The extent of the feature length documentary, Super Size Me, directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock takes place across the entire region of the United States of America. The content of the film tackles the following question: What happens when you eat McDonald's for a total of thirty days, three meals a day, super-sized when asked and sampling meals from the entire menu? The answer to this was revealed graphically through the film, which is: extensive weight gain, development of depressed and withdrawal, constantly suffering of severe headaches, mood swings and disturbing chest palpitation and liver failure. During the entire process, Spurlock’s health was being monitored by highly qualified doctors, each warning him in advance that this experiment is highly dangerous to his health, and even more crucial, his life.
Spurlock stars and narrates in his own comedic documentary, revealing the deadly circumstances the US population faces if they refuse to take better care of their health and eating habits, especially if they are prone to eat fast food regularly. Spurlock travels across the country to the US’s most obese state, Texas, and comes in contact with the man who holds the record for eating the most Big Macs. Humour never seems to end throughout the entire film, Spurlock seems to take a similar approach to his documentary as famous director Michael Moore, enticing his audience with comedic information. Unlike Moore's more political motives however, Spurlock's information is virtually unquestionable, a fact which makes Super Size Me that much more traumatic but effective.
Monday, November 8, 2010
A. Newsmagazine - The Fifth Estate (CBC): The Life and Death of Abdinasir Dirie
The extent of the documentary, The Life and Death of Abdinasir Dirie, directed and produced by Scott Anderson on CBC’s The Fifth Estate, is based on a true story about the unsolved murder case of a twenty year old Toronto born Somalian man named Abdinasir Dirie, or G Baby, as his family called him. Abdinasir’s family immigrated to Canada in the 1990’s hoping to start a new life of prosperity, leaving the violence and poverty of their past behind them. Abdinasir is the last of 3 siblings to be born, but the first to be born in Canada. His parents and two older sisters describe him to be humorous, determined but craved recognition and respect.
Being brought up in a rough neighbourhood of Jamestown Crescent, Abdinasir fell into the wrong crowd in high school and began to develop a rough personality. Prior to attending post-secondary, Abdinasir made the decision to travel to Calgary, Alberta so that he can work, save money, then return and go back to school. During his stay in Alberta, he was in contact with his sister-in-law and occasionally ate at a Somalian community kitchen.
All the while he was in Alberta, the youngest of his two older sisters went missing. It turned out that his sister along with her bestfriend was offered an all expenses paid trip to Jamaica from a good friend of theirs. Little did they know they were being set up to smuggle marijuana back to Canada. When they were caught at the airport they were arrested and placed in jail. To this day they are still in jail, but refuse to reveal who set them up for they fear their lives and the safety of their families in Canada.
A day after Abinasir’s sister was arrested, their parents received a phone call revealing devastating news that Abinasir was shot and murdered in his Alberta apartment. A friend that was with Abinasir earlier that night explains that he was robbed and murdered by his own Somalian peers who visited him that night. One of the individuals that were involved with the murder slipped and let word out of who exactly was responsible for the death of Abinasir. His sister-in-law, along with the rest of the Somalian community of Alberta know exactly who the murderer is, complained to the police, but still there has been no arrest and the case still remains unsolved.
Being brought up in a rough neighbourhood of Jamestown Crescent, Abdinasir fell into the wrong crowd in high school and began to develop a rough personality. Prior to attending post-secondary, Abdinasir made the decision to travel to Calgary, Alberta so that he can work, save money, then return and go back to school. During his stay in Alberta, he was in contact with his sister-in-law and occasionally ate at a Somalian community kitchen.
All the while he was in Alberta, the youngest of his two older sisters went missing. It turned out that his sister along with her bestfriend was offered an all expenses paid trip to Jamaica from a good friend of theirs. Little did they know they were being set up to smuggle marijuana back to Canada. When they were caught at the airport they were arrested and placed in jail. To this day they are still in jail, but refuse to reveal who set them up for they fear their lives and the safety of their families in Canada.
A day after Abinasir’s sister was arrested, their parents received a phone call revealing devastating news that Abinasir was shot and murdered in his Alberta apartment. A friend that was with Abinasir earlier that night explains that he was robbed and murdered by his own Somalian peers who visited him that night. One of the individuals that were involved with the murder slipped and let word out of who exactly was responsible for the death of Abinasir. His sister-in-law, along with the rest of the Somalian community of Alberta know exactly who the murderer is, complained to the police, but still there has been no arrest and the case still remains unsolved.
C. TV Documentaries - TVOntario: Invisible City
The content of the TV documentary, Invisible City, directed by Hubert Davis revolves around the lives of two male African American youths living in the troubled Toronto community, Regent Park. The protagonists Kendell and Mikey are bestfriends who are struggling with their identity, education, family issues and all the while transitioning from being a youth to an adult. The story unfolds the lives of our two protagonists from the beginning of their grade 10 high school year right through to their grade 12 year.
To help support their story, Ainsworth Morgan their former elementary school teacher, mentor, friend and father figure explains the importance of guidance and trust in relation to the youth within the Regent Park community. Ainsworth encourages Kendell and Mikey to chase their ambitions, watch the company they keep and influences them to become wiser men. Without Ainsworth, the two boys would have no male figure to turn to for they do not have a father in their life.
The mother of Mikey, Sharon, expresses her concern but endless love for her only son. She works two jobs to help make ends meet and knows the only way to help her son is to move out of Regent Park. Her dreams no longer involve her, but Mikey, a hope for better education, get him off the streets and aim for a successful future. Later in the documentary, Mikey disobeys his midnight curfew with the police, and Sharon decides to turn her son in so that he could learn from this experience and hopefully grow from it.
The mother of Kendell, Sandy, refuses to jump on the same bandwagon with the rest of the community and label her son as a criminal or thug, instead she supports him even after he is arrested on school property with reports that he threw a juice box at a hall monitor. During the court trial, Sandy stood by her son, hoping that Kendell will learn from his mistakes and slowly transform himself into a better man.
The atmosphere of the documentary was very raw and real, there were no special graphics used. To help emphasize and illustrate the story more clearly and have more impact, endless amounts of b-roll was used throughout the film. Majority of the one on one interviews were close-ups to extreme close-ups of the subject, enabling the audience to feel the emotion and concern of the matter. Text was used throughout the entire documentary, for there was no narrator or host, the text helped reveal the story and set the tone and mood.
To help support their story, Ainsworth Morgan their former elementary school teacher, mentor, friend and father figure explains the importance of guidance and trust in relation to the youth within the Regent Park community. Ainsworth encourages Kendell and Mikey to chase their ambitions, watch the company they keep and influences them to become wiser men. Without Ainsworth, the two boys would have no male figure to turn to for they do not have a father in their life.
The mother of Mikey, Sharon, expresses her concern but endless love for her only son. She works two jobs to help make ends meet and knows the only way to help her son is to move out of Regent Park. Her dreams no longer involve her, but Mikey, a hope for better education, get him off the streets and aim for a successful future. Later in the documentary, Mikey disobeys his midnight curfew with the police, and Sharon decides to turn her son in so that he could learn from this experience and hopefully grow from it.
The mother of Kendell, Sandy, refuses to jump on the same bandwagon with the rest of the community and label her son as a criminal or thug, instead she supports him even after he is arrested on school property with reports that he threw a juice box at a hall monitor. During the court trial, Sandy stood by her son, hoping that Kendell will learn from his mistakes and slowly transform himself into a better man.
The atmosphere of the documentary was very raw and real, there were no special graphics used. To help emphasize and illustrate the story more clearly and have more impact, endless amounts of b-roll was used throughout the film. Majority of the one on one interviews were close-ups to extreme close-ups of the subject, enabling the audience to feel the emotion and concern of the matter. Text was used throughout the entire documentary, for there was no narrator or host, the text helped reveal the story and set the tone and mood.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
B. Feature Length Documentaries: “Important Documentaries”: 1970-1990: The Thin Blue Line
The content of the feature film, The Thin Blue Line, directed by Errol Morris was not considered to be a traditional documentary during the era it was released (1988), for it allowed multiple points of view and the dramatizations performed throughout the film. Nonetheless, it is a successful film which slowly unveiled the truth being the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. The two protagonists involved are Randall Adams, who has been in jail for 11 years, and David Harris, who is serving time for an unrelated crime. Local authorities believed Harris’ story, testifying that Adams was the one who has shot and killed Wood after their car had been pulled over on their way home from a movie. Adams however claimed to know nothing about the murder, insisting that Harris had dropped him home two hours before the incident. Prior to his sentence being later revoked by the Supreme Court, Adams was convicted with a death sentence. The viewers later learn that Adams are convicted of a crime he was totally innocent of, which influences and impacts the audience to re-think their opinions and thoughts about their local authorities.
The simplicity and basic structure of Morris’ documentary is deceivingly conventional. There are three fundamental concepts that Morris merges together. Firstly, the core of the narrative is told by the participants in interviews to the camera: Adams himself; David Harris, who claimed to have been in the car as Adams shot Wood; members of the police force that investigated the case; eyewitnesses to the shooting; Adams’ lawyers; and the judge in the original trial. Secondly, Morris shows us pieces of raw, true documentary evidence: crime scene photos and diagrams, newspaper reports, illustrations by court reporters, mugshots and line-up photos. Lastly, as each participant provides contradictory perspectives on the murder, we see a recreation of the events, each adding or subtracting new details based upon the account we have heard.
The techniques used by Morris not only enhances the raw and true concept of the film, but it offers a new direction to documentaries.
The simplicity and basic structure of Morris’ documentary is deceivingly conventional. There are three fundamental concepts that Morris merges together. Firstly, the core of the narrative is told by the participants in interviews to the camera: Adams himself; David Harris, who claimed to have been in the car as Adams shot Wood; members of the police force that investigated the case; eyewitnesses to the shooting; Adams’ lawyers; and the judge in the original trial. Secondly, Morris shows us pieces of raw, true documentary evidence: crime scene photos and diagrams, newspaper reports, illustrations by court reporters, mugshots and line-up photos. Lastly, as each participant provides contradictory perspectives on the murder, we see a recreation of the events, each adding or subtracting new details based upon the account we have heard.
The techniques used by Morris not only enhances the raw and true concept of the film, but it offers a new direction to documentaries.
C. TV Documentaries: Discovery Channel – Mythbusters: Spy Car Escape
The content of the TV documentary, Mythbusters, hosted by Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant and Tory involves testing certain myths, popular beliefs or rumours typically through a two-step process. Occasionally the mythbusters will perform a friendly competition to see which of them can develop a more successful solution to recreating the results. When a myths result fails, they label it as ‘busted’. When a myths result produces a similar result, but less intensity than the one described, they label it as ‘plausible’. When a myths result succeeds, they label it as ‘confirmed’.
Within this particular episode, Adam and Jamie decide to test the myth of escaping a car chase successfully using spy gadgets such as: spiky tacks, smoke screen and oil slick. They test this by using two separate cars, one in pursuit and one fleeing using the spy gadgets. In a guided race course, the spy car takes off first in full speed, then the car in pursuit follows. Without the pursuit car knowing, the spy car randomly releases its gadget to try and successfully stop the pursuit car and get away discreetly. The first test was releasing spiky tacks from the rear of the spy car, hoping to damage or even pop the tires of the car in pursuit. Unfortunately, this section of the myth was labelled busted. Although the spikes punctured the tires, they stayed in place, not allowing the air of the tires to be released fast enough, therefore the spy car was caught in the end. The second test was releasing canned smoke from the rear of the spy car, hoping to blind the driver and cause confusion to the car in pursuit. This test had to be done twice, for the first round the smoke engulfed the spy car, instead of the pursuit car. The second time around, they placed a long plank at the rear of the car and released the smoke this way, which did cause the driver blindness and forcing him to lose sight of the race course. This section of the myth was labelled confirmed. The final test was releasing vegetable oil from the rear of the spy car, hoping to malfunction the grip of the tires on the pursuit car, forcing it to skid or glide off track. This test did cause the traction of the pursuits car to lose grip and slightly caused the car to slid, however it still maintained momentum and was able to catch the spy car, therefore it was labelled plausible.
Within this particular episode, Adam and Jamie decide to test the myth of escaping a car chase successfully using spy gadgets such as: spiky tacks, smoke screen and oil slick. They test this by using two separate cars, one in pursuit and one fleeing using the spy gadgets. In a guided race course, the spy car takes off first in full speed, then the car in pursuit follows. Without the pursuit car knowing, the spy car randomly releases its gadget to try and successfully stop the pursuit car and get away discreetly. The first test was releasing spiky tacks from the rear of the spy car, hoping to damage or even pop the tires of the car in pursuit. Unfortunately, this section of the myth was labelled busted. Although the spikes punctured the tires, they stayed in place, not allowing the air of the tires to be released fast enough, therefore the spy car was caught in the end. The second test was releasing canned smoke from the rear of the spy car, hoping to blind the driver and cause confusion to the car in pursuit. This test had to be done twice, for the first round the smoke engulfed the spy car, instead of the pursuit car. The second time around, they placed a long plank at the rear of the car and released the smoke this way, which did cause the driver blindness and forcing him to lose sight of the race course. This section of the myth was labelled confirmed. The final test was releasing vegetable oil from the rear of the spy car, hoping to malfunction the grip of the tires on the pursuit car, forcing it to skid or glide off track. This test did cause the traction of the pursuits car to lose grip and slightly caused the car to slid, however it still maintained momentum and was able to catch the spy car, therefore it was labelled plausible.
A. Newsmagazine: The Fifth Estate (CBC): The Confession
The context of the documentary, The Confession, directed and produced by Oleh J. Rumak, Marie Caloz and Angela Gilbert, written and hosted by Bob McKeown on CBC’s The Fifth Estate takes place in an interrogation room at Ottawa Police Headquarters. It is here where Russell Williams, a former Colonel in Canadian Forces Base Trenton, confesses to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of forcible confinement, two counts of breaking and entering and sexual assault. He was interrogated by Detective Sergeant Jim Smyth, a member of the Ontario Provincial Police’s Behavioural Sciences Unit, on February 7, 2010.
Ten days prior to his interrogation, a 27-year-old woman named Jessica Lloyd had vanished near William’s town of Tweed, Ontario. When a tip was given to the police about an SUV that was spotted parked in front of Lloyd’s house the night she vanished, the Ontario Provincial Police began an extensive search for motor vehicles in the area that matched the tire tread marks found on Lloyd’s property. William’s Pathfinder tires resembled the exact marks, and he was on surveillance ever since.
The interview lasted approximately ten hours. In William’s confession he described details of his crimes, including the two murders he convicted against Jessica Lloyd and Corporal Marie-France Comeau, multiple sex assaults in Tweed and 82 fetish break-ins and thefts. He admitted to police that he photographed thousands of pictures of his victims and of himself dressed in stolen underwear and bra’s, and told them where they can find these evidence.
William later identified to Detective Jim Smyth on a map where he dumped Jessica Lloyd’s body. When police searched the area, they found Lloyd’s body exactly where he said it would be. Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert F. Scott sentenced William’s on October 22, 2010 to two concurrent terms of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The content of the documentary is told through the host Bob McKeown’s narration, comments and analysis by expert individuals involved with the police force and raw personal footage from the two surveillance cameras placed within the interrogation room. Banter, comments and accusations are a two-person shot between the host and various expert individuals, which are placed in between the raw surveillance footages. I believe the way this documentary was executed was very powerful, informative, moved the emotions of the audience, direct, personal, and over all a very persuasive successful documentary.
Ten days prior to his interrogation, a 27-year-old woman named Jessica Lloyd had vanished near William’s town of Tweed, Ontario. When a tip was given to the police about an SUV that was spotted parked in front of Lloyd’s house the night she vanished, the Ontario Provincial Police began an extensive search for motor vehicles in the area that matched the tire tread marks found on Lloyd’s property. William’s Pathfinder tires resembled the exact marks, and he was on surveillance ever since.
The interview lasted approximately ten hours. In William’s confession he described details of his crimes, including the two murders he convicted against Jessica Lloyd and Corporal Marie-France Comeau, multiple sex assaults in Tweed and 82 fetish break-ins and thefts. He admitted to police that he photographed thousands of pictures of his victims and of himself dressed in stolen underwear and bra’s, and told them where they can find these evidence.
William later identified to Detective Jim Smyth on a map where he dumped Jessica Lloyd’s body. When police searched the area, they found Lloyd’s body exactly where he said it would be. Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert F. Scott sentenced William’s on October 22, 2010 to two concurrent terms of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The content of the documentary is told through the host Bob McKeown’s narration, comments and analysis by expert individuals involved with the police force and raw personal footage from the two surveillance cameras placed within the interrogation room. Banter, comments and accusations are a two-person shot between the host and various expert individuals, which are placed in between the raw surveillance footages. I believe the way this documentary was executed was very powerful, informative, moved the emotions of the audience, direct, personal, and over all a very persuasive successful documentary.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
B. Feature Length Documentaries: “Important Documentaries”: Woodstock
The extent of the feature length documentary entitled, Woodstock, directed by Michael Wadleigh, takes place in the summer of love 1969 in a farm at Bethel, New York. The film documents a three day concert celebration of pop culture and what it stood for: freedom, rights, power and peace. An outstanding 400,000 people, mostly youths and young adults, participated in this free concert event, hosting some of the biggest names in the music business: Jimi Hendrix, Sha Na Na’s, Jefferson Airplane, David Crosby, and many more. The amount of footage captured for this event is phenomenal, and through multi-split screen techniques through post-production, the film was not limited to only showing a portion of what took place during those three days of love and peace. Every aspect of this event was documented, from the moment the event was being planned out, constructed, set-up, to the massive amounts of people lining up to get in, to the numerous stage performances, to the parties that took place during the night, to the disastrous polluted after math. Every moment of this life changing remarkable event was captured on footage.
Unlike traditional documentaries, Woodstock had no narration. The audience, performers, promoters and the original crew who conducted this free concert spoke for themselves. The film was about the people, not just the music. It was about the cause, the moral message, the hope, the future, the change that was about to come and impact the world forever. This was the first and last free massive concert of its kind. Many have tried to duplicate this miraculous moment years after, but was unsuccessful. I believe this defining moment in history was beautiful and necessary to our rights that we have today.
What struck me most from this documentary were the massive amounts of people who turned out for this event. Not knowing what they were getting into, hundreds of thousands of people who believed in making a difference and standing up for what they believed in showed their support for this worthwhile cause. The after math however was a bit distasteful. The garbage left on the farm destroyed the land. And the stories of the raping, drugs and crime that took place during those three days disgust me. But nonetheless, the event was magical and I wish I could have been there to witness such a milestone moment. This documentary speaks truth and empowers our generation to continue the love and peace and to stand up for our rights and freedom.
Unlike traditional documentaries, Woodstock had no narration. The audience, performers, promoters and the original crew who conducted this free concert spoke for themselves. The film was about the people, not just the music. It was about the cause, the moral message, the hope, the future, the change that was about to come and impact the world forever. This was the first and last free massive concert of its kind. Many have tried to duplicate this miraculous moment years after, but was unsuccessful. I believe this defining moment in history was beautiful and necessary to our rights that we have today.
What struck me most from this documentary were the massive amounts of people who turned out for this event. Not knowing what they were getting into, hundreds of thousands of people who believed in making a difference and standing up for what they believed in showed their support for this worthwhile cause. The after math however was a bit distasteful. The garbage left on the farm destroyed the land. And the stories of the raping, drugs and crime that took place during those three days disgust me. But nonetheless, the event was magical and I wish I could have been there to witness such a milestone moment. This documentary speaks truth and empowers our generation to continue the love and peace and to stand up for our rights and freedom.
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