1950s-1970s

New equipment allowed

Pre 1900s 1926 new styles of filmmaking
Very first film. First recorded mention of and better quality
Actuality Films the word documentary documentaries

1922 1930s-1040s 1069s-1990s

First original Countries at war Emphasis on
Documentary create educational and
Nanook in the documentaries for journalistic
North propaganda documentaries for
television
VERY FIRST FILMS
THE VERY FIRST FILMS (PRE-1900S) WERE CALLED ACTUALITY
FILMS. BECAUSE THEY WHERE FOOTAGE OF ACTUAL EVENTS
DURING EVERY DAY SITUATIONS LIKE TRAINS PULLING INTO
STATIONS, WORKERS LEAVING THE FACTORY AND BOATS PULLING
INTO DOCKS.
FIRST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY

NANOOK OF THE NORTH, BY AMERICAN FILM MAKER ROBERT

FLAHERTY, WAS THE FIRST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY. THE
DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWED THE LIVES OF A REAL ESKIMO FAMILY
AS THEY TRAVEL AND SEARCH FOR FOOD IN THE UNGAVA
PENINSULA OF NORTHERN QUEBEC, CANADA (1922) . HOWEVER
THE FIRST RECORDED MENTION OF THE WORD DOCUMENTARY
CAME 4 YEARS LATER BY JOHN GRIERSON.
 PROPAGANDA?!
DURING THE 1930S AND 1940S DOCUMENTARIES WERE USED A
TOOL FOR PROPAGANDA BY GOVERNMENTS SUCH AS NAZI
GERMANY, AMERICA AND BRITAIN, ESPECIALLY DURING WWII, THE
PARTIES IN CONFLICT USED PROPAGANDA MOVIES TO SUPPORT
THEIR WAR EFFORTS BUT THERE WERE CONSIDERABLE
DIFFERENCES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE APPROACHES IN THE USE OF
THESE FILMS. IN 1935, THE RESETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION, AN
AGENCY ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE AID TO FARMERS AND OTHER
RURAL POPULATIONS, DECIDED TO PRODUCE FILMS AS A METHOD
OF GETTING ITS MESSAGE TO A WIDER SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC.
EQUIPMENT
THE 1950S-1970S THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
AND LIGHTER CAMERA EQUIPMENT ALLOWED FOR NEW
FILMMAKING STYLES TO EMERGE AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO
CAPTURE MORE SPONTANEOUS EVENTS. USE OF HANDHELD
CAMERAS AND LIGHTING ALLOWED FOR IMPROVED QUALITY
IN DOCUMENTARIES. THE FILMS CREATED BY THESE
FILMMAKERS STRIVE FOR IMMEDIACY, SPONTANEITY, AND
AUTHENTICITY. AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE FILMMAKER AND
THE AUDIENCE CLOSER TO THE SUBJECT.
TELEVISION?

FROM THE 1960S TO THE 1990S TELEVISION BECAME A

VERY IMPORTANT OUTLET FOR DOCUMENTARIES WHICH IS
WHY THERE WAS A HUGE EMPHASIS FOR MORE
EDUCATIONAL AND JOURNALISTIC DOCUMENTARY
PROGRAMS TO BE PRODUCED.