Lecture 011

The project is a complex system: meaning that each component will affect the project in different ways, as well as affect other components. For example: To shot a specific scene, one must not only worry about how the ship looks. The planner must also consider the water level, shipload, and the location of ship engines. <- It’s the combination of technical and non-technical skills that make a project successful. (Who will think he should worry about prostitutes and tribal conflicts in his actor groups) The documentary is a stronger piece than the film: the storyline of the original film is boring. After looking at the comments of the original film, I sense that somehow there is more value in the documentary than the original film. In this sense, the original film is only a “documentary” of the documentary, if I would think that the documentary is the major piece. If the film maker’s original intention is to make a documentary of the film, will this still be valuable? Planned and unplanned: If failure can’t be intentional, then there should not be a plan. Therefore it will be impossible to money for the failure. Overconfidence: He is taking too much unnecessary risk. From my point of view, instead of pushing the ship up to the mountain, his film can still be stronger by changing the plot. There should be a way to both reduce the cost and to make a good film. Many interesting films don’t require extensive costs. Therefore, it must be that he is not interested in making a good film, rather, enjoying the process of suffering through a film.

Our Group's Presentation

Documentary vs. Film

The "Background Story"

My Opinion:

• I feel like -> I won't ever watch this movie because the plot is overall non-interesting.

• The documentary, in my mind is more-worth watching than the film.

Film Review

To support my opinion

• Rating: they are all astonished by the process of making the film

A fundamental question:

• is it really a documentary when it is better than the original?

Documentary

Learn from math: whenever you want to make an argument, go look at the definition.

Definition of Dictionary

• 1. factual, realistic -> failed:missed some point
• 1. to a film or literary work -> yes
• 1. indented for instruction or record -> not only

Conclusion:

• 1. a badly made documentary
• 1. not only a documentary
  2. a tool to negotiate with the natives
  3. for entertainment

What he is making is beyond documentary Is it a film?

• 1. moving images
• 1. maybe as an art

Can the film be a documentary

• close enough

Making Documentary vs. Making Film

Made-up Definition: Good-film

• a good film must entertain people

• this definition is relevant based on statistics

Purpose of making film:

• entertain audience with good story

Purpose of making documentary

• documentation (mainly)

• entertain audience with good story (it can get the the same goal but making documentary can be way cheaper than making a film)

Why don't you just make the documentary without film?

1. then its not anymore a documentary by definition
2. he doesn't know the documentary might come out to be good

He is not making a film because... for film, its not worth the labor

• you can use miniature.

• so the process is what you are looking for. -> that gives aura of the work

What he is really doing: Navigation through Failure

• choose a different path of making a successful documentary instead of a good film.

Shoe

• no shoe: labor, unsocial

• animals:

Visual Symbolism and Parallel

• white is appearing a lot

• white turkey, white rubber, white suit (class, luxury)

• ants: symbolism of deforest

Culture Appropriation

• using native labor to create the film: "Savage Indians"

• pay natives with "high wage"

• don't contaminate with Native Culture

• native work with nature, film maker fight against nature

• film maker torture the natives

Helen's Presentation

Contemplation - Ryan

• Instead of making miniature, you do with actual object

• persistence

Huny