Lecture 3 – February 1

Documentary for Television 1958-2008 Remember the first writing exercise is due after Chinese New Year.See BELOW THE LINK FOR THIS WEEK’s Powerpoint PresentationWe discussed early documentaries on Television: the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.   The last film we considered was from 1993.Films Discussed and shown in excerpt      Harvest of Shame (CBS 1960)      Civilisation (BBC 1969)

      Panorama Series (1953 to date)  We showed excerpts from a film made in early 2007; one that stirred controversy for all the wrong reasons.

      The Shattered Land (ABC, 1980)

      Myths Behind the Miracle (ABC, 1981)

      Primary (Independent, Drew, 1960)  (did not show but discussed as it influenced later political films in America.  We discussed why it not appear on American network television and noted it was a shift in style from most television documentaries.

     War Room (Pennebake Associates, Independent, 1993)

 

Readings:   Barnouw, pages “Advocate” pgs 113-139                                Nichols, pgs 139-167                Read about John Drew, Barnouw pgs 236-38Read Influence of John Grierson – an early proponent of TV and other documentary formssee: http://www.griersontrust.org/john_grierson.htm             Read about  Panorama at the BBC                                                                       http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/about_panorama/default.stm           

 Recently a controversy erupted about one reporter at Panorama doing a film on the American “religion” – SCIENTOLOGY.  see powerpoint      and see an example of “involvement” film making going too far see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0zPchNeQ0Check out Power point link below Lecture 3 – Documentaries and Television Powerpoint

Next lecture we continue with Television and Documentaries.   remember the first FILM CRITIQUE should be e-mailed to jlaurie@hku.hk by February 15th.  Choose films from film list on this blog or e-mail instructor for permission if you wish to CRITIQUE another film.

See powerpoint for more details.

[NOTE: CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAK February 8 NO CLASS]