Observatory Mode

Similar to most change and experimentation in filmmaking, the birth of observational documentary came out of technological advances. By this I am mostly referring to the advent  of lighter and more portable cameras. Nichols references the innovation of inexpensive 16mm film coupled with much lighter/portable audio equipment contributing greatly to the rise of observational film. It wouldn't be too much of a risk to say that before the ability to have a micro crew of one - two people, the observational mode would simply not be successful let alone possible. I'd imagine that any sort of larger crew would greatly hinder the comfort that the social actors would need to feel in order to give any sort of  genuine performance. Additionally, the difficulty alone of physically keeping up with the movements and actions of any sort of event/ unscripted encounter with a social actor would probably have discouraged filmmakers from even experimenting in such a way.

Very fittingly, Barnouw calls the first instance of observational films a 'Free Cinema'. This title suggests and highlights the potential that the new technologies afforded the filmmakers. In Primary, the filmmakers were given an unprecedented amount of free movement, often cutting their way through crowds trailing the senators. This mobility undoubtably allowed them to shift around and document the scene as though 'flies on a wall'. I recall Ross McElwee describing how the ability to film and record audio by himself(or be 'autonomous'), led him to experiment with forms of producing films as a one man crew. This undoubtably was the genesis to his distinct voice in documentary.

Interestingly, in contemporary times, we are afforded an incredible amount of mobility and virtually untethered potential with our recording devices. They are small, light, and inexpensive. I find it interesting that the majority of our society(including film students) seems to be unsure of how to utilize these powerful tools. We seem to be stumbling our way through film history, starting with the trick gimmick films, or spectacle cinema, and moving towards more evolved(sophisticated) and thoughtful forms of media. I'm not discounting the incredible ways that the general populace is utilizing technology to produce raw footage -- often with journalistic import -- because truly we live in a period of democratized journalism. I simply have to wonder how much easier this mode of documentary has become thanks to technological innovations. Is it still evolving as it did in its earliest reciprocation to tech developments?