Firstly, to elaborate on documentary, it is a documentation of an subject or individual being covered. The series of authentic video compilation on the events occurring always provide audiences that what they observe and absorb is true. During the initial years, documentary was presented with factual contents and stories which planted the conceptualization that it is always real when a filmmaker covers a story regarding an issue. Somehow, after the modernism era, the representation of dumentaries changed allowing filmmakers to use creativity and new theories into documentaries. There are six different types of documentaries which are poetic, a technique which contains of artistic films, this technique uses series of fragmented visuals and subjective impressions, in other words capturing events of real life scenario like flowing of water in river. Example of poetic documentaries are Samsara. Secondly, expository focuses on Voice of God commentary or a type of poetic perspective. This method of narration, which could always be observed in Discovery channel where acts of animals are explained through a voice over. Following that, the observational technique. In this technique, an observational mode of representation is made to ensure real life scenario is felt by audiences. For example, the placement of camera is hidden and could not be realized by individuals in relation of the subject, allowing the filmmaker to get realistic footages. For example, Paranormal activity which uses surveillance camera to capture real looking footages. Also, there is a method known as the interactive representation. This is where the researcher of filmmaker involves in the making of the product. For example, asking questions to the subject or person being covered to encourage connectivity between audiences and subject being covered like The Lake Mungo. Then reflexive representation. In this type of process, we could observe Director’s version of a truth or conspiracy. For example, the filmmaker will present his collected data and provide his point of view based on the facts and figures collected. Finally the performative technique which provides video footages of what happened either through docu-drama or reenactments. This technique also gives the freedom to audiences to decide the truth or lie being told. Mockumentary is also considred to be performative as it is a version of director’s perspective. The type of film which used this technique is The Blair Witch Project and The Grave Encounters.
Quarantine is a film that tells story about a reporter of a reality tv program and her cameramen who documents night shift firefighters. This fun and interactive interview documentation process invites them to follow the firemen to a building with a few policemen investigating a horrific incident. They somehow get quarantined for a circulating infection, a zombie invasion. The story then goes on with survival of the individuals in the building and infection being spread among one another. With the authorities not allowing anyone to exit the building and shooting people who attempt to escape, the remaining will have to find their way to survive the infection and also to save their lives.
To study the film in depth and the theories applied, firstly the director John Erick Dowdle has to be recognized for his brilliance in combining the different types of representation. The application of interactivity is very obvious to start off as the reporter, Angela (Jennifer Carpenter) consistently interacts with audiences and cameraman and also questioning the firemen and other parties in the building. Then, observational technique could be observed in the end of the film when the camera is left with no one to handle after cameramen Scott (Steve Harris) dies, laying on the floor when Angela is dragged by the zombie. These two techniques are well portrayed in the film by the director consistently allowing the audiences to engage with the characters and feel the intensity of the thrilling nail-bitting moments. Also the, setting and timing of making the footages are set well as any glitch from that part would’ve pulled the attention of audiences away from the screen. Somehow, this technique of constant moving of the camera may give the audiences pain in the sight for keeping track with the act. For example, when Angela and Scott get chased by the zombie, the inconsistent and fast moving camera footage gives pain for the eye of audiences.
Finally, to sum up the review, the film has variance with the type of technique being studied, which is documentary. The brilliance of allowing filmmakers to add crisp of creative elements in the process has definitely brought the genre a step further and welcoming more film audiences to watch this type of films. At the same time, the literacy of audiences play a big role in the issue as fake information being compiled and circulated realistically may impact negatively among the less media literate people, thus filmmakers must ensure the type of subject being studied and presented is done with responsibility, moral values and ethics in mind.
References :
Xan Brooks (Nov, 2008). Quarantine. Retrieved from : https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/21/quarantine-zombie-horror-review
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