Documentary Films and Movie Reviews

What makes documentary films unique is the fact that there are no sets and no actors.

Documentary films are also credited as having a large impact on cultural meanings. It's a great thing that the art of documentary filmmaking is taught in many film schools worldwide. The schools and classes teach understanding the fundamental aesthetic tools of documentary filmmaking like camera operation, sound, structure, and also the interview.

So the students can learn directing and producing, classes are geared towards having workshops that lead to the real production of a film project.

In documentary filmmaking, both teacher and students discuss issues that have to do with the development of ideas, preproduction and actual production.

To complement their learning, students shall be made to watch portions of films and videos that are representative of the major trends in documentary filmmaking history. Usually, there are "celebrity" film makers who lecture in the courses to mentor and provide supplementary education.

Documentary films are an extremely difficult form of filmmaking, that often stir up controversies. Historically, the genre starts with the earliest films of the Lumire brothers, known as "actuality films" and ends with the latest postmodern explorations of film truth. Classics include Flaherty, Grierson, Riefenstahl, Rouch, Vertov, and Wiseman, including some contemporary works. Documentary film classes assess how changes in social and political realities, changing technology, and the personalities and talents of influential individuals continually re-define what the word documentary means. Ethical as well as aesthetic issues are also of consideration.

For cinematographers who work individually or in small crews, documentaries are really a challenge. This is because beautifully-framed and meaningful footage have to be captured at low budget and chaotic situations. Emphasis on shooting cinema verit is typical in documentary films. Technical aspects of digital cameras are taught, and here, the students handle cameras and a crew.

Documentary films are also an art. Awards shows have a place for documentaries and many are covered often by movie critics, as seen in as early as 1942, when there were four winners including: The Battle of Midway; Kokoda Front Line; Moscow Strikes Back; and Prelude to War. In 2009, a recent documentary on military medicine - Fighting for Life - is expected to win awards.