Exam Question

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.