This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion with Charles Burnett, Iverson White, and Kevin Everson. Boy, was it awful! No, I’m just kidding- it was fresh and informative; it made me think of verite filmmaking differently. I’ve been very fortunate to work on some pretty pimp documentaries, (be sure to tune in to PBS October 15th at 7:00PM for my first feature length doc), and this winter I’m heading to Laos to complete filming on my current project. So, verite is a huge part of what I do, but it’s a slippery slope, one of the slipperiest. Hearing these distinguished, professional filmmakers discuss verite helped me launch a new way of thinking.
There are multiple realities. I think it was Mr. Burnett who said something to that effect. It’s so simple! Verity, by its very definition is truth! But, people are so complex, so messed-up, that, yes, there ARE multiple truths. Well, that makes things easier, but it makes things harder, but mostly easier…almost.
Well, who is the film for? Is it for me? Is it for the audience? Who am I appeasing- my funders? Myself? My subject? What’s the story I’m trying to tell- and what’s the truth? WHAT’S THE TRUTH!? Well, with any footage- especially the ridiculous amounts of footage amassed in the attempt to make a feature length documentary- any TRUTH could happen! Any truth could emerge! It’s a little overwhelming. How can I know how to frame the moments in the film to tell the story that is the most true and fulfills the obligation I feel to myself, my subject and my funders!? Mr. Burnett and the other panelists discussed striking this balance.
The challenges of directing films, writing films, and the importance of casting were also mentioned. Regional specificity, as well as the intricate relationships between race, artists, and audience were also vocalized by this extraordinary panel, in an unpretentious way, free, (for the most part) from the trappings of academia. The candidness of the panel was both intellectually and creatively inspiring- like visiting a dinosaur exhibit at a museum- but also, not like that at all.
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1 comment:
Meghan,
First, I would like to comment on the tone of your blog. While I don't mind personal asides (and shameless plugs-congrats on the PBS tip!), please refrain from self-reflexive statements and rhetorical questions as the main basis of your response.
It is clear that you were engaged in the panel, and we able to relate to the questions at hand. For the next Field Reports, be sure to tie in specific examples from work screened in class to your experience from the field, as it were.
R. Nugent
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