Documentary Research

I have this vision on how my documentary should be set out.

I believe it should be a participatory documentary with a hint of an observational style.

I would like to take place in this doc whilst directing at the same time. That might seem like a hard job but I believe its totally possible.

I decided to research into different participatory documentaries and see what they have done success full.

I watched 2 Micheal Moore Films

Bowling for Columbine () by Michael Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQo-orO8UHU

Fahrenheit 9/11 () by Michael Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zf2nCiBJLo

I found these films very interesting, I believe having Micheal in shot for a lot of the time is a good technique for many reasons, for example:

No need for many nodding shot cutaways

Makes the audience feel more involved (making them feel like they are walking and following the action step by step)

etc

Also this style feels very natural, SLIGHTLY fly on the wall.

Another director I looked at was Nick Broomfield

Life and Death of a Serial Killer" (2003) by Nick Broomfield. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFBcjII3QAE


Biggie and Tupac (2002) by Nick Broomfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3BTfIcFwFY

Now I preferred this director because his style is very similar to how I vision my style for the doc. Especially in Biggie and Tupac. As he is on the streets/ghettos following his subject round and trying to get constant interviews, this is a perfect example to base my doc on as hopefully I will be following a Big Issue Seller round town and having shots on the move as well as static.

Seeing these examples, I would like to use the technique of having the camera handheld, this giving the doc a more urban/natural style, which will hopefully enforce my subjects situation and involve the audience more, giving them a sense that they are with me and Leighton, watching the question unfold.