Enjoy Your Intermission

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/01/29/enjoy-your-intermission/

What are 3 techniques that the filmmakers use to tell a compelling story?  What kind of mood do they create?  How do they accomplish this?

    Three techniques that the filmmakers use to tell a compelling story are a gradual build up, only using music at the end, and allowing the audience to connect to the people in the film. The way that the documentary starts is quite slow; with Roger Babcock mowing the grass and explaining how the process is therapeutic for him. However, this actually sets the tone for the whole film as it reveals the amount of love for this work that Roger has and adds intrigue. Another aspect of this is also the way that they used music. Throughout the film, there was no music; only natural sounds and the interviews. It was only by the 8 minute mark did they start playing music and they did so at the perfect moment. After establishing how much they love the drive-in and the reasons why they do, the filmmakers then reveals the biggest setback that they're facing; replacing the film projectors with digital ones. They explain how they need to make this expensive change or else they will go out of business. At this reveal is when the music starts, amplifying the emotions for the audience. The biggest technique that they used was by giving the audience the chance to connect to and sympathize with everyone in the film. The filmmakers don't just focus on the drive-in during the interviews, they also emphasize the personal stories behind these people so that you can feel their plights more personally. We learn about their motivations, what they love, their relationships and so much more, making the reveal of the potential risk to their business that much more impactful for the audience. The mood that they create is one that gives the audience a greater feeling of wonder for the drive-in business through the choice of interview responses and b-roll and, by using a conversational tone, they create a more personal atmosphere that helps the audience connect to the people running the drive-in.