Daughter from Danang & Born into Brothels

The story lines between these two films obviously were very independent but there were a few themes and similarities that could be found.

Each story ended with harsh realities. As each story came to an end the viewer realizes that the children in Born in Brothels often don’t have a way out of the life they were born into. The film was hard for me to watch at times, it was heart wrenching to see that these children had such a small chance of controlling their future; but although there was a hopelessness present, you were still presented with the chance that some of the children could escape the brothels.

Unlike Born into Brothels, Daughter of Danang started out hopeful, and ended more bitter. Heidi eventually discovered that the relationship she desired with her birth mother was not only a world away, but completely out of reach. Both of this films had themes of culture shock, and the different struggles that take place throughout different places within the world. Being an American viewing each of these films, it truly instilled the thought of gratefulness, and appreciation for what often I may take for granted.

Holy Hell vs Children of God vs Jonestown-

The documentary Holy Hell was in my opinion the most interesting, and shocking out of the three documentary’s we watched this week. I found that throughout this film you truly could understand the journey Allen and others went on for nearly two decades. I think this film used every form of perspective and this was extremely beneficial. The film featured Allen’s point of view, the narrator, I-perspective, as well as perspective from other Buddhafield members through interviews. This allowed the viewer to feel as if they really could understand various sides to this story. I personally feel that the unique insight that this documentary provided is extremely rare. The film began with footage; that was almost twenty-years old, that portrayed a much different mood and story line then what was to come. As the story continues the footage captures intense emotions first hand in interview driven scenes.

Children of God begins with narrative structure that is similar to Holy Hell, but begins begins with a different sequence of the story line. The story begins with a family returning home after being involved with a cult. This film does feature old footage just as Holy Hell did, and sort of provides what could possibly be viewed as “flash backs” for the viewer, that are often shocking and leave the viewer feeling uncomfortable. The film also features a narrator and interview driven scenes. This film similar to Holy Hell, has all three styles, but one difference i noticed is the film didn’t necessarily have an outsider’s perspective, For example in Holy Hell the parents of Allen who are very distraught and at one point cut off completely from their children, give their perspective. I also feel the filmed could of benefited from interviewing other members of the cult.

The documentary Jonestown, was a film that I actually had previously seen so feel I have a more bias opinion about. Already knowing the story and seeing the film caused me to be more uninterested in the story, but I could focus better on noticing various styles and techniques the filmed used. While this film focuses very much so on in depth interviews, I did do some research since I had already seen this film- to get some more background information on why it was created in the way it was and found this interesting: “Jonestown” is a thoroughly conventional documentary — archival footage, images and voice recordings alternating with talking head interviews. (It was funded by PBS’ “American Experience” series.) But this familiar format also emphasizes the movie’s universality. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jonestown-the-life-and-death-of-peoples-temple-2006

I honestly did not want to watch the archival footage again where it gets rather dark and explicit. I also learned during my brief research that Leonardo Dicaprio produced a 4-part series “Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, that re-enacts the 1978 mass death. https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/jonestown-terror-in-the-jungle-sundance-documentary-trailer-1202013089/

Final Documentary Treatment

While there are quite a few documentaries  that have been produced whose main focus was the subject of Alzheimer’s, I wold like to create my final documentary on a different perspective, approach and style, but still focusing on experiences with the disease. About a year ago my grandpa was diagnosed with this disease known as Alzheimers, and while it has created some concerns, stress, anxiety and even tension within my family I believe it will never affect anyone as hard as it does my grandpa who is struggling with himself. I would like my film to Focus on not how this disease has affected the rest of the family but more on the perspective of my grandpa his opinions on it his new daily struggles and much more. I would like to film with him twice a week often we have a very great time together and talk about a lot of things I think this would be a good opportunity for me and him to connect, my grandpa actually loves film and photography and I would like him to possibly even have a part in the production and a say in certain aspect, think he would find this interesting he’s extremely comfortable with me. and I would like to film the different days the good in the bad how things change throughout the week in just his overall experience. The films three parts will play out through our experiences but most importantly the dialogue that takes place between us, and other family members.

Documentary Short’s- a Contrast & Comparison

After viewing each of these captivating documentary shorts; Black Sheep, A Night At The Garden, End Game, and My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes; many underlying similarities as well as differences can be uncovered. Each of these films tells a completely different story and establish their own customized film style, cultivated through various techniques of editing, attitude, dialogue, and much more. One thing each of these films share is the fact that they are each addressing very serious issues, often issues that some viewers may consider dark. Although each of these films focus on such heavy subject matters– Black Sheep and A Night at Garden on racism—My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes and End Game on death– they each execute their subject matter using very disparate methods.

I believe My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes falls under the production style/category of Expository Documentary. I found this film captivating, as the narrator spoke over old home footage and creative fluid edits of Charlie Tyrell’s deceased father’s belongings. The film is captivating to me because the footage is constantly changing. At some points every second of the narrator’s dialogue correlates to various images constantly transitioning as the dialogue continues.

The film End Game get the viewers’ attention with what some may perceive as traumatic real-life footage. I assume this documentary falls under observational. Often this film presented first hand conversations/ dialogue and sometimes quick snippets of B-roll and hopeful themes. But if i’m honest At times this film was hard for me to watch and I would say it is not for the faint of heart. It takes the viewer into the daily lives of people who are facing life threatening diseases, death, and denial.

Black Sheep begins with Cornelius Walker entering the frame and sitting down as he begins to tell his story first hand. Throughout this film the producers use a combination of a direct interview with Cornelius and artificial scenes that are used as re-enactments as Cornelius dialogue continues. This technique really draws the viewer in and provides a sense of realism as well as creating an emotional appeal (pathos).

A Night At The Garden uses a very unique style and approach that I believe is not traditional. Although this film was produced in 2018 the footage was from 1939. As this documentary began I was initially confused and then this emotion transitioned to shocked. After doing some research I read this quote from the directed Marshall Curry where he states “At first I thought I’d make a traditional documentary – with an historian explaining the background of the group. But when I started cutting the footage together, I realized there was real power in just watching it unfold, without explanation.”

Black Sheep Analysis

This short documentary film directed by Ed Perkins tells the distressing story of young Cornelius Walker as he faces intense struggles with his identity as a result of the harsh racism that violent white gangs forced him to endure

As the film begins you follow Cornelius and his family as they move out of London to escape racism after 10-year-old Damilola Taylor is killed; Damilola was the same age as Cornelius and the same skin race. Cornelius’s family soon relocates to a housing estate in Essex with the hopes of escaping the dangers faced in London. Unfortunately Cornelius quickly encounters what his family was initially fleeing. The tragic external conflict Cornelius is forced to experience soon drives him to an internal battle as he struggles with pain, pride, identity, and survival. As the film continues you witness Cornelius’s transition from hatred towards the groups against him, to wanting to be more like them, inward and outwardly.