Monday, October 19, 2009
In and out
I feel that it is very important for filmmakers to present the truth and reality of whatever they are trying to present to the viewer. I don't feel that if the goal of a film is to present reality, absolute reality, that it is alright for them to set up for something to happen that maybe normally would anyway. Just because a snake normally eats a certain kind of mouse doesn't mean you should set the mouse in front of the snake in order to make a film about snakes in a certain area. And as for leaving things out, it is just as vital to realize what is not there. In many strongly biased political films tons of information is left out or changed to make their view point seem stronger. Without being informed fully on a situation it is very easy to be misled. That is why I feel it is important to stay informed and I wish that all mediums could be reliable. It would be very nice if political documentaries and public figures gave all the information on a subject but alas, it is not so. I guess that is why I feel filmmakers should present the actual capture of what is happening instead of something planned out by them.
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Its an interesting point that you bring up but I have to wonder as to the reasons for "leaving information out" as you call it.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I see the reason that political films are so one-sided is because that is their point; they must present ONE side of an issue, for if one were to include all the points and counterpoints the movie would simply be too long for people to focus. Moreover, in "nature" documentaries, they are almost seen as a method to inform the public about something, say the possible extinction of some penguin in Antarctica. This gives the audience a chance to express sympathy towards a topic that will never affect them or involve them. A political documentary tries more to disprove and serves as an opinion-delivering movie rather than a fact-delivering movie.
I agree that political films are one sided for a reason. If every film had every perspective in it, then all films would be very long. Don't people watch films in order to gain a new perspective? If someone doesn't agree with something, then he/she can do research and choose what to believe. Often times both sides of an argument have films or other sources out that the audience can choose and believe. Also in regards to filmmakers not manipulating nature at all, I think that if a filmmaker can recreate a natural sensation without manipulating nature too much, then it is better than not informing the public of it at all. It's better to know about something and know that what you're seeing isn't completely true, then to be totally unaware.
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