Entry # 3

This is my 3rd Documentary Blog Entry , I watched a lot of really interesting documentaries over the past 2 weeks here are my thoughts on them :



A)PBS Frontline “News War: “What’s Happening to the News? Part 3 of “News War” (2007)

This documentary is part 3 in the “News War Series “ .The series is about how the role of the reporter has drastically changed and how the entire news industry is in crisis. It looks at the challenges facing journalists today . In one interview a reporter is asked if she could go to jail for protecting her sources and she’s answers yes. It also takes a look at the new emerging outlets of news such as online as well as the economic situation facing news companies. The most influential news program today is actually The Daily Show hosted by John Stewart. It paordies news shows. It was declared the best news program on television ironically. Something serious is happening to the news as explored in this documentary , which is the whole business of gathering and reporting the news. It is changing the way journalist’s report on news. It really raises a lot of important issues effecting the future of news and journalism. News companies are under fire not just from the public but from governments as well. It was stated in the documentary that new companies have been threatened by government agencies that if they were to post a certain story they would be in deep trouble. I found this documentary to be particularly interesting because of all the b-roll and interviews and subject matter being discussed. As a person who hopes to go into the field of broadcasting one day this documentary helped make me more aware of the issues I will have to face when I enter the industry.

Source: DVD taken out from Centennial College Library

1) 1920-1970

“Salesman” 1969
“Salesman” was a pretty interesting documentary to watch,. It tells the story of four bible salesman who travel door to door selling bibles. Firs meet Paul Brennan he starts the documentary off by saying to a potential customer “The best seller in the whole world is the bible for one reason it’s the greatest piece of literature of all time” He is in a home trying to sell the bible to a mother and her few children . Paul unfortunately does not get a sale . The next salesman we are introduced to is Charles Mc Devit who is not even allowed entry into a home as soon as he mentions that he is from the church. The door is literally slammed in his face. As he turns away you can clearly see he is very frustrated same to how salesman today must feel when they are rejected. They have a lot of stress on them and as the viewer you can feel their emotions. The way this documentary was done is just amazing. You are put through a “day in the life” atmosphere where you get a real sense of what these men go through. They are pushed to sell these bibles and travel a lot ,leaving their families. This documentary was enjoyable to watch and had some great shots such as following the men on the job , and at a meeting where they are told to get their sales up or else.
Link: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzMzNzgyOTY=.html


2) 1970-1990

Burden of Dreams: 1982 Les Blank

Burden of Dreams is a documentary following the chaotic production of Werner Herzog’s “Fitzcarraldo”. The doc depicts how the film was able to get made despite a number of problems. These problems included ,casting problems and getting caught in the war between Peru and Ecuador . It is essentially a journey through making a film . The viewer is drawn in by the way the story is told ,through Herzog’s perspective. The film opens with Herzog expressing to the viewer “ You wanted to know the story of Fitzcarralodo.It’s a strange story”.
He also describes the film as being “ a challenge of the impossible “. One of the most interesting things I noticed in the beginning was that the interview was conducted in a canoe. The use of b-roll showcasing the areas where the film was shot really added to the documentary. The viewer is also given a sense of the people who live in the Amazon Jungle as well as the creatures who inhabit it. We are also thrust into the issues that Herzog faced including the political power struggle between two native groups. Herzog paid the natives a far better wage, $3.50 a day which was twice the going wage for Indian labor. Though Herzog faced many problems during filming he was still able to produce and make a film which is pretty impressive despite all he went through.
Link: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTc4MTgyODYw.html

1990- Present Hoop Dreams 1994 – Steve James .:

This is a documentary about two African American teens , William Gates and Arthur Agee who are recruited by St.Joseph High School for their basketball program. St.Joseph isa predominately white high school with an outstanding basketball program. It follows their journey ,from 90 min commutes to school ,long practices and getting used to a new school environment. It really raises a number of issues including race , class and economic division in America. This film is most well known for giving viewers a real intimate view into the lives of those living in the inner city. It really follows these two young men on a journey through struggles and triumph. Viewers are drawn in emotionally and are able to take something away from it.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBF3ymDQJfU

b) Manufacturing Consent 1993- March Achbar, Peter Winntonick . This documentary is about the political life and ideas of world –renowned linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky. It expands on the ideas raised in his book by the same name. This doc showcases his thesis which is that the corporate media which is profit driven exist only to further the agendas of the elite. Much of the documentary focuses on The New York Times coverage of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. Chomsky stated that The New York Times is an example of a media that will not comment or criticize on the elite. This documentary brought a lot of important issues out , such as the role of media and who's really benefiting from it. The B-roll and interviews were extremely interesting.


Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FKdU_xL4O8&feature=related


C) Food Inc: Robbert Kenner .

This is a documentary about the food industry going behind the scenes of the mechanical American industry behind how our food is produced. It is revealed that with consent from the government agencies such as USDS and FDA ,Americas food supply is controlled by giant corporations who put making a profit over consumer health. The livelihood of Farmers as well as worker's safety is also being affected.With new technology and better looking products such as bigger-breasted chicken ,tomatoes that wont go bad comes with it new bacteria such as E-coli. E-coli causes illness in approximately 73,000 Americans a year. Other heath issues include ,obesity and a rapidly growing number of cases of diabetes in adults. It looks at the future of where our food is going and the future of our lives helath wise and other. It's a very real look at food production and gives consumers an insight it what goes into what they eat everyday. I particularly enjoyed this documentary because of the issues it raised and how every single viewer is able to connect to the issues being discussed. The interviews with experts were also fascinating and informative.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyagLY1Nem8



That's all for this week's entry ! Till next time :)