Online Response 1 - The Documentary Advocate
The decline into worldwide economic depression in 1929 elicited a different kind of film. Hollywood was predominantly producing golden-age escapist films, such as the classic Ginger Draper and Fred Astaire musicals. However, not all audiences wanted to be distracted by the glitz and glam of fabricated sets. Many were creating films based in the difficult realities of the day. Documentary filmmaking lent itself particularly well to recording and bringing to light the specific issues of the time period. Filmmakers such as John Grierson, were particularly influential in creating a new trend in the documentary tradition. He sought the “drama of the doorstep” to help “lead the citizen through the wilderness”. His film Drifters (1929) became an important catalyst in motivating others to take up the camera as an advocate for the actual and relevant world issues. They would find the stories that were "right under their noses" to unveil truth happening. Housing Problems ...