This document provides an introduction to documentary filmmaking and history. It outlines the objectives of examining the genre including understanding how reality is presented and some of the critical approaches used to analyze documentaries. Key concepts discussed include John Grierson's definition of documentary as "the creative treatment of actuality" and Bill Nichols' modes of documentary filmmaking such as observational and expository. Students are tasked with analyzing documentary film clips to identify examples of these concepts. The document also discusses Michael Moore's approach to entertaining audiences while exposing important information in an expository manner.

1. Entrance Activity
The Lumiere Brothers - Arrival of a Train (1895)
What is the film establishing?
What is it documenting?
Fact –
Documentaries were known as
‘Actualities’ initially.

2. Title:
Introduction to Unit FM4 – Section B –
Documentary Film making & History
Tuesday 3rd
February 2015
FM4:
Varieties of Film Experience – Issues and Debates

3. Why?
Aims & Objectives
• Introduce the Exam Unit and
Exam board expectations
• YOU WILL gain an
understanding of the “real”
and issues surrounding this in
the genre
• YOU WILL learn about some of
the critical approaches to the
Genre and the Case Study
examples for the Exam.
• Review the Learning.
AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of the film industry.
AO2 Apply knowledge and
understanding, including some of
the common critical approaches that
characterise the subject, when
exploring and analysing films and
when evaluating their own creative
projects to show how meanings and
responses are generated.

4. ‘Observational’ (Bill Nichols – 2001) ‘Expository/Participatory’ (Bill Nichols – 2001)
FM4 – Section B

5. What IS a Documentary?
John Grierson
“the creative treatment of actuality”

6. John Grierson
“the creative treatment of actuality”
'Educating Yorkshire'
In your exercise books YOU MUST analyse the following:
•Micro Features – Do they Impact the “reality” presented?
•Social Actors or Actors – What are the people in this scene?
•John Grierson Theory – Is there any evidence of “creativity of actuality” in this scene?
Task 1) - 6 minutes

7. Social Actor or Actor?

8. “the creative treatment of actuality”?

9. Mini-Plenary
Modes of Documentary
‘Observational’ (Bill Nichols – 2001) ‘Expository/Participatory’ (Bill Nichols – 2001)

10. Michael Moore
“I respect the fact that people
have worked hard all week and
want to go to the movies on the
weekend and be entertained”
Non-Fiction v Fact

11. Task 2) - 8 minutes
In your exercise books YOU MUST analyse the following:
•What evidence is there of Michael Moore seeking to “entertain” the spectator?
•‘Expository Mode’ (Nichols – 2001) = “Ideal mode of conveying important
information” - What is he trying to expose in this sequence?
•What is your reaction to some of the “facts” presented to us?
'A Brief history fo America'

12. FEEDBACK

13. What have you learnt?
YOU MUST the theories/ideologies we have covered today in relation to
Documentary.
Extension – YOU COULD provide an example of where the “real” is challenged in
this genre of film making.