Interactive documentary
Interactive documentary ... arose from the ... desire to make the
film maker's perspective more evident. Interview styles and interventionist tactics arose, allowing the film maker to participate more actively in present events.
In other words, all interactive documentaries by definition draw the filmed people and events into direct contact with the film maker.
The content of the interactive documentary is based primarily on interviews, which draw out specific comments and responses from those who are filmed.
An interactive documentary that is made well will allow the filmed people to express their opinions and views, and the film maker may juxtapose one opinion with a contrary opinion, therefore offering the spectator a balanced view.
Sometimes the film maker is the main person on screen, which may serve to hold the documentary together.
There are a number of ways in which the film maker may interact with the people he or she is filming. The film maker may appear on screen and will, formally or informally, ask the interviewee questions. Here, both film maker and interviewee share the same space and the spectator can see them interacting with one another.
The film maker therefore clearly acts as a mediator between the interviewee and the spectator.
Or the film maker may remain off screen, in which case we may or may not hear the questions. All we see is the interviewee addressing answers to someone just beyond the frame.
Furthermore, if the film maker remains off screen, he or she has the choice of allowing the questions to be heard by the spectator, or may decide to edit out the questions altogether.
Although in these examples the film maker is not seen and may not be heard, he or she still shares the same space as the interviewee, and still plays the role of mediator, but his or her presence is less evident.
Interactive documentaries show the process of interaction taking place.
The act of gathering information by means of interviews is clearly shown including the negotiation of the terms and conditions under which the interview is to take place.
The result is that the spectator can see what effect the interview is having on the interviewee.
The interactive documentary shows the process by which it is made.
We must remember that in all documentaries, there is a power relation involved, between the film makers and those who are filmed.
The ethical question about filming someone is made apparent in the interactive documentary. But the film maker can, nonetheless, simply use the interviews for his or her own purposes.
Interaction and juxtaposition of shots and scenes, together with the use of archival footage, constitute the main tools of the interactive documentary film maker.
The film maker uses these tools in order to present an argument.
What is important from an ethical perspective is the manner in which the film maker presents the interviewees.
Consider these questions when watching Bowling for Columbine
How does the film maker prompt the interviewee?
Is the film maker provocative?
Or does the film maker allow interviewees to put their case fully?
How are the interviews used in the final film?
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