Sitting down with a bag of popcorn to watch a movie is always fun, but sometimes we just look for more than brainless amusement. We want to learn more about a subject, we want to expand our views, and we want to find out the truth behind a story. Documentaries are films that portray the world, the past, and the present in a way that is not fake, rehearsed or planned ahead, and they show us things that don’t rely on fantasy. They are a great way to learn something new and to just get your thoughts going. However, just like other types of art, documentaries are not always good or engaging, and wasting two hours of your life on something pointless is never a good thing. In this article, we are going to tell you what you should look for when watching a documentary, and how to pick the ones that are going to captivate your attention.
Who is behind it?
The first thing you need to consider when looking for a piece like this is who stands behind it. The production house will make a lot of difference, and the director will make or break the film. Note that you don’t have to always look for people that are extremely famous, and you don’t have to rely only on big names.
Most of the time, there are a lot of young and aspiring directors that are willing to go above and beyond to portray their story. So instead of looking for fame, look for quality. Take your time, do your research about the crew’s previous experience and see if they have something to offer.
What is the story about?
The story and the theme of the piece are going to be the ones that captivate your attention and that will make you interested in the documentary. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and to give something a chance that you wouldn’t necessarily like.
Think about why did the director want to focus all the attention on that subject and how it is going to impact you and other viewers. Make sure you read something about it before you choose to see a piece, but don’t judge documentaries the same way you do other movies.
What do you have to get out of it?
We all want to get something out of an experience, and we never want to just waste several hours on our life on something that will not impact us in any way possible.
As you can see if you visit here, Esti Prager Spa suggests that besides looking at the writers, cast, and director, you should pay attention to the plot and the twists that happen in the story. Documentaries are more than skin deep and they usually cover controversial topics that are going to affect you in one way or another.
Why would it engage you?
Now let’s talk about your personal views and opinions. More often than not, we know what we are going to like, and what we will just roll our eyes at. You don’t want to fall asleep while watching the film, and you don’t want to count the seconds until it finishes.
So, look for a reason why this exact piece will engage you and how it will keep you interested. If you are new to watching documentaries, you should start with topics that amuse you and something that you know you are going to like. As you learn to see the beauty of these films, you can move to more controversial topics and things that you may or may not like at the end. You will start seeing the beauty of even things you don’t necessarily like and you will be amazed at how engaged you are even from something that you usually find boring.
Would it change your views on anything?
Watching things that are going to impact your views and that are going to make you think about something is always beneficial. This does not mean that you need to look for something that will change your views, but you should be open to critical thinking.
No matter if it is current politics, a side of a well-known story that we haven’t heard before, religion, or anything else, you should always broaden your horizons. Even if you stick to your views after watching the film, you will still be able to see the perspective of others and you will be more acceptive of different views.
Is it biased or objective?
This is probably one of the most important things to look for when choosing a documentary to watch. On the same note, once you finish it, you need to consider if the writer and director created a story around their personal views or if they chose to take an approach that will educate people and that will help them get to the conclusion on their own.
If you are viewing a piece only because you want to know more about the opinions of the writer and the director, or the overall production house, you should look for something that’s biased. That way you can learn more about them and their views. However, if you want the real story, and if you want to know what objectively happened, then you should look for pieces that are not biased.
Don’t forget to look at the way this film was advertised, and what the production house does to get viewers to see their piece. Think about the way you stumbled upon this film, and what get you to watch it. Once you finish it, think if you actually enjoyed it as much as you thought you did, or if it was a mistake. Be aware that most of these pieces will make you feel a lot of emotions, both positive and negative, and that is a good thing. It is said that if you are ignorant, numb, or just bored after finishing it, it was not the piece for you. Be open to raw emotions, even anger, and look for pieces that will get your mind going.