#learning from documentaries

[chehaylechandran]

BLOG POST 7: LEARNING FROM DOCUMENTARIES

Movie: American Factory/Directed by Julia Reichert, and Steve Bogna/ Release Date- January 25, 2019

"Factory Chronicles: Decoding the Storytelling Mastery of “American Factory."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON STORY:

In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.

"American Factory" is a documentary that delves into the complexities of globalization and the clash of cultures in a factory setting. The film offers a rich tapestry of storytelling elements that not only inform but also deeply resonate with the audience. In this exploration, we will unravel the major elements that construct the story, analyze the techniques that draw the audience in and extract valuable ideas for future presentations.

MAJOR ELEMENTS:

Compelling Characters: The documentary offers a diverse cast of characters, from factory workers to executives, each with their aspirations, struggles, and perspectives. The character diversity humanizes the narrative, making it relatable to a broader audience. 

Conflict and Tension: A central element of the story is the clash between American and Chinese work cultures. The documentary skillfully builds and maintains tension throughout, creating a narrative arc that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. 

Cultural Context: "American Factory" explores the cultural nuances at play within the factory, shedding light on the impact of cultural differences on communication, teamwork, and overall work dynamics. This cultural context adds depth to the narrative and enhances understanding.

Docuementary Realism: The filmmakers adopt a cinéma vérité approach, capturing unscripted moments and genuine reactions. This realism provides authenticity to the storytelling, allowing the audience to witness events as they unfold, unfiltered and raw.

HOW DID I GET DRAWN INTO THE STORY: 

Intimate Cinmentaography: The documentary uses intimate cinematography to bring the audience into the heart of the factory. Close-ups, fly-on-the-wall shots, and personal interviews create a sense of proximity, making the viewer feel like a participant rather than a passive observer.

Personal Narratives: By intertwining the personal stories of the workers with the broader narrative, the filmmakers evoke empathy and connection. The struggles, triumphs, and aspirations of individual characters become a focal point, drawing the audience emotionally into the larger socio-economic issues explored in the documentary.

Sound Design: The ambient sounds of the factory, combined with a carefully crafted musical score, contribute to the immersive experience. The soundscape reinforces the environment, creating an emotional and sensory connection that enhances the audience's engagement.

WHAT CAN I TAKE AWAY/USE ON MY OWN:

Embrace Complexity: Inspired by the nuanced portrayal of cultural clashes in "American Factory," future presentations can benefit from embracing complexity. Acknowledging and addressing the intricacies of a topic can elevate the narrative and provide a more comprehensive understanding for the audience.

Humanize Data: Just as the documentary humanizes global economic issues through personal narratives, future presentations can humanize data. Incorporating real stories, case studies, and personal experiences can make abstract information more relatable and impactful.

Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting cultural differences is a key takeaway from the documentary. In future presentations, being mindful of cultural nuances and incorporating a global perspective can enhance communication and foster inclusivity.

“​​American Factory”  stands as a testament to the storytelling prowess of documentaries. Its ability to navigate complex themes, draw in the audience through relatable characters, and provide an intimate view into a foreign world offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling capabilities. As I reflect on the documentary's impact, I am inspired to incorporate these storytelling elements into my future presentations, aiming to create narratives that are not only informative but deeply resonate with the audience.

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[clumsypuppy]

Big cat

[just12daria]

Something thats a core memory for me is when in the Senna Documentary, Ayrton's radio came "A special hello to my dear- our dear friends Alain. We all miss you Alain" and I was so confused i was like "waiiit a second... Weren't they enemies?" and i also didn't think much of it. And now as i dug deep into the prosenna lore I'm starting to realize how special that message was and it's so fucked up that the documentary couldn't give it a little more of context and backstory. I find it amusing and confusing rlly

[ballad-of-the-lamb]

new art soon i promise i've just been dealing w/ a migraine for the past couple days that's been killing me and preventing me from getting anywhere

[yaoiwchie-wowchie]

The experience of watching later seasons of the flash is just going "I miss Cisco".

[blairdii]

you see i believe jenson needs a documentary on his entire f1 career and the beauty that was his brawn wdc. but i guess that's just me 🫤🫤

[stygiansauce]

Hello, hello! So first off I absolutely love your writing; it’s always spectacular and I feel like I always learn new things… so I’d love to know your favorite fun fact that you’ve learned while researching for a fic! You seem to be full of interesting tidbits!

hello Rouxenne!!! Welcome to the tumblr community!! We do a lot of shouting over here.

Thank you for the kind words, I'm so glad you've been enjoying my stories!

I have learned sooooooooo much in the last few months of writing. I think the most "nerdy" thing i've learned is that the Arizona Rangers were only in effect from 1901-1907 before being brought back for modern purposes.

The weirdest thing i've learned is exactly how sweaty hockey players get. A friend who used to play gave me a very graphic depiction of wringing sweat out of gear. I've also had to google what gear spray smells like, and then just gave up and went to a sports store to find out. its uh...chemical. like mad make-up chemical. (guy at the counter said that was a bad brand sooo)

For MOE I think I've spent too much time learning real engineering things. I know now how a basic switch board works. I can also code a few lines of binary and I can read python (not well). Bidoof (the resident engineer I go with questions) has taught me a lot about the various ways someone can burn themselves. Kit (the resident ANYTHING ELSE person I go to with weird questions) has taught me a scary amount of what some of those burns feel like????

I also had to research a lot about west texas. My family is from central texas so it was a lot fun to see the differences!

My favorite though? All of the music I've found in the process. I really got to dive into different genres of country because of Southern Tango. I was already a big blue grass fan of because of everyone here on Tumblr i've gotten to see more of the world :D.

I have tons of dumb facts just chilling in my brain ready to use, and if that's not what fanfic is for...

Thanks for the ask!! I hope to see you soon Xoxo, Sauce

[idontmindifuforgetme]

I’ll never forget how once my ex joked I “live under a rock” and when I asked how he showed me a Snapchat reel of “hot celebrity gossip,” after which he pointed out I don’t keep up with any of it. I really dated that that’s so embarrassing

[torchickentacos]

update: still in burnout/seasonal affective hell (and now i'm snowed in ✌️) BUT I have found out that I can watch various episodes of River Monsters, Mythbusters, and Kitchen Nightmares for free, completely legally (not sarcasm). so that's nice

[fictionadventurer]

Well, I didn't get any writing done, but I did watch the Wiggles documentary.

[blueberrybeomgyu]

43 and 44 :> ALSO HI HII

OMG HI LIV HOW R U DOING THANK YOU

43: sexiest person that comes to my mind immediately SOOOOOOOOOOOOOBINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN so pretty genuinely so insanely prtty and beautiful his lips ugh so pouty i wanna put my fingers all up in that i want him under me so bad

43: a random fact about anything i create stage outfits for fun im obsessed w black holes i think dreamer is txt's second best song ever i was gonna do facts not about me but i forgot every space fact ive ever learned <3 but actually did you know that female brown bears have a lot of babies. like the only thing a lot of them do is have babies and raise them then let them go then repeat. they are literally creating and nourishing life. do u know what male brown bears do. eat and fight each other and have sex. so absolutely nothing i mean im sure maybe they do something worthwhile but if so idkw aht it is bc to me that dont really sound...

[fredersen]

thinking about how hard it hits especially nowadays to hear stories from older folks about how their lives were before (recent!) advances in civil rights and feminism. we gotta keep fighting

[petit-papillion]

Grazie @leclercdata for these posts.

[saucy-mesothelioma]

October 12th: Supernatural Horror | Candyman

Candyman was released in 1992 and was directed by Bernard Rose. Everybody's heard the legend of the Candyman: if you say his name five times in the mirror, he'll appear to kill you. So when graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is researching superstitions in a housing project on Chicago's Near North Side and hears about the legend from a woman named Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams), she's instantly skeptical. Anne-Marie tells Helen that her neighbors believe Candyman is responsible for a recent murder, so the graduate student decides to try the ritual for herself. At first nothing happens, but when a mysterious man (Tony Todd) matching the description of the legend begins to stalk her, Helen learns that there may be more fact behind the fiction than she initially thought.

Although I will be attempting to explain part of why Candyman is such an influential film, I understand that as a white person I am in no way qualified to discuss in-depth the topics of race that are very prevalent in this film. Therefore, I would like to direct you to the wonderful documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror directed by Xavier Burgin, as it gives a fantastic history of black filmmaking and representation in the horror genre as well as including some interviews with legends of the horror genre, including Tony Todd who plays the Candyman in this film. Candyman was released during the LA Riots and in the wake of the Rodney King trial, and it touches on topics from gang activity to ignored Black neighborhoods. It has almost unparalleled realism when it comes to the supernatural sub-genre, especially since the Candyman's backstory is horrifyingly similar to brutal murders suffered by many African Americans in the United States. It doesn't shy away with its themes, and that makes it a very impactful watch.

It can be watched for free on Internet Archive. Content Warnings for the Film (may include spoilers): violence, adultery, jumpscares, kidnapping, possible reinforcements of hurtful stereotypes, lynching (mentioned, not shown), a lotta bees, blood, dog death, mental hospitals

[whatwhatwotter]

Having a toddler old enough to request YouTube videos

What I expected:

What I got:

[djsherriff-responses]

Oh god I just realised something about the fact Dolph said he has been training since he was 4 years old (in the upcoming manga preview)

Dolph's parents weren't neglecting him

Dolph was taking away from his parents

Dolph probably doesn't know who his parents are oh my god

That documentary Eden made is so much more sinister with that context