Less is more more or less class powerpoint
- 1. Less is more -More or less This way of life – 2009 Cushla Dillon Thomas Burstyn Barbara Sumner Burstyn
- 2. Doco and society • For documentary to be convincing it has to connect to the audience • To do this a story is required. • Truth is often stretched to tell the most convincing story
- 3. Story in Crucial • Film always tells a story. • Documentary a construction of life • Up to the integrity of the film maker as to whether it is an honest depiction of what has happened. • Editor ensures the integrity of subject is upheld • Truth is blurred to tell a better story- to tell a more connecting story so that the audience is kept interested.
- 4. Finding a story • Originally about traditional shoeing horses • Moved to be about the family and great family values • Conflict then brought into the film. – protagonist and antagonist • Conflict to generate a story – police/ heavies – house burns down – bulldozer and confronts film maker. • Documentary constructed like a drama with a script and clues which are solved later
- 5. Hours and Hours of actuality • American editor shaped the film completely differently - about horses • Different editor would make a different film • Can't use everything- must be able to select footage
- 6. Angle • What is process of selection? • Organized footage into – Actuality – Events – Interview • Choose subject or angle of doco and then delete everything that does not matter
- 7. Shoeing horses the old-fashioned way Horse trekking business Breaking in horses and mustering Kids play with other kids in the countryside Kids ride horses on the beach Peter and Colleen try to buy the house at an auction Heavies come round to evict the family Family arrive home to see house burnt down Family camp at the beach for summer Family moves to a utility shed Family moves to a new home Peter takes Llewelyn into the mountains to hunt House is demolished by Peter’s stepfather Peters horses are stolen Colleen talks about having a big family Colleen talks about the house Colleen talks about the relationship between Father and son Peter talks about his children Peter talks about the relationship with his step father Peter talks about breaking in horses Peter talks about hunting ACTUALITY EVENTS INTERVIEWS
- 8. Dramatic Events 1. Peter has to call the police as some heavies have been intimidating him and his family. 2. The family home is burnt down. 3. Peter’s stepfather demolishes the house with a bulldozer and is confronted by the filmmaker.
- 9. Shoeing horses the old-fashioned way Horse trekking business Breaking in horses and mustering Kids play with other kids in the countryside Kids ride horses on the beach Peter and Colleen try to buy the house at an auction Heavies come round to evict the family Family arrive home to see house burnt down Family camp at the beach for summer Family moves to a utility shed Family moves to a new home Peter takes Llewelyn into the mountains to hunt House is demolished by Peter’s stepfather Peters horses are stolen Colleen talks about having a big family Colleen talks about the house Colleen talks about the relationship between Father and son Peter talks about his children Peter talks about the relationship with his step father Peter talks about breaking in horses Peter talks about hunting ACTUALITY EVENTS INTERVIEWS
- 10. The importance of the premise • Premise required before editing- does not need to be THE Premise but a premise will do. • The one liner- what will the film be about • Often different to what the film marketing group will use.
- 11. Emotional Exercise Documentary and Society • As Dillon watched the rushes she notes quotes- "not an intellectual expertise and emotional exercise" • Premise is important because every scene must meet and match the premise • This is important because that's when you get the sense that it is focused.
- 12. • Editors premise - Cushla Dillon • How do you stop the generational cycle of violence and abuse, and instead pass on values and principles you believe are healthy? • By living them at all times. • Final premise - director- Tom Burstyn and Barbara Sumner- Burstyn • What do I do for a living? I live for a living.
- 13. Shoeing horses the old-fashioned way Horse trekking business Breaking in horses and mustering Kids play with other kids in the countryside FAMILY Kids ride horses on the beach FAMILY VALUES AND COURAGE Peter and Colleen try to buy the house at an auction FAMILY HOME Heavies come round to evict the family FAMILY HOME Family arrive home to see house burnt down FAMILY HOME Family camp at the beach for summer FAMILY HOME Family moves to a utility shed FAMILY HOME Family moves to a new home FAMILY HOME Peter takes Llewelyn into the mountains to hunt FATHER/SON House is demolished by Peter’s stepfather FATHER/SON Peters horses are stolen BY PETERS STEPFATHER Colleen talks about having a big family FAMILY Colleen talks about the house HOME Colleen talks about the relationship between Father and son FATHER/SON Peter talks about his children FAMILY Peter talks about the relationship with his step father FATHER/SON Peter talks about breaking in horses USING THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS RAISING HIS CHILDREN Peter talks about hunting TO FEED HIS FAMILY ACTUALITY EVENTS INTERVIEWS
- 14. • All scenes are there to keep integrity and to remain honest- but some scenes/ ideas are not developed into an important part of the story. • For example the family are Mormons and there is a shot of them going to church but this is not expanded.
- 15. • Privately funded - so was able to be made without the normal restrictions • Script and storyboard normally required. • You guys need a script and a story board… • However- be open t change, to conflict and the story you are able to create.
- 16. Social Issue • Premise • Find a story that focus around your premise. • Create Drama • - 3 conflicts • Protagonist and an Antagonist
- 17. • Start with conflict and drama and work around film. • When working with actuality/ events- work around these. • B Roll- interviews • Idea- interview while doing things