Documentaries: Fact or fiction?

[stogie bear]

I've long been sceptical of anything on the TV masquerading as 'a documentary' or 'an expose' etc.

The plain fact is that they are all just dramas based on a little truth.

The truth was further brought home to me about 3 years ago when I collaborated with HBO to make a documentary called "The Middle Sex!" The final result was an interesting dramatic twist of the truth, but nonetheless quite entertaining and not too beyond the realm of possibility... but they weren't facts as the dictionary would describe them!

Check out this news story HERE!

ITV admission over 'faked' death!

Malcolm Pointon was diagnosed with Alzheimer's aged 51. ITV has admitted that an Alzheimer's patient who "passes away" in the final scene of a documentary actually died three days later. Publicity for the programme, to be screened next month, claimed it showed the final moments of Malcolm Pointon, a composer from Cambridgeshire.

ITV now says the footage was of Mr Pointon slipping into unconsciousness days earlier. Film maker Paul Watson blamed the mistake on ITV publicity material.

 As usual the liars that make these "documentaries" try to worm their way out of facing the truth yet again by blaming other people!

Maybe the BBC could finance a documentary about documentary makers... but then we'd definately be taken for a fictional ride!  

From politics to TV and from culture to war we are in the grip of a "Bullshit Culture" which, when exposed, is quickly spun out of by bare faced lies and apportioning blame to others!

Don't believe everything anything you see, read and hear! Chances are it's probably bullshit.

[Tomcat]

In general, IMO

Usually BBC/ITV Documentaries are propaganda of one form or another and the amount of usefull info can be written on a sheet of A4 . Also they are so dumbed down as to be useless . Once you take out the visuals and music and other padding theres usually only 5 minutes of materiel.

you get more information by reading good newpapers or books.

[geezer]

ITV news is so full of propaganda it's not really a news program anymore rather it is what to think from Big Brother.

For those fortunate enough not to see this rubish I will summarise their broadcasts. America Bad at whatever they are trying to do and are the cause of the worlds problems. Global warming is all your fault but if you go to a concert and turn off your telly when your not watching it, we'll be ok, Tony Blair was full of spin but when we do it on any story we want, it's for your own good.

Unfortunatley even the BBC seems to be dumbing down it's "coverage" and seems more interested in conditioning people to think their way than presenting a balenced report and letting you make up your own mind.

[brocklanders]

It's funny because I was always told by the USA media that Al Jazeera was Arab propaganda focused on hating the West. After traveling quite a bit, I was actually amazed at how balanced Al Jazeera was and how many programs they had with both sides of an argument given equal time on a debate. After watching the BBC News, I started to think that maybe the US government and media was confusing Al Jazeera with the BBC whom truly shows their hatred for anything American.

[strocube]

That€™s so funny. I used to tune into the BBC here in the states because what passes for news here is the worst kind of tabloid shite and fascist propaganda targeting the drooling masses/NASCAR demographic-- especially Faux €œNews€. You know, the guns and bibles, €œAmerica, fuck yeah€ people.

[tigerxxx]

So often it seems like everywhere you go nobody can tell the truth about anything. Be it on the TV, radio, internet or newspapers.

I've almost gotten to the point where I'm gonna apply for 10 different credit cards. Max them out by buying all sorts of survival gear and mining equipment, and heading to the rockies to carve out a cave in a mountain.

There, I can watch all these assholes cause WWIII and bomb themselves either back into the Stone Age or extinction.

[stogie bear]

After traveling quite a bit, I was actually amazed at how balanced Al Jazeera was and how many programs they had with both sides of an argument given equal time on a debate.

I agree. Al Jazeera is by far the most interesting, informative and balanced news channel in the world. It puts every single western channel to shame by a long long margin.

[Guest]

And I can remember when the Beeb used to be the best objective news source.

I guess that was back when nobody watched it.

[nigel69]

As with the U.K.'s BBC we in Oz have the ABC and a "multicultural" station SBS.In the case of the ABC we have a breeding ground for the Labour Party, with many of their news/current affairs staff ending up as Labour candidates.As for SBS it is a cesspool of anti Conservative, anti U.S. bias ,with constant footage of Iraq,Palestinian/Israeli conflict, with a Palestinian bias and a constant list of Government critics, from some obscure academic posting, in one of the lesser Universities.These self appointed commentators are gathered together amongst the Labour,Greens,Union opposition to provide 4 or 5 responses to the ONE given by the Government representative.
However, as the owner of a Company that releases quite a few documentaries we search for titles that are not propaganda pieces for the lefties in the media.
Titles like ROOT OF ALL EVIL, JIHAD-THE MEN BEHIND AL QAEDA,NORTH KOREA,ZIMBABWE,BURMA etc are historical and factual doco's covering Religion through to terrorism.
I guess it's just a case of assessing the things you watch and coming to your own judgements based on a few criteria.
Unfortunately it's also people like Michael Moore and his sensasionalist style of doco making ,that helps to lower the quality and integrity of the format.

[strocube]

Michael Moore? What about Murdoch? Talk about lowereing the the qualtiy and intergrity of the format. The man and his empire are a right-wing propaganda tsunami.

[moe666]

All of the Major media outlets are owned by big companies it is about making money, so we twist the truth a bit after all it is entertaining.

The build up to the Iraqui war what outlet ever questioned the reasons or the plan pre or post invasion, what a mess. Big business supporting a big business pro president. Who by the way has never run a sucessful business on his own.

[Guest]

i think John Pilger's documentary's are really good, especially the one on east timor -death of a nation and the one about Cambodia.

I think he manages to show an equal amount of political corruption from east to west through extreme greed and disregard for human life.

in 'death of a nation' he asks Alan Clarke(Britain's defense secretary)
'I read that you were a vegetarian and you are seriously concerned about the way animals are killed. Doesn't that concern extend to the way humans, albeit foreigners are killed?" Answered Clark "Curiously not, no."

unlike Mickey Moore he doesn't sensationalize his stories- he documents the facts with genuine concern and honesty devoid of egotism.

there is not enough John Pilgers in the world me thinks

has anyone seen 'Capturing the Friedmans' ? it is a very objective documentary

[Tomcat]

(orgasmaddict @ Aug. 07 2007,20:18) I think he manages to show an equal amount of political corruption from east to west through extreme greed and disregard for human life.  

Whats new there then, disregard for Human life is as old as the Romans....Pilger is just a typical lefty reporter.
What we need are more wars and plagues to keep the population under control

...Greed, corruption.... these things are normal, what planet are you living on for fucks sake...

       

[post-op lover]

If Colin Powell swears it's true, then it's true.

[Guest]

...Greed, corruption.... these things are normal, what planet are you living on for fucks sake...

TC it is not normal but unfortunate that those in control abuse their powers through greed and corruption. Marquis de Sade once said 'we are all equal, except in strength'

this thread was started to question the validity of documentaries and show that most people do not see the reality of events due to one sided shite media. Many papers, news channels etc use framing effects to reinforce their views of the world.

If you have seen death of a nation , you would have noticed how Pilger's interviews gives voice to all that were involved in the East Timor conflict. Through civil war to invasion he exposes the true intentions of the west- very interesting and not a million miles away from whats happening in Iraq. Even though Pilger has a social conscience he doesn't fall into propaganda mode like Mickey Moore.

i am not a lefty and to be honest i cant stand those luminous plastic clog wearing(what asshole invented those things) , guardian reading , self righteous types myself;
but 'each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?Ohhhh 'Nick Lowe