How Documentaries Work

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by Jacob Bricca

Type: Studies
Subject: Genre > Documentary
Keywords: documentary
Publishing date: 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 232 pages
5 ½ x 8 ¼ inches (14 x 21 cm)

ISBN

978-0-19-755411-1

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Book Presentation:
• Brings a new perspective to the study of documentary film language and conventions
• Contains insights, stories, and behind-the-scenes revelations from over 20 top documentary filmmakers and craftspeople
• Is easy-to-read and written without excessive jargon
• Defines non-fiction filmmaking broadly, and contains discussion of and examples from reality television, competition shows, and other non-fiction shows such as Intervention, Hell's Kitchen, and Pool Kings

How Documentaries Work breaks down the hidden conventions of documentaries in clear and accessible language for film students and documentary enthusiasts alike. Jacob Bricca, ACE, an award-winning documentary director, producer, and editor, provides a behind-the-scenes, under-the-hood view of what's really going on in the construction of nonfiction films and television shows. This book presents examples from contemporary documentaries and docuseries and delivers insights from some of the most exciting nonfiction filmmakers and craftspeople working today, including director Steve James (City So Real, Hoop Dreams), producer Amy Ziering (Allen v. Farrow, The Hunting Ground), editor Aaron Wickenden, ACE (Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, 20 Feet from Stardom), and composer Miriam Cutler (RBG, Lost in La Mancha). Chapters such as "Flow," "Narrative," and "Time" offer a new way of looking at documentary film language, while others like "Titles," "Music," and "Sound" deliver extraordinary insights on seemingly ordinary topics. A compact volume written in plain, easy-to-understand language, this book promises to change the way you think about nonfiction films and television shows forever.

About the Author:
Jacob Bricca, Associate Professor, University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film and Television Jacob Bricca, ACE, is Associate Professor at the University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film and Television. He is an award-winning documentary editor, producer, director, and scholar whose films have screened worldwide from Sundance to the Berlinale. His is the author of Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice (2018), a definitive textbook on documentary editing that is used by film schools around the world, including the USC School of Cinematic Arts, UCLA, and the MET Film School in London.

Press Reviews:
"A masterful deconstruction of documentary techniques, with impressive original research. This book is recommended for everyone interested in how documentaries are made, especially students in film production and critical studies." - Mark Freeman, Professor Emeritus, School of Theatre, Television, and Film, San Diego State University

"Jacob Brica's brilliant new book is a thoughtful and thorough exploration of the grammar of documentary. This is a must read —for filmmakers and viewers alike— as Bricca deconstructs the tools and tricks of our trade. As someone who has been editing documentaries for years, I found that every word of this book rings true." - Kate Amend, ACE

"Deftly combining practical experience and scholarly sources, How Documentaries Work is an ideal primer for introducing students to documentary practices and conventions...Essential. All readers." - Choice

See the publisher website: Oxford University Press

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