First-person documentary narration requires a high level of personal introspection and places very high demands on content and form.
The American documentary maker Ross McElwee excels in subjective narration. Since his first film works in 1975 as a student working with cinéma vérité pioneer Richard Leacock, Ross McElwee has been aiming his camera at the political and social environment surrounding him. By confronting apparently private matters, he opens our eyes to universal issues and that which holds our world together fundamentally.
In this one-day intensive Masterclass, we will work with Ross McElwee on some of the major challenges of subjective first-person narration using examples from his work.
Speaker
Ross McElwee is one of the most important documentary film authors worldwide. SHERMANS MARCH, 1986, received many awards, e.g. best film in Sundance. Ross is also a lecturer of film studies at the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University.
rossmcelwee.com
Moderation
Jenny Billeter (CH/USA); Cinematologist; has been on the programming team of the Locarno Film Festival Film, Visions du Réel and the Solothurn Film Festival since 2006. In charge of the documentary film programme of the Xenix Cinema in Zurich since 2014
Ross McElwee is one of the most important documentary film authors worldwide. SHERMANS MARCH, 1986, received many awards, e.g. best film in Sundance. Ross is also a lecturer of film studies at the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University.
rossmcelwee.com
Moderation
Jenny Billeter (CH/USA); Cinematologist; has been on the programming team of the Locarno Film Festival Film, Visions du Réel and the Solothurn Film Festival since 2006. In charge of the documentary film programme of the Xenix Cinema in Zurich since 2014