Personal Inspirations
Robert Ferrin
For me my biggest Influences in documentary film making are Michael Moore and Nick Broomfield. Its Michael Moore's comedic style that he brings to documentary and the infusion of this with a serious subject matter. I understand the ease to critique his work but he knows what he is doing and will usually have a well thought out answer. I would say my favorite film of his would be Bowling for Columbine. Its mix of humor and tragedy, the constant development of a narrative that would be suitable of any fictional Hollywood blockbuster with the final battle between Moore and Charlton Heaston and the use of editing throughout the film like his montage of scenes of gun crime and suicides mixed with humorous gun related news clippings all to the tune of The Beetles "Happiness is a warm gun brewing."
In a stark contrast Nick Broomfield's gritty approach to film making is also of great interest. The way he presents himself on screen usually carrying a boom mic and wearing headphones shows signs of student films but the obvious professional qualities he poses is still a constant apparent. He seems to be a more truthful director by using techniques such as including the problems he faces whilst filming in the final cut. My favorite film of his is Biggie and Tupac. The films very urban and independent and seems to have no resemblance to a Hollywood blockbuster unlike Bowling for Columbine.
Ciaran Bannon
My personal concern for the documentary is the style of documentary we produce. Producing an objective documentary is challenging in itself as interfering with the subject is always going to produce subjective results. However, through photojournalism we would be keeping interference with the subject to a minimum and keeping the truth of the situation. Separating us from the subject of the documentary, it will produce the most valid and effective results, and hopefully capturing the raw emotion of the subject that may be lost in the way if shot in film.
On the reverse side, it would provide the ability to present a false truth. Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother was a powerful and thought provoking photo, but it was staged. But the simple power it had over people is evidence that people take a photo as a representation of truth, and conjure emotion in retort. Documentary Photographer Bill Brandt’s “Camera In London” shows the power of photography and the ability to exert emotion from varied subjects - landscape, people, inanimate objects etc.
Film documentaries such as The Bridge which are clean, simplistic yet still have the power to move you, are something that interests me greatly. It was just shot with one camera, no interference from the filmmakers and filled with photographic montages. The emotional separation that had to be built between them and the subject amazes me and would be something that I’d like to explore if led to film documentary. The objectivity of the project is a priority to me as the validity of the documentary in it’s truth is what surely challenges it’s success.
Jonathan Beal
My key influences in documentary lie within photography. I have studied to great depths the work of Judith Joy Ross and Sally Mann - two photographers who I feel have more in their portfolios than any documentary 'film'. The importance and strength of the still image remains a more potent manipulative device for me. Ross' study 'Living With War' has actually shaped the way in which I shoot my photos. The detail in faces goes deeper than image quality or resolution; there is something truly haunting in the portfolios of Ross. Sally Mann's work revolves around the home and the power of people. As well as the emotional intensity I take from these works, both photographers use Large Format shooting styles and equipment; which I one day hope to take on as a hobby and tone my own negative plates and prints. I currently shoot 120 medium format and 35mm.
In terms of moving image, My favourite documentary is Dig! by Ondi Timoner. I love and acknowledge the fantastic way in which a failing, drug ridden and party fuelled band is juxtaposed with the work of a fellow indie band who become rock music superstars. The way in which friendships are broken by commercialism and the need for a definitive 'image' created by the greed and exploitative expertise of record labels allows the film to explore not only music; but lifestyles and jealousy too. Roger & Me is also one of the documentaries that has allowed me to further explore my own understanding of the truth and what is perceived to be 'true'. Roger & Me follows Documentary maker Michael Moore around his home town of Flint, Michigan. Moore uses the documentary to sculpt and design a smear campaign against General Motors; the company he feels has destroyed his town, tearing out its' industrial heart in favour of cheap Japanese manufacturers. Moore is to be taken in a heavily skeptical sense with all of his work - I do, however, respect this piece for its emotional intensity; which Moore has very ingeniously used to manipulate audiences consistent of people like me; those who have never been to the US, and moreover, those have never heard of Flint, Michigan.
One of my main inspirations only came out last year. Anvil is a documentary made by Sacha Gervasi, who has had not much experience and it was his first film he was directing, and still has ever directed since. Anvil draws you into the film so deep, for the first 20 minutes you are laughing at the two main people. You are not connected to these characters at all. After this passes, the film starts to make you feel very personal about what you are watching, changing your perspective on how you feel for the people involved. The reason why this is a main inspiration is for the fact that the director just knew them and decided to make the film, It wasn’t planned he just joined these two 50 year old wannabe rock stars on the road to trying to become famous with their band, Anvil. The film makes you part of the bands struggle to make it, which makes you so involved with the film wanting them to make it.
Louis Theroux is a favourite of mine because of the situations he puts himself in. He is so out of place with all of the situation he is in and brings logic to the ideas he is challenging or trying to understand. The thing that makes his films great is the way he puts himself right into the documentary. I love his style as it is so British, and the way he explores the stories his documentaries are about, using his British-ness just makes his films genius.
