How far is the way evidence is
presented by the documentary filmmaker important in determining the spectators
response? Refer in detail to the films you have studied for this topic.
Bowling For Columbine directed by Michael
Moore, A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures directed by Chris Waitts and
The Imposter directed by Bart Layton, all present evidence in different ways in
order to gain an emotional response. Despite using different techniques such as
reenactments or interviews, these techniques are important as they gain
engagement from the audience whether that be relating to the the topic or
empathising with those within the documentaries.
Moore uses many different techniques that
effectively gain engagement from the audience. The topic of gun crime is more
relatable to that of an American, so an international audience would be more
likely to sympathise with the topic and the victims. One of the techniques that
Moore uses to determine the spectator response is interviewing two victims of
the Columbine shooting, Mark taylor and Richard Castaldo. Moore continues to
use his hand held camera movement and informal interviewing method to talk to
the two boys. We are given a personal view of the effect of gun violence,
presenting specific evidence in this way is effective way because it allows the
topic to be easier to sympathise with due to the informal tone. Moore uses
interviews throughout the documentary with many of them being relatively
informal. The interview he conducts with Charles Heston has a more serious tone
than the rest. It is clear that Moore is presenting evidence against gun
violence and the relaxed laws in America, so his interview with Heston, the
head of the National Rifle Association, was presented a lot more seriously than
others as Charles Heston is condoning the behaviour that has cost 11,127
incidents per year (during the time the documentary was shot). A Complete
History Of My Sexual Failures does not carry a tone that is as serious as
Bowling For Columbine, in fact it is a comedic mockumentary. The evidence that
Waitts presents is creates a personal link for the audience to become involved
with. He shows the audience, pictures, phone calls, videos and interviews with
his mother to prove his sexual failures. Proving the point he is failing in his
love life makes the audience shocked but also makes them laugh. Both Bowling
For Columbine and A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures creates a personal
link to the evidence to determine the spectators response.
