Documentary in cinema: is it just fiction?

Carol Nahra argues it doesn't need to be. 

 

Are we wasting time trying to get documentaries in cinema? If the Oscar-winning One Day in September made less than Bridget Jones did in the first half-hour, is there really any hope?

"People don't go to the movies to see real stories. They go either to see fantasies or dramatization of real stories," says One Day's producer John Battsek.

Battsek's conviction is widespread in the UK, and backed up by numbers: docs don't get bums on seats like fiction films. Only a few documentaries have been successful at the box office in Britain - most notably and recently the knee-thumping Buena Vista Social Club. The depressing sales make distributors and cinemas reluctant to sign on. And broadcasters, well, why should broadcasters care?

But signs are that, despite the numbers, a significant market for docs is going untapped. In her report Docspace, Amy Hardie argues great potential lies in mobilizing the niche documentary viewers that broadcasters set out to cater for, but have since been sidelined in the quest for ratings. The success of specialist screenings and documentary festivals -- numbers for both the Sheffield International Documentary Festival and Tour have increased dramatically - point to an appetite not being filled by television.

While Britain has a long way to go before documentaries are uncoupled from television in both audience and industry eyes, signs from abroad show a good documentary can get people out of the house. In Norway, three out of ten of the top films last year were documentaries, while in Canada, 100,000 people attended the Film Board's doc 'robotec' library. And in the U.S., where story-telling docs have never been a staple of television, "non-fiction features" screen regularly in independent cinemas.

Hardie says a key to success lies in getting distributors and broadcasters to recognize the benefits of cross media promotions, rather than squabbling over rights. And docs should have targeted marketing plans and longer runs so that two key factors - press reviews and word of mouth - can take hold. Digital projection also bodes well for screening docs by removing painful blow up costs, and allowing many more venues - Sweden is installing projectors in many community arts centres.

At the moment, docs hitting the big screen usually stem from a director's cinematic ambition -- and willingness to suffer financially. But it doesn't have to be that way. When Danish Film School students Jonas Frederiksen and Sami Saif decided to make a documentary chronicling Sami's search for his errant father, they had two aims: no television meddling during production and a cinematic release. To achieve the former they bypassed broadcasters and secured Danish Film Institute funds, linked up early with a major distributor, and took out major loans. For the latter they aimed large: Cinemascope, a symphony orchestra score, a fiction film editor, and a hefty marketing campaign.

Their ambitions were realized with a cinematic release in Denmark, and the scooping of the Joris Ivens award in Amsterdam. And the sweetener: Family has earned a profit - through television. The film has been bought by a dozen broadcasters, including BBC's Storyville. But catch it at this year's Sheffield International Documentary Festival the way it was made to be seen - in the cinema.

Carol Nahra is a freelance writer.

Pemantapan KINNE KOMUNIKASI 2011

Yes yes yes...:)

Forsa KINETIK

" Diskusi dan Pemutaran Publik "

CERITA PAGI INI, DI KAMPUNGKU

Aku terbangun seketika kedua keponakanku masuk ke kamar dan membangunkanku secara paksa, maklum jam menunjukkan sudah pukul 08.00 waktu setempat. Karena semalam saya sudah berjanji kepada mereka untuk menemani momen pemotongan hewan kurban bersama keluarga dirumah, sekitar pukul 10.00 dari kamar saya terdengar suara kebisingan dari dalam garasi sebelah rumah saya. Ternyata hewan kurban sudah terpotong lehernya, lagi – lagi saya ketinggalan momen – momen ini seperti tahun – tahun sebelumnya. Tapi masih mending sekarang, tahun lalu ketika saya bangun tidur seluruh bagian tubuh hewan kurban sudah tekelupas semua.

 suasana paska pemotongan

Tidak mau ketinggalan langsung seketika saya mengambil kamera dan segera mendokumentasikannya, cuaca kemaren pagi sedikit mendung ditambah lagi gerimis yang mengurangi teriknya panas pagi itu. Ketika saya bersama keponakan saya sedang asik menyaksikan leher hewan kurban tersebut yang terpotong, saya langsung bingung kira – kira siapa tukang potong hewan tersebut pada waktu itu. Karena ketika waktu itu hanya ada sebagian keluarga saya yang dibantu beberapa tetangga untuk mengamankan jalannya pemotongan seekor Sapi tersebut.

Lalu tidak lama kemudian ada seorang laki – laki dengan seperangkat pisau beserta alat pemotong laianya yang terpasang di pinggulnya tiba – tiba datang dan lansung mengambil tali untuk di lilitkan ke bagian tubuh Sapi tersebut. Langsung seketika pertanyaan dasar saya pada waktu itu langsung terjawab, dalam hati saya berkata “oh ini ternyata paknya”. Disela – sela pemotongan, saya sempat bertanya sedikit kepada tukang jagal/tukang potong tersebut.        

Teko endi pak kok ketokane ksusu - susu iku? ( Darimana pak kok kliatannya keburu – buru gitu? )

Ikilo mas, akeh wong sing njaluk didisikno mbelehe. Kan repot wong sakdurunge gak onok janji ( ini loh mas, banyak orang yang minta di dahulukan motongnya. Kan repot soalnya belum ada janji sebelumnya )

Oalah, emang wis mbeleh piro pak? ( emang sudah memotong berapa pak? )

Iki mau sampe saiki aku wis mbeleh 10 ekor, lumayan kesusu – susu. Soale mariki kate budal nang mesjid aku wis dienteni wong – wong ( ini tadi sampai sekarang saya sudah motong 10 ekor, lumayan keburu – buru, soalnya mau berangkat ke masjid sudah di tunggu orang – orang )

 Pak sholeh ( tukang jagal )sedang menarik ekor Sapi yang akan dililitkan kesamping

 salah satu bagian tubuh Sapi yang sudah terpotong

Proses pemotongan tidak berlangsung cukup lama menurut saya, sekitar 30 menit seluruh bagian dari hewan kurban tersebut sudah terpotong menjadi beberapa  bagian. 

 Om To sedang menguliti kepala Sapi

 Kerabat keluargaku yang dibantu sebagian tetangga dalam proses pemilahan daging kurban

Setelah bagian – bagian itu terpotong, baru kemudian tetangga – tetangga saya yang mengolah hasil dari potongan daging Sapi tersebut. Nantinya daging hasil pemotongan tersebut akan dibagikan ke tetangga – tetangga sekitar rumah dan malamnya akan di olah menjadi hidangan makanan yang kebetulan tadi malam ada acara tasyakuran untuk eyang kakung saya .

 suasana tasyakuran pada malam harinya

Selamat hari Raya Idul Adha 1425 H…