How to Film Truth: The Story of Documentary Film as a Spiritual Journey

by Justin Wells, Craig Detweiler (Foreword by)

Overview

How to Film Truth explores the history of documentary film as a search for truth by filmmakers, and a journey of discovery for subjects and audiences. This process, the act of documenting, exploring, and reflecting on our reality in all its created beauty, wonder, and mystery can itself be a devotional practice. The history can be seen as moving from actuality to ecstasy, from propaganda to empathy, and finally to confessional, emotional, personal, and communal healing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532640353
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/02/2018
Series:	Reel Spirituality Monograph Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	120
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Justin Wells is a graduate of California State Long Beach (Philosophy), Fuller Theological Seminary (Theology and Art), and Art Center College of Design (Film). He works in the film industry as a camera technician and documentary filmmaker.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Preface xi

Introduction 1

1 From Actuality to Poetry

2 From Poetry to Propaganda 11

3 Light Breaks Through: From Propaganda to Empathy 20

An Example of the Pastoral Voice in a Contemporary Film 35

An Example of the Prophetic Voice in a Contemporary Film 36

4 Cinema Verité: The Exploration of Confession and Testimony 37

Examples of Contemporary: Confessional Cinema Verité 43

Examples of Contemporary: Testimonial Cinema Verité 47

5 Point of View: The Final Evolution of Verité 50

Examples of Contemporary: Point of View Prophetic Films 55

6 Beyond the Factual: Ecstatic Truth and Illumination 59

An Example of a Contemporary: Point of View Atmospheric Film 74

7 On Looking for Truth: The Task of Interpretation 76

Conclusion 87

Exercises/Assignments 89

Epilogue and Acknowledgments 99

Bibliography 101

Filmography 103

Index 105

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This marvelous little book is ideal for anyone desiring to understand and/or produce documentary films. Charting the relationship between advances in technology and the creative process, Wells reveals the historic sources that gave rise to today’s documentary subgenres. Laced with insights from luminaries such as Blaisé Pascal and St. Augustine, Wells has created the perfect primer. Highly recommended.”

—Robert Covolo, Torrey Honors Institute

Editorial Reviews

This marvelous little book is ideal for anyone desiring to understand and/or produce documentary films. Charting the relationship between advances in technology and the creative process, Wells reveals the historic sources that gave rise to today’s documentary subgenres. Laced with insights from luminaries such as Blaisé Pascal and St. Augustine, Wells has created the perfect primer. Highly recommended.”

—Robert Covolo, Torrey Honors Institute

From the Publisher