A superb meditation on the craft of vérité. I thought I already understood it pretty well, but you've added new layers. The part that jumped out is that a vérité filmmaker can't succeed on stealth alone. One needs to be a known and trusted presence as well. I'm trying to think of analogues here ... perhaps a limo driver, whose role is invisible, trusted and understood? Always there, and always expected to be there, but a silent member of a traveling party.
Is there a possibility of making a video about "shooting" verité? What types of skills should be practiced/refined to make the leap from prose to poetry?
I love how the 2012 Hunger Games went all out with verite techniques when they wanted to. What you explain here about intimacy, storytelling and the core of what it is, is all that I feel when I see that movie too
Thank You so much Sir, You some of the people who are inspiring me to start make my own Shot Film. Pls always guide newbies like me with your knowledge
Hi, Matt. Outstanding description! Thank you so much. Would be interesting to explore the role of cinema verite in fictional movies, like "Faces' and "Saving Private Ryan." Would be interesting to get your thoughts on that. Thanks again!
Thanks for this illuminating talk on Cinema Verite. I wonder how these days this genre differs from Citizen Journalism. Have they merged into one and the same thing?
Thanks for your comment. I believe there is a pretty substantial difference between verite storytelling and journalism of any kind. Verite films tell a nuanced story that is factual, but with emotion, subtext, and dramatic structure while journalism is (or should be) objective reporting of the raw facts without interpretation or poetic meaning. That's my opinion at least.
Thanks for your comment! The answer to this is so dependent on the film you're shooting. Sure, lighting verite is possible and I've certainly done it. But know the impact it'll have on the scene and the subjects. If it makes sense to use it and won't have a big impact on how things play out, then sure. But if it'll take time and augment the subject's perception of reality, then I'd say find a creative way to work with the difficult lighting.
What’s your perspective on direct cinema? I’ve heard people used that term interchangeably with cinema vérité while other view these terms as two distinct philosophies. Also, what’s your thoughts on this notion of cinema vérité not being a showing of truth, but an emerging of truth as the story unfolds?
These are great questions! Technically speaking, "direct cinema" is a different style of filmmaking from "cinema vérité." Direct cinema is a style that's purely observational. You put a camera down on a tripod and watch things happen. In practice, I don't know of that many purely direct cinema films that are out there. I believe, as a storyteller, that vérité is a style that allows for better exploration and understanding than direct cinema - but to each their own. When it comes to vérité and truth, its a tough one to answer. Some truths can be directly told, while others can’t reveal themselves until the story emerges in front of you. In many ways, the process of how the truth is communicated to an audience comes down to editing. Is it something that can explained in a single scene, or is it something that needs a full story to fully understand? I believe it’s a case-by-case basis, but as long as the filmmakers are open and listening, both routes are viable. I hope that helps!
@@DANAMIONLINE Editing for docs is by far the most important stage, even if it does come at the end. I find my job most often is to gather as much useful content as I can to give the editor what they need to find the story. It’s amazing how things come together and shed light on the truth when it starts to have a narrative structure. Such a cool process indeed!
@@bballman This is the biggest challenge to tackle! While it certainly happens, it is completely avoidable. Check out my “Building Trust with Your Subjects” video to see how.
Certainly they do! I think where the difference lies is the interviews in a verite film tend to be directly from the subjects, keeping a singular point of view, as opposed to expert interviews talking about a topic more objectively. Of course, I am generalizing a bit, but thats more or less how I see the difference.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
A superb meditation on the craft of vérité. I thought I already understood it pretty well, but you've added new layers. The part that jumped out is that a vérité filmmaker can't succeed on stealth alone. One needs to be a known and trusted presence as well. I'm trying to think of analogues here ... perhaps a limo driver, whose role is invisible, trusted and understood? Always there, and always expected to be there, but a silent member of a traveling party.
Same!
Thanks for the insight... same here been doing it without knowing it
Is there a possibility of making a video about "shooting" verité? What types of skills should be practiced/refined to make the leap from prose to poetry?
This is a great breakdown of cinema style. Love your pacing, all the examples and explanation. It was very informative and insightful.
I love how the 2012 Hunger Games went all out with verite techniques when they wanted to. What you explain here about intimacy, storytelling and the core of what it is, is all that I feel when I see that movie too
Thank You so much Sir, You some of the people who are inspiring me to start make my own Shot Film. Pls always guide newbies like me with your knowledge
So glad you found this helpful!
Love this. Great insights Matt
Thanks!
This was so informative, absolutely awesome! Thank you for taking the time to put this together!!!
Thank you!
Great insight and practical advice,as always. Keep it up!
Much appreciated!
Hi, Matt. Outstanding description! Thank you so much.
Would be interesting to explore the role of cinema verite in fictional movies, like "Faces' and "Saving Private Ryan." Would be interesting to get your thoughts on that.
Thanks again!
Thanks for this illuminating talk on Cinema Verite. I wonder how these days this genre differs from Citizen Journalism. Have they merged into one and the same thing?
Thanks for your comment. I believe there is a pretty substantial difference between verite storytelling and journalism of any kind. Verite films tell a nuanced story that is factual, but with emotion, subtext, and dramatic structure while journalism is (or should be) objective reporting of the raw facts without interpretation or poetic meaning. That's my opinion at least.
A great breakdown of film making
Sincerely thankful for you.😀🙏
🙏
I think "a perspective" is a perfect discription
Thanks!
Amazing content as always. Would a not too big led light be acceptable for difficult lighting situations in Verite style filmmaking?
Thanks for your comment! The answer to this is so dependent on the film you're shooting. Sure, lighting verite is possible and I've certainly done it. But know the impact it'll have on the scene and the subjects. If it makes sense to use it and won't have a big impact on how things play out, then sure. But if it'll take time and augment the subject's perception of reality, then I'd say find a creative way to work with the difficult lighting.
Very helpful.
Glad to hear!
What’s your perspective on direct cinema? I’ve heard people used that term interchangeably with cinema vérité while other view these terms as two distinct philosophies. Also, what’s your thoughts on this notion of cinema vérité not being a showing of truth, but an emerging of truth as the story unfolds?
These are great questions! Technically speaking, "direct cinema" is a different style of filmmaking from "cinema vérité." Direct cinema is a style that's purely observational. You put a camera down on a tripod and watch things happen. In practice, I don't know of that many purely direct cinema films that are out there. I believe, as a storyteller, that vérité is a style that allows for better exploration and understanding than direct cinema - but to each their own.
When it comes to vérité and truth, its a tough one to answer. Some truths can be directly told, while others can’t reveal themselves until the story emerges in front of you. In many ways, the process of how the truth is communicated to an audience comes down to editing. Is it something that can explained in a single scene, or is it something that needs a full story to fully understand? I believe it’s a case-by-case basis, but as long as the filmmakers are open and listening, both routes are viable.
I hope that helps!
@@matt-porwoll Editing is the final stage of storytelling. Also, I see your point about the "purely observational".
@@DANAMIONLINE Editing for docs is by far the most important stage, even if it does come at the end. I find my job most often is to gather as much useful content as I can to give the editor what they need to find the story. It’s amazing how things come together and shed light on the truth when it starts to have a narrative structure. Such a cool process indeed!
The biggest obvious problem I see is that people's behavior changes in light of their knowledge that they are being filmed.
@@bballman This is the biggest challenge to tackle! While it certainly happens, it is completely avoidable. Check out my “Building Trust with Your Subjects” video to see how.
Would you say some verité documentaries have talking heads?
Certainly they do! I think where the difference lies is the interviews in a verite film tend to be directly from the subjects, keeping a singular point of view, as opposed to expert interviews talking about a topic more objectively. Of course, I am generalizing a bit, but thats more or less how I see the difference.
Excellent
Thanks!
wonderfull!
Many thanks!