A documentary film is a film that is intended to document some aspect of reality and informs or exposes somebody on some topic. The cove, a 2009 documentary directed by american photographer louie psihoyos, features the japanese dolphin hunt in taiji in an attempt to educate its audience about such happenings and the detrimental effects they bring upon the environment as well as humans. The cove louie psihoyos, 2009 is a documentary, which follows activist ric obarry and the ocean preservation society to expose the brutal dolphin slaughter in taiji, japan. Due to the difficulty to find access into the cove, the documentary quickly picks up speed and becomes a thriller. May, 2014 yes, the film is very unbalanced, however, complaints of the cove being onesided are unnecessary. Firsttime documentary filmmaker keiko yagi enjoyed eating deep fried whale cutlets when she was a child. It follows the story of two africanamerican high school students in chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players. Psihoyos film is unusual for documentaries in that it combines his activist stance with dramatic arcs and suspense one would expect in a james. Winner of the 2009 oscar for best documentary, this film will probably turn away many viewers with the promise of gruesome footage of slaughtered dolphins. This massacre, which occurs in the small fishing town of taiji, is exactly what louie psihoyoss documentary the cove follows. Show a documentary related to a topic you are teaching in class.
Divers were used to sneak cameras into the secret area. Examining the foundations of documentary film through the cove. In response to the article, the films director released haunting footage of dolphins being slaughtered, footage he says was too graphic for the film. A summary and analysis of the cove by louie psihoyos kibin. Context blackfish is a 20 animal captivity and cooperate documentary detailing the renowned marine theme park seaworld. Directed by louie psihoyos, the cove 2009 is an oscarwinning documentary that follows psihoyos and a crew of devoted dolphin activists as they fight to stymie and bring attention to dolphin hunting in the small coastal village of taiji, japan. The film is a call to action to halt mass dolphin kills, change japanese fishing practices, and to inform and educate the public about the risks, and. The cove, psihoyoss first feature length documentary, is a gripping expose of an annual mass dolphin slaughter off the coast of japan and it involves lots of animals and lots of boats. When filmmakers tell someone elses story rather than their own, what responsibilities do they have to their films subjects. Hackley documentary films tell the untold stories and tragedies of the world as well as reflect the filmmakers ideologies. Also called stock footage, this is film or video that can be used in other film productions.
Their methods of obtaining footage included hightech equipment, such as. Without doubt one of the most heartwrenching scenes of the documentary is the footage of the actual dolphin slaughter. This is exactly what the director louie psihoyos does in the documentary the cove. Academy awardwinning documentary film the cove that focuses on the dolphin hunt in taiji, japan, is found to contain factual errors and deliberate manipulation of facts. The cove analysis essay example 1445 words 6 pages. The cove documentary may have stopped dolphin slaughter in. But the cove is such a powerful, informative, and inspirational movie that all of the footage somehow meshes as. Black fish documentary analysis linkedin slideshare. Tell them they are going to be viewing a clip from a documentary film and that each person on the team should look for the answers to one of the questions, except for question 4, which can be answered by anyone or everyone on the team. Shooting the cove was a multidisciplinary effort from an extensive cast of characters. Filmed with hidden cameras, the scene starts with fisherman laying down nets in the killing cove then driving the dolphins in to be killed.
In the 1960s, it was obarry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation flipper but his close relationship with those dolphins the very dolphins who sparked a global fascination. The cove film techniques assignment by meaclem tiena on prezi. So youre still using those guerilla techniques you used to shoot the movie. Analysis of rhetorical and cinematic strategies the general reason for a documentary is to put forth factual information while attempting to convince the viewing audience of a specific point of view. The key to choosing the right storytelling techniques for your documentary is to know who your primary audience will be and wherehow it will be viewed. Newsweek magazine has stirred the waters of controversy with a cover story on a japanese fishing villages dolphin hunt, a practice that gained sudden international attention in 2009 due to the documentary the cove. Making the shot to see what is behind all of this almost impossible to capture. Abby walsh, jonathan morley, laurie beth johnson, nana debrah english 101 david brookshire 14 october 2014 a rhetorical analysis of the cove when louie psihoyos presented his documentary, the cove, at the 2009 sundance film festival, the audience was shocked. The cove film techniques by austin thanks for watching stock footage a dominant reading in the cove is stock footage. The cove is a superb documentary, deserving of its festival accolades.
Feb 20, 2016 the 107minute movie in english and japanese is touted as a counterdocumentary to the oscarwinning u. The cove analysis essay example 1445 words bartleby. The cove film techniques assignment by meaclem tiena on. For psihoyos calculatedly tendentious film, there would be no reason to achieve a halfhearted balance for the sake of appearing objective. How or what prompted the idea for your film and how did it evolve. Jun 05, 2011 academy awardwinning documentary film the cove that focuses on the dolphin hunt in taiji, japan, is found to contain factual errors and deliberate manipulation of facts. How filmmakers connect with audiences movie outline. The cove uses many clips that are old to take the viewers back. By utilizing stateoftheart techniques, they uncover a horrible annual. In the 1960s, it was obarry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation flipper. Documentary films the coves message is gruesome but facile. How much change have you seen in japan since the film came out. It is inspiring to see what people can do if they are really passionate about a cause. A number of common techniques or conventions are used in documentaries to achieve these aims.
Along with the many film techniques used in the film, the film as well uses many diverse emotions of music during different scenes to highlight the moods felt in the. The general lack of this dish and negative news coverage on the neverending whaling issue. By utilizing stateof the art techniques, they uncover a horrible annual. Jun 24, 2009 winner of the audience award for best documentary at the 2009 sundance film festival, the cove follows a hightech dive team on a mission to discover the truth about the dolphin capture trade as. The cove is a 2009 documentary film directed by louie psihoyos which analyzes and questions dolphin hunting practices in japan. The documentary follows, perhaps the most committed of them all, dolphin activist, richard obarry. Eye opening documentary about dolphin abuse in taijii, japan. Form and style documentary techniques the partridge nest. Identify the people, places, events, or aspects of people, society or nature that are the focus of this film. The coves message is gruesome but facile david cox film. The cove is featured at sheffield docfest on 5 november. This consists of employing camera and sound techniques to put the audience physically in the movie. In one word filmmakers suture the audience into the movie. The true story of activists who embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in japan, exposing a deadly secret.
It follows the story of two africanamerican high school students in chicago and. The film is a call to action to halt mass dolphin kills, change japanese fishing practices, and to inform and educate the public about the risks, and increasing hazard, of mercury poisoning from. Ethos is a rhetorical appeal based on character and reliability of the speaker. To get past guards and police we used diversionary techniques and military. The documentary uses many facts and statistics to justify their claims as shown under logos, and also uses these facts and the footage they gained to find the truth of the situation. The film constructs a sense of realism through naturalistic aesthetic codes and conventions.
The cove film techniques by austin gardam on prezi. Stock footage is often images of cities and landmarks, historical events of importance or images of the natural landscape and wildlife. But then, the cove, is not like any documentary anybody has seen before. Mar 17, 2012 the cove, a 2009 documentary directed by american photographer louie psihoyos, features the japanese dolphin hunt in taiji in an attempt to educate its audience about such happenings and the detrimental effects they bring upon the environment as well as humans. To most of us, the killing of 23,000 dolphins is something horrendous. The cove documentary may have stopped dolphin slaughter in japan. It was awarded the 2010 oscar for best documentary feature in 2010. Directed by louie psihoyos, the cove 2009 is an oscarwinning documentary that follows psihoyos and a crew of devoted dolphin activists as they fight to. The cove is a dynamic and truthrevealing documentary film that was released on.
A team of activists, filmmakers, and freedivers embark on a covert mission to expose a deadly secret hidden in a remote cove in taiji, japan. The cove is a 2009 documentary film directed by louie psihoyos which analyzes and questions dolphin hunting. In addition to discussing the content of the film relevant to that topic, use povs media literacy questions to analyze the film have a discussion about filmmaking ethics. A documentary film is a film that presents information about factual rather than fictional topics. A documentary film is a film story concerning factual topics i. The cove louie psihoyos, 2009 is a contemporary documentary about a group of activists who overtly and covertly investigate a secret cove in taijii, japan, where they discover gruesome methods used to capture and kill dolphins. By figuring out this truth, that taiji believes the dolphins are pests and need to have population control, the team can then start to persuade the audience that. The opening credit sequence to the critically acclaimed documentary, the cove unfolds with a visually striking sequence of scenes shot using a night vision camera. With richard obarry, louie psihoyos, hardy jones, michael illiff.
Winner of the audience award for best documentary at the 2009 sundance film festival, the cove follows a hightech dive team on a mission to discover the truth about the international dolphin capture trade as practiced in taiji, japan. List six facts described in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the films premise or theme. Oct 26, 2009 documentary films the coves message is gruesome but facile. Using stateoftheart equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer ric obarry, infiltrate a cove near taijii, japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health. The cove, a film directed by louie psihoyos, is a documentary that exposes the slaughter of dolphins in japan as needless and beastly. Rhetoric of social change in documentary film scores. After a documentary about the japanese whaling industry garnered international attention, an amateur filmmaker decides to tell the rest of the story. The 107minute movie in english and japanese is touted as a counterdocumentary to the oscarwinning u. The quiet japanese speak out 2015 tvpg 1h 45m political documentaries after a documentary about the japanese whaling industry garnered international attention, an amateur filmmaker decides to tell the rest of the story.
Yes, the film is very unbalanced, however, complaints of the cove being onesided are unnecessary. Stock footage is archival footage which is old or taken by a person not associated with the film. There are three ways filmmakers get audiences to connect with the story. Aug 06, 2009 the cove is a superb documentary, deserving of its festival accolades. The cove, the documentary film studies 2270 introduction. Along with the many film techniques used in the film, the film as well uses many. Give each student a copy of the introducing documentaries. The film was made in the aftermath of a trainer fatality. Using stateof the art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer ric obarry, infiltrate a cove near taijii, japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health. The cove begins in taiji, japan, where former dolphin trainer ric obarry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. Perhaps something that reflected that it is a documentary of this type such as the cove is a 2009 mondo documentary or similar that reflects the sub genre. The directed louie psihoyos is a profound photographer for national geographic psihoyos. This cove is not only completely hidden by walls of jagged cliffs, but it is monitored and protected by droves and troops of japanese policemen.
The film evokes several emotions including rage, disappointment and wrath. Dec 09, 2011 using this strategy, the cove makes a very nondescript scene much more startling. Hard to watch, but necessary, the cove is a must see movie, and. During the phone calls, the camera uses a crosscutting technique between a dark screen and underwater video of a. The cove director releases raw footage of horrific dolphin slaughter graphic by emily thomas newsweek magazine has stirred the waters of controversy with a cover story on a japanese fishing villages dolphin hunt, a practice that gained sudden international attention in 2009 due to the documentary the cove. In 2010, it won numerous outstanding documentary awards, such as the sundance film festival. After watching the clip from the cove which has been wonky.
Rick obarry, once a dolphin trainer, now makes it his lifes goal to free any dolphin held in captivity. There are many examples of this type of film that expose the truth or reality of something that is going on in the world, even though you may not want to hear about it. The credentials of those elite professionals involved, both behind and in front of the camera, reinforce the message central to the documentary. Audience is on a journey with the characters camera is positioned to film the subject from above this picture of ric obarry being. Using this strategy, the cove makes a very nondescript scene much more startling. Most documentaries to me feel like take your medicine, eat your. Utilizing stateoftheart techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a. Along with exciting film techniques, the cove uses a range of music during different scenes to highlight and attempt integrate the audience in with the action. Oct 24, 2009 psihoyos describes the cove as a documentary that acts like a thriller, and many of the techniques he used whilst filming would not be out of place in that setting. Psihoyos describes the cove as a documentary that acts like a thriller, and many of the techniques he used whilst filming would not be out of place in that setting. During footage of dolphin slaughter, the sound of dolphins communicating is played over and over again, and almost becomes implanted in your head.
Most of them had likely never heard of the taiji dolphin problem, and even more had likely never witnessed it. Moviemaking techniques in the cove annie ge food and. The cove exposes an important subject, one that needs to be exposed. The film begins with haunting music and a dark screen while various calls to the police are being made about a trainer being eaten by one of the killer whales at seaworld orlando. Bold native is a fiction film that incorporates documentary footage taken from. Winner of the audience award for best documentary at the 2009 sundance film festival, the cove follows a hightech dive team on a mission to.