This document shows the Human Interest (HI) scores for several documentary films over a two year period from 2010 to 2012. The HI scores measure conversation and interest in films online and spike around a film's release date and Oscar nomination. While interest drops off for most films after their initial buzz, some films like Food Inc. and Restrepo were able to sustain public interest and conversation over longer periods of time. The data also shows that films in 2011 saw sharp drops in discussion after the Academy Awards compared to films from 2010 which maintained higher levels of engagement.

1. Release Which Way Home Burma VJ Food Inc. The Cove Daniel Ellsberg and
The Pentagon Papers
100
100
100
100
100
Year:
80
80
80
80
80
60
60
60
60
60
2010
40
40
40
40
40
20
20
20
20
20
0
0
0
0
0
2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012
Exit Through the Gift Shop Restrepo Inside Job GasLand Waste Land
100
100
100
100
100
80
80
80
80
80
60
60
60
60
60
2011
40
40
40
40
40
20
20
20
20
20
0
0
0
0
0
2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012
If A Tree Falls: Hell and Back Again Pina! Paradise Lost 3 As we’d expect, HI Scores
100
100
100
100
The Story of The ELF spike around a film’s release
and Oscar normination
80
80
80
80
(see more on next page)
60
60
60
60
2012
Films that sustain their score
40
40
40
40
after this period of initial buzz
can be thought to have had
20
20
20
20
greater influence over time.
0
0
0
0
(eg Food Inc. and Restrepo)
2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012

2. Academy Awards
100
Restrepo Here, we see the cycle of
HI Scores for two years
80
of Oscar-nominated
documentary films.
Exit Through GasLand
The Gift Shop
60
2010
While most films see their
• highest scores near their
40
release date and the date
of the Academy Awards,
films like GasLand and
20
Waste Land Pina! generated high levels
Inside of buzz before they hit
Job theatres.
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Index
100
Pina!
80
Discussion surrounding
Paradise films in released in 2011
Lost 3
60
appeared to drop sharply
2011 Hell and Back Again following the Oscars.
In contrast, films released
If A Tree Falls,
40
A Story of the ELF
in 2010 managed to sustain
conversation
20
= Film’s Release Date
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun www.harmony-institute.org