The Participatory Mode

Embracing serendipity, this doc mode seems to treat the camera as an extension of the filmmaker. It is as though the device is some sort of strange growth, another eye perhaps, protruding from the shoulder. The filmmaker becomes a character, or a social actor, in the story. S/he becomes a 'participator'. Though this mode is quite similar in utilizing technology and shares a similar historical emergence to the observational mode, it differs greatly. The filmmaker is not a mute bystander, simply filming and assuming to be neutral, the filmmaker becomes the 'picaro'. The lovable(or not so much - Sickness Around the World), or at times simply charming, character that takes us through the story. We wander with them and experience the wake of their presence in the lives of those they engage.

The filmmaker as 'picaro' type participator was particularly evident in Michael Moore's Sicko. His persona in the film not only acted as a vehicle to tie all of the film's strands together, but caused many of the strands to come into existence. He openly acknowledges his presence in the film, employing somewhat of a screen persona.  He takes on the tone of innocent inquirer at times(mostly whilst visiting with his subjects), though it is obvious that if he wasn't aware of the discrepancies between our perception of U.S. health care and reality, the film would not have been produced. He clearly acts as a catalyst, as Nichols explains, and incites the events that the film documents. Events such as the voyage to Cuba, and the inciting thousands of people to email him with their experiences with health care. Michael Moore would indeed be considered a bit of an extreme example of a participatory documentary filmmaker, but nevertheless a very good example.

This mode appears to be well suited for the Brechtian intentions of a filmmaker. We are reminded of our role as viewers and therefor participators. We are encouraged to self-reflect. This may effect may be due in part to the unmasking of the filmmaker as a real individual with opinions and values. The filmmaker does not need to represent any sort of ideal, and becomes truly a fellow social actor amongst the crowd.