Dark Days - Documentary Inspiration

After viewing the documentary about the making of Dark Days, I was interested in the film itself and decided to give it a watch. I was struck by the personal accounts given by subjects, and the way in which the filmmaker got to know them so that they shared intimate aspects of their lives on film. The low-budget approach is one to be admired, especially knowing the background of how the filmmakers acquired 16mm film and edited on the Avid.

A prominent feature of the documentary is its minimal use of sound, one which allows the viewer to concentrate on what is being said and to be emotionally involved on their own terms, without having to be guided by an intrusive soundtrack. The quietude also reflects the quiet lives of the interview subjects.

The end of the documentary shows both crisis and then solution, in an uplifting sequence. Emulating this in the New Bird edit is something we would do well to achieve.

Although interesting and pioneering, I did feel that the documentary contained a lot of stretched out moments without anything to keep the viewer particularly engaged. Knowing how to avoid this will be crucial in editing my own documentary, but due to the short length of the project, I can't see this being an issue.