Documentary Mode Activity #1 – Observational, An Observation in a Late Night Meal, Documentarian’s Statement

Observation in a Late Night Meal.  Video can be found at: http://youtu.be/r2nWXREU9b8

I tried not to appear too obtrusive in the restaurant.  Perhaps it was because I felt a bit strange, filming in a public place, or perhaps I was afraid of how those people working at Café Rio would perceive my actions, but this inhibition prevented me from getting the shots I needed to get to create a cohesive story.  Granted, my piece is most certainly unpolished and presents its subject as equally unpolished – honestly, who can pull off polished while eating a sweet pork burrito, smothered?  But it is an honest observation of my friend on a typical night when he gets off from work. 

If the goal of the observational mode of documentary filmmaking is to draw attention to what everyday life would be like, even if the camera wasn’t there, then it might be best to start with the everyday.  This piece is how I observe life and how I observe my friend Mason.  A clear departure from an actuality, I did ask him to wait until I had the camera ready before exiting the car, a few of the moments needed the subject’s cooperation to be adequately captured.  Though he most certainly was aware of the camera in his face while perusing the menu and taking each bite, he still was able to behave naturally.  As a subject of observation, Mason is very kinesthetically and aurally aware.  His head sways to the music of the restaurant or the rhythm of the conversation.  He eats without reserve and carries on a conversation as he would normally.

But even with the smallness of the technology in use when capturing this moment, my red incased iPad is relatively easy to maneuver and capture images, I still had issues because I felt intrusive on the lives of the other people I caught on film.  Playing some of the actual experience safe, I realized that I had failed as a filmmaker in capturing the entire story.  I thought, because I had more footage than the required 5 minutes, I would be fine.  But, in editing the piece, I found that I was missing key information, like the actual ordering of the meal.  I attempted to get that action in a really wide shot, so I could see him move down the line.  But, unfortunately, the angle and the lighting was poor.  In my wide shot, the subject was often obscured behind large wooden posts.  I soon realized that the shot was unusable and would have to be discarded.  Perhaps I would have been better to get permission to film, like the filmmakers of The Salesman, a “human interest piece.”  But I was worried that the authenticity of the piece would be compromised.  I found, in doing this exercise, that much more training, better lighting, more actual footage and a fearless approach will help better my work in upcoming projects.