Assignment 3: Cinema Verite presentation

By Debbie Marques

Definition of cinema verite

• Cinema verite is a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.

Which means: • Styles of documentaries which sends out naturalistic point of view to the

audience. • This means that in order to be real there cannot be a lot of editing and

cuts within the footage• Also means that it should not be biased or subjective but always objective• Cinema devices are used such as camera work in order to access realistic

footage

Text book definition:

History of cinema verite

• First started in 1960s• Got criticized at the time to cinematographers

believing that films were becoming documentaries • Accomplished using a handheld camera• Important names at the time were : Jean Rouch’s,

Ricky Leacock, Frederick WEiseman, Donn Pennebaker, Mayseles Brothers

• It appeared as they want to instead of using normal shots with diagetic sound to have interview pictures and other elements in their movies.

Changes of cinema verite• Becoming relity shows• Bill Nichols an Ameircan historian uses the concept of observational mode

which is part of direct cinema in our contemporary society known as fly on the wall.

• The filmmaker's intention was to represent the truth in what he or she was seeing as objectively as possible, freeing people from any deceptions and allow them to create their own opinion about what was being shown.

• Feminist documentary films of the 1970s often used cinéma-vérité techniques. Soon this sort of 'realism' was criticized for its misleading and unnatural construction of reality

Examples of cinema verite Jersey shore Keeping up with the

kardashians

An american family Big brother

Jersey shore

• Happenings occur in order to satisfy the producer and attract audience

• Many cuts and editing • Still with use of titles and credts• Lots of scandals/dramas

interviews

Titles/credits

Keeping up with the kardashians

• Many cuts • A lot of editing is used (transitions)• Happenings occur in order to satisfy the producer

and attract audience• Use of titles and credits Sudden

zoom

Titles/credits Establishing shot

Transition

interviews

An American family

Big brother

• Fly on the wall