cinema screen

Cinema of Social Concern - 4
Still from film about housing conditions in Glasgow Contemporary Documentary Still from film about housing conditions in Glasgow
Today the social problem documentary does not satisfy many contemporary documentarists. Documentary film makers today look back at this type of film as 'preachy', unimaginative and visually boring. Theirs is a documentary of imagination and visual stimulation. This is echoed by the broadcasting companies, almost the sole source of money for documentaries now, who don't want the downbeat, the depressing and the real on their screens. Audiences, like you, switch off.

Tasks

Think of the last documentary you watched on television.

  • Was it entertaining?
  • Was it real?
  • Did you react to its content?

Think of a subject for a social documentary.
How would you approach the subject matter and make an audience want to watch your film?
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