The Thin Blue Line

Over the years, there have been many different types of documentary films made ranging from those that are educational to those that have more of a performance component. Although most of the documentaries do inform the audience about the subject matter, hardly any of them have go beyond just informing and actually make a difference. One of the few documentaries that has made a difference is Errol Morris' film The Thin Blue Line. This documentary was sort of a murder mystery. Morris was trying to figure out who really killed police officer Robert Woods in the 1976/77 shooting.

The Thin Blue Line is an interesting documentary because of its interesting set up. Throughout the film, Morris uses three types of footage: interviews, archival materials, and reconstruction. Before this time, reconstruction was not a method used in documentary films. Critics felt that a filmmaker could not make a credible film using reconstruction. However, Morris proved everyone wrong. By using reconstruction, he was able to show the audience all of the different scenarios of what actually occurred on that night from the numerous testimonies he gathered. Basically, there were two suspects: Randall Adams and David Harris. Harris had picked up Adams along the side of the road after he ran out of gas. The car Harris was driving was stolen. Despite the fact that Harris already had a lengthy criminal record at the age of 16, the 28 year old Randall Adams was accused of the murder and found guilty. One of the big factors that played into the sentencing of Adams was that he was an adult and could be sentenced to the death penalty.

Harris was let go free of punishment but later got sentenced to prison time for killing a man. On December 5, 1985, Morris interviewed Harris one last time. During this interview, Harris admitted that Adams was innocent and that he himself was the one that killed the officer. It is ironic that the psychiatrist declared Adams as unsafe and that he would kill again when in actuality Harris was the murderer and did end up killing another innocent bystander.

In the end, Morris was able to prove Adams innocence. Exactly one year after The Thin Blue Line was released, Randall Adams was discharged from his prison sentence. Morris' documentary literally got Adams out of his life sentence and gave his life back to him. In addition to that, the film also proved that reconstruction can be effective.

Paris is Burning

Paris is Burning is a 1990 documentary film produced and directed by Jennie Livingston. In this film, Livingston examines the lives of gay men, specifically African American and Latino ethnicities. This documentary is interesting because the audience gets to see what life for these people are like. They were born male physically, but mentally they feel more like a woman.

Judith Butler, the author of Gender Trouble examines gender. Although many people would say that gender is innate, Butler argues that gender is merely performed. All gender has to be learned because babies are not just born knowing how to act. Different genders act the way they do based on expectations of society.

Livingston's documentary strengthens Judith Butlers argument. In Paris is Burning, they do not act the typical way men are suppose to. Instead, they act like a female. Although their sex is male, their gender is female because that is what they have learned and feel comfortable with.

In this documentary, the characters are always talking about and preparing for the ball. The ball is like a fashion show and is made up of different categories. These men love it so much because it allows them to be who they really want to be and escape from the real world. With each of the different categories, the men are performing.

Paris is Burning is a documentary all about performance. The men perform on stage, perform the women gender characteristics, and even perform in society and try to seem as normal as possible.

Nixon as a Performer

Media has played a significant role in the United States presidency for years. Presidents try to take advantage of this media and use it to their own benefit. However, when on camera or when being recorded, these politicians do not act like themselves. They are simply performing.

A great example of a politician who utilized the media is Richard Nixon. While on camera, he tried to be informal and act natural, but it is obvious that he is simply performing. During Nixon's Checker Speech, Nixon is sitting at his desk with his arms positioned perfectly. He has come before the camera because he has been accused of illegally accepting gifts. Nixon tries to prove his innocence by telling the nation where his money comes from, what he has in equity, and what he owes out. Nixon says that most politicians would either deny the accusation or ignore it. However, he is going to tell the "truth".


Although Nixon tries to make his speeches seem informal, it is obvious that they are carefully planned out. There are seven motifs that he usually incorporates into his speeches. He mentions that he is going to tell the truth and be honest and that his biggest concern is always that of what is best for the nation. Some other techniques he uses include portraying himself as a family man, as a poor man, and as someone the media hates. By doing this, he is trying to get sympathy from the audience. In a few speeches, like Nixon's Checker Speech, Nixon uses his wife Pat as a prop. She seems so sweet to the public so by using her Nixon hopes to gain some more approval. The final motif used by Nixon is telling the public he is not a quitter. Nixon says this in his Checker Speech as well as in his Resignation Speech. Although he does end up resigning, he wants the public to think he is doing what is best for the nation.

Every component of Nixon's speeches are very well planned and thought out. He is not just simply talking to the nation; he is performing for them and trying to get them to feel or think a certain way.

The Evolution of Editing

Documentary filmmaking began around 1895. Lumiere was a french filmmaker at this time and is considered to be the father of documentaries. The type of films that Lumiere produced were actualities where events were filmed exactly as they happened with no editing.

The first story film did not come around until 1903. The entire film used a wide angle long shot which was continuous. There were no close ups so no one person or detail was focused on. The audience had to decide what to look at and who to focus their attention on. The downfall of only having wide angle long shots is that the viewers cannot see the characters' expressions or any details which would help tell the story better.

When editing was finally developed, it was continuity editing. The film was cut and put together so that events occurred in sequential order and made logical sense to the audience. Another editing technique used involved showing the beginning of something in one cut and then showing the end of it in the next cut. Although the audience does not literally see what happened, they can assume what occurred in the middle by the start and the outcome.

Films began to get more complex when filmmakers discovered how to use parallel action. One part of a story would be shown and then the film would cut to something occurring in the other part of the story. The film basically has two or more stories taking place that it flashes between. In the end, they end up coming together for an overall story. Also around this time, a medium close up shot was used. With this shot, the audience gets to see more detail and expression.


Classical cutting is useful because it uses many angles and types of shots so there can be several cuts. This allows for more detail in the story. The juxtaposition of images to create new meaning not found in either shot individually is known as montage editing. This allows the audience to get a message without the filmmaker having to come out and bluntly say what is happening.

Editing is extremely important in documentary filmmaking because it determines how the audience views what is occurring.

Feed

Feed is a 1992 documentary film which utilizes direct cinema. This documentary takes a look at the 1992 presidential campaign. In this documentary, the audience gets to see how politicians act on and off of camera. In order to show this, the filmmaker intercuts official footage with unofficial footage. The documentary shows Governor Jerry Brown before he goes on air. Brown is really worried about his appearance and has to have his tie perfect. When he does go on air, he seems calm and concentrated on the issues. Although he may seem like he is only concerned about the political matters while on camera, he is really worried about his appearance before that camera is turned on.

Several presidential candidates are shown throughout this documentary. The audience gets to see the unofficial footage of them putting on makeup and nervously awaiting for the cameras to turn on so they can start their speeches. When they are not on air, they have casual conversations and talk about other topics besides the campaign. The candidates' attitudes and personalities completely change when they are on camera. They are not acting like their true selves. Instead, they are performing for Americans, trying to get the people to like them, and trying to get ahead in the polls. This documentary is interesting because the audience gets to see the candidates as real people and then as performers.

LBJ

John F. Kennedy is considered to be the first television president. He is able to manipulate the media for his own purpose. Kennedy is able to make it seem as if his political future is not at risk when in front of the camera because he is so at ease. That ability to be at ease and look natural in front of the camera is very beneficial for Kennedy because he does not look like he is performing. He let his image glorify him and Americans loved him. John F. Kennedy and his brother symbolized goodness.


In the 1968 documentary film LBJ, Santiago Alvarez casts John F. Kennedy's successor Lyndon B. Johnson as a villain. The documentary starts out with horror music and creepy laughing playing in the background. Santiago Alvarez shows pictures and clips of Johnson's daughter getting married in the white house. It is a happy occasion. Immediately after though, Alvarez flashes to clips of the fighting and shooting that is occurring in the war. After that scene, Johnson is shown being happy and then it goes back to the war. Alvarez is clearly blaming Johnson for the war.



The documentary shows how happy everyone is when Kennedy is president. Kennedy's murder is played and then it shows Johnson taking office. Later, Martin Luther King is shown and we hear his famous "I have a dream" speech but it is interrupted with the sound and image of guns firing. Robert Kennedy is shown dead soon after this clip. The film goes back to show Lyndon B. Johnson happily holding a baby and then to people on fire and burning to death. With this continuous cross-cutting, the audience gets the message that Johnson is simply performing in the white house. He acts like a good person and is constantly shown with family, but in reality, he has caused so many deaths due to the war and is somehow to blame for those of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy.

Primary

Primary is a 1960 documentary film made by the Drew Associates. This documentary represents direct cinema type filmmaking because the Drew Associates are trying to capture what is really happening during the 1960 Wisconsin presidential primary. The film follows senator John F. Kennedy and his rival senator Hubert Humphrey as they compete against each other in attempt to win the primary. Primary was filmed at a time when politics first began getting media attention. From this documentary, it is evident that media appearance does have an impact on political campaigns and that while on television politicians do perform.



In Primary, the focus jumps back and forth between Kennedy and Humphrey. Kennedy is always surrounded by a younger crowd which shows his youth and new political opinions. Humphrey is always seen talking to older people which shows his age and that he has similar outlooks as past presidents.

When on camera, Kennedy and Humphrey do not act like themselves. Before going on camera, they put makeup on so they look more attractive and they are positioned perfectly so that the light hits them at a great angle. When the cameraman starts messing with his equipment, Kennedy goes from being relaxed to smiling for the camera. Before Humphrey goes on air, he tells the shows host what questions to ask him and tells the cameraman exactly where to stand to make him look the best. Both candidates want to look good for the media, but Kennedy is much more attractive which had a huge impact on his success.

Performance is a key to political success. Candidates have to seem confident, intelligent, and friendly. At one point in the film Primary, Jackie Kennedy addresses the crowd. She looks beautiful and seems very confident to the crowd. However, the camera gets a close up of her hands behind her back and the audience can see that she keeps fidgeting nervously. Later, Jackie and John Kennedy are shaking hands with all of the people as they leave. Both look very happy to be meeting all these people and shaking their hands, but when the camera zooms in on Jackie actually shaking hands, we can see that she is letting go before the other person is done with the handshake. Her actions are simply a performance because she wants herself and her husband to be appealing to the voters.