How Documentaries Work

Description

How Documentaries Work breaks down the hidden conventions of documentaries in clear and accessible language for film studies students and documentary enthusiasts alike. Jacob Bricca, ACE, an award-winning documentary editor, producer, and director, provides a behind-the-scenes, under-the-hood view of what's really going on in the construction of non-fiction films and television shows. This book presents examples from contemporary documentaries and docuseries and delivers insights from some of the most exciting non-fiction filmmakers and craftspeople working today.

• Brings a new perspective to the study of documentary film language and conventions
• Contains insights, stories, and behind-the-scenes revelations from over 20 top documentary filmmakers and craftspeople
• Is easy-to-read and written without excessive jargon
• Defines non-fiction filmmaking broadly, and contains discussion of and examples from reality television, competition shows, and other non-fiction shows such as Intervention, Hell's Kitchen, and Pool Kings

About the Author(s)

Jacob Bricca, Associate Professor, University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film and Television

Jacob Bricca, ACE, is Associate Professor at the University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film and Television. He is an award-winning documentary editor, producer, director, and scholar whose films have screened worldwide from Sundance to the Berlinale. His is the author of Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice (2018), a definitive textbook on documentary editing that is used by film schools around the world, including the USC School of Cinematic Arts, UCLA, and the MET Film School in London.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: RAW MATERIALS
Verité
Interviews
Archival
Reenactments and Animation
Voiceover Narration
Title Cards
CHAPTER 2: MEANING
Creating Meaning Within the Interview Frame
Creating Visual Uniformity with Interviews
Creating Meaning with Objects in the Frame
Creating Meaning with Words
Interview-As-Narration
Creating Meaning with Verité
Open vs. Closed Meanings
CHAPTER 3: NARRATIVE
The Setup
Position
The Crisis Moment
Producing the Narrative Turn
Producing the Narrative Turn with Juxtaposition
Micro-Narratives
Callbacks
Non-Narrative Documentaries
CHAPTER 4: PRESENCE FRAMING
Observational Framing
The Semi-Staged Scene
The Participatory Frame
Narration and the Participatory Frame
Voice of God Narration
Altering the Outcome
The Reflexive Frame
CHAPTER 5: FLOW
Unifying with Sound
Pivots and Pauses
Juxtaposition
Collective Memory
CHAPTER 6: TIME
The Experience of Time in Verité
The Interleaving of Scenes
Use of the Present Tense
CHAPTER 7: TITLES
Naming Characters
Conferring Legitimacy
Look and Feel
Subtitles
CHAPTER 8: ARCHIVAL
Archival Treatments
Manipulation of Newspaper Assets
Historical Shorthand
CHAPTER 9: SOUND
Sweetening
Foley
Time and Space
Framing Presence with Sound: The Cave & For Sama
CHAPTER 10: MUSIC
Fear of Music
Film vs. Television
Verité vs. Expository, Interviews vs. Archival
Tone
Procedural Music
CONCLUSION The Brave New World of Hybridity in Documentary
Acknowledgements
Appendix: List of Films and Television Shows Cited

Reviews

"A masterful deconstruction of documentary techniques, with impressive original research. This book is recommended for everyone interested in how documentaries are made, especially students in film production and critical studies." - Mark Freeman, Professor Emeritus, School of Theatre, Television, and Film, San Diego State University

"Jacob Brica's brilliant new book is a thoughtful and thorough exploration of the grammar of documentary. This is a must read —for filmmakers and viewers alike— as Bricca deconstructs the tools and tricks of our trade. As someone who has been editing documentaries for years, I found that every word of this book rings true." - Kate Amend, ACE