The fine line between fiction and non-fiction films. There’s a growth of how filmmakers uses fiction technique into a non-fiction film and vice versa. I came across a few articles stating how we are deconstructing the usual way of approaching a fiction and non-fiction film. It’s not a new technique that we are touching on since this has been argued, theorise long ago. Reading through a piece from the book “Post-Theory: Reconstructing Film Studies” online by David Bordwell and Noel Carroll, it explains and challenge the theories of films. In this particular section they brought in Michael Renov theory on deconstructing the distinction between fiction and non-fiction. Filmmakers and audiences tend to define what is fiction and non-fiction through camera techniques, structure, narratives and so on. It still does not proves that the technique in approaching a fiction and non-fiction would end up being a fiction or non-fiction film. Renov’s theory states that fiction and non-fiction was never based on the formal techniques. I find this statement true.
It does not matter how we approach our films. Now we are learning to break the boundary and tradition structure of fiction and non-fiction. We can use the supposedly techniques from fiction and non-fiction but at the end of the day no one knows if it’s a fiction or non-fiction film. The techniques that filmmakers uses in fiction and non-fiction can be shared such that it can imitate the same actions. We could use a non-fiction technique such as shaky camera and talking head interviews into a fiction film. It may seem like a documentary, a true recount however, the story may not be true at all meaning it has never happen before. This kind of effect it will have on the audience is such that it makes the audience believe that this is happening in real life. Fiction TV shows like Law and Order is fiction but it is loosely based on headlines and real crimes. Even though there is a truth to the story and filmed similar to documentary like having the court scene and interviews which they dramatize it which make it into a fiction. The same with non-fiction like reality shows where they make it so dramatic and “scripted”. It applies here the shared techniques we used from non-fiction and applying to fiction. There is no right or wrong using each other methods.
Renov also argues that there is a growth of non-fiction elements in fiction. This is because audiences prefer to have a certain truth in the story. The truth in the story makes the audience feel grounded to reality. I feel that in every film that there should be something that shows truthfulness to make the story more convincing and connected to the audience.
Another way to blur the line between fiction and non-fiction films is through voiceover. The voiceover techniques in fiction and non-fiction films can be used in both films. For example, in a non-fiction film the used of voiceover in a fictional way or humanize it makes the film more real in nature. Films and TV shows in discovery channel uses this technique when they have a story about nature or animals. The fiction narrative makes it as though the narrator is talking to the audience from the voices of the animals or nature.
Reading through a few articles about fiction and non-fiction made me realise that we should explore and experiment all kinds of techniques. Mixing things up could create a more effective film in such a way it helps to deliver a clearer message to the audience. I find that we have subconsciously done a mix fiction and non-fiction in our own works but since we always define things between fiction and non-fiction we tend to limit our potential.
Reference
David Bordwell & Noel Carroll. (1996). Post-Theory: Reconstructing Film Studies. Retrieved from
