Millions of years ago, humans began documenting the world around them. They found several ways to do this. They painted on rock walls, both outside and inside caves, depicting aspects of their lives, including the animals they encountered. They carved figurines and painted their bowls and tools. They painted their bodies. When they learned language, they told stories about life from one generation to the next.
Today, among many other ways, we have film, video, and photography to tell stories and document the world around us. This book chronicles documentaries on a wide range of subjects. It reviews and reflects on these stories – their subjects, how they were recorded, and perhaps why.
If you want to tell nonfiction stories in a documentary style, you will find examples to help you choose a style and genre. Watch and study these documentaries.
If you enjoy documentaries, you will find some of the best in this book.
Our purpose is to explore the world of documentary films and other media, review and reflect on the subject, production methods, and how effectively they communicate their stories to us. Will they last as long as those paintings on the walls of caves in France and elsewhere? Time will tell. In the interim, you can decide for yourself.