and the way it made me think about the subject once the film had finished. 
• The films form is evidently mirrored within it's content, through the use of symbolism.