Documentary Storytelling, Second Edition: Making Stronger and More Dramatic Nonfiction Films

389 Pages·2007·4.87 MB·english

by  Sheila Curran Bernard

×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:i Trimsize:6in 9in
More praise for Documentary Storytelling
Sheila Curran Bernard’s Documentary Storytelling is an essential,
pragmatic,common-senseapproachtomakingnonfictionfilmsfor
thestudentand/orfirst-timefilmmaker,basedontheauthor’sdeep
awareness of documentary film history and theory, and her inti-
mate knowledge of how today’s most important documentarians
formulate their works.
—Gerald Peary, film critic, The Boston Phoenix
While documentaries are nonfiction, they are certainly not objec-
tive, and even the smallest choices in writing, filming, interview-
ing, narrating, or scoring can drastically alter the perspective of
the film, and in turn, the audience. Bernard is keenly aware of the
powerofpersuasiveimages,andherinsistenceoncomplexityand
integrity is a consistent theme throughout the book.
—Alyssa Worsham, The Independent
Ifyoufancyyourselfasadocumentaryfilm-maker,orsimplywant
to improve your understanding of observational storytelling, buy
this book, read it, and apply the ideas contained within.
—Quentin Budworth, Focus Magazine
Even if you consider yourself pro, it is a good read and worth the
time. For the beginner it should be a required read. We can make
it look great, but without a story it is nothing.
—Dan Shellenbarger, dvartdan.com
DocumentaryStorytelling.That’swhatthisbookisabout.It’sabout
thestory,howtoconveythatstoryeloquently,effectively,andeth-
ically(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)This book is absolutely brilliant(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2).packed full of inter-
views with award-winning documentary filmmakers offering up
information,advice,andwisdomyou’llfindinterestinganduseful.
—Krista Galyen, AAUG Reviews
What a valuable aid to documentary filmmakers. The importance
of a topic won’t cut it if the story isn’t told well and Bernard’s
book cuts right to the chase.
—Paul Stekler, producer/director, Last Man Standing
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:ii Trimsize:6in 9in
This page intentionally left blank
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:iii Trimsize:6in 9in
Documentary Storytelling
Second Edition
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:iv Trimsize:6in 9in
This page intentionally left blank
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:v Trimsize:6in 9in
Documentary Storytelling
Making Stronger and More Dramatic
Nonfiction Films
Second Edition
Sheila Curran Bernard
AMSTERDAM•BOSTON•HEIDELBERG•LONDON
NEWYORK•OXFORD•PARIS•SANDIEGO
SANFRANCISCO•SINGAPORE•SYDNEY•TOKYO
FocalPressisanimprintofElsevier
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:vi Trimsize:6in 9in
AcquisitionsEditor:ElinorActipis
ProjectManager:DawnmarieSimpson
AssistantEditor:RobinWeston
MarketingManager:ChristineDegonVeroulis
CoverDesign:EricDeCicco
CoverPhotograph:istockphotos.com,PhilipSigin-Lavdanski
FocalPressisanimprintofElsevier
30CorporateDrive,Suite400,Burlington,MA01803,USA
LinacreHouse,JordanHill,OxfordOX28DP,UK
Copyright©2007,SheilaCurranBernard.PublishedbyElsevierInc.Allrightsreserved.
Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedin
anyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
PermissionsmaybesoughtdirectlyfromElsevier’sScience&TechnologyRights
DepartmentinOxford,UK:phone:[phone],fax:[phone],
E-mail:[email protected]
viatheElsevierhomepage(http://elsevier.com),byselecting“Support&Contact”
then“CopyrightandPermission”andthen“ObtainingPermissions.”
Recognizingtheimportanceofpreservingwhathasbeenwritten,Elsevierprintsitsbookson
acid-freepaperwheneverpossible.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Bernard,SheilaCurran.
Documentarystorytelling:makingstrongerandmoredramaticnonfictionfilms/Sheila
CurranBernard.
p.cm.
Rev.ed.of:Documentarystorytellingforfilmandvideomakers.2004.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN-13:978-0-240-80875-8(pbk.:alk.paper)
ISBN-10:0-240-80875-4(pbk.:alk.paper) 1. Documentaryfilms—Productionand
direction. 2. Documentaryfilms—Authorship. I. Bernard,SheilaCurran.Documentary
storytellingforfilmandvideomakers. II. Title.
PN1995.9.D6B3942007
070.1(cid:2)8—dc22
2006030461
BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
ISBN13:978-0-240-80875-8
ISBN10:0-240-80875-4
ForinformationonallFocalPresspublications
visitourwebsiteatwww.books.elsevier.com
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
07 08 09 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Working together to grow
libraries in developing countries
www.elsevier.com | www.bookaid.org | www.sabre.org
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:vii Trimsize:6in 9in
In memory of Henry Hampton
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:viii Trimsize:6in 9in
This page intentionally left blank
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines
×
ElsevierUS Jobcode:BDSE Prelims-K80875 25-12-2006 3:48p.m. Page:ix Trimsize:6in 9in
Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition xiii
1
Introduction 1
PARTI: STORYDESIGN 13
2
Story Basics 15
3
Documentary Storytelling 33
4
Approach 47
5
Structure 61
6
Manipulating Time 75
7
Case Studies 87
ix
Fontsused:Futura&palatino Margins:Top:36pt Gutter:54pt FontSize:11/13 TextWidth:27pc Depth:41Lines