DOCUMENTARY: The Camera that Changed the World & Benefits Street

'THE CAMERA THAT CHANGED THE WORLD'

http://www.ninofilm.net/blog/2013/07/13/free-
documentary-the-camera-that-changed-the-world/

As part of our documentary research Helen recommended we watch 'The Camera That Changed The world'. It was directed by Mandy Chang and was broadcasted on BBC Four in 2011. The documentary focusses on the engineers who built the first portable camera and were able to create the fly-on-the-wall method. 

As a result of the portable camera, documentaries went from watching a static shot to dynamic eyewitness accounts. An example from that time, would be Drew and Leacock's Primary and the French verité classic Chronique d’un été. 

'BENEFITS STREET'

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefits-street/episode-guide/series-1

'Benefits Street' is a British documentary series which revels the reality of life on benefits. The residents of streets in areas hit by recession invite cameras into their tight-knit communities. 

The show is narrated by Tony Hirst, the series is presented in a fly-on-the-wall documentary format that follows a year in the lives of the residents of James Turner Street, Birmingham, which Channel 4 describes as "one of Britain's most benefit-dependant streets". Some of the residents we see commit crimes such as shoplifting to try and raise money for their family. Apart from this, the series also aims to show the street's sense of community spirit, with residents helping each other in times of difficulty. 

The show was controversial, the police, Channel 4 and Ofcom received many complaints, there were also Twitter death threats made against the residents of the street. Channel 4 was accused of making 'poverty porn'. Many people who took part claimed that they were misled by the documentary makers and Ofcom launched an investigation into whether the programme had breached the broadcasting regulations, but later realised that the rules hadn't been broken. 

Producers of the show have also been accused of bribing the residents to appear on the show, not by being paid because that might affect their benefit claims, but with alcohol and fast food to get the best possible footage. If they didn't want to film, the producers would go and buy cigarettes and alcohol and bring it to them to persuade them to film. 

White Dee

One of the most well known characters from the street, White Dee, has made appearances on TV such as on Celebrity Big Brother and another documentary has been made purely about her. She claimed she bagged a massive £100,000 from her CBB appearance but is now back to square one with no money. 

Another star from the street, Lee Nutley, was found dead at James Turner Street after a long battle with his health. The former heroin addict who suffered from epileptic seizures was found dead by paramedics. At the beginning of the show, he was an unemployed drug addict and was living off just £45 a week and relied on food banks and his neighbours to survive. He was on and off anti-depressants for more than 8 years. After the show aired, he explained that he was in a better place and was hoping to head back to work as he had worked his whole life and he hated living on such little money a week. 

The street is now a tourist attraction with the residents still living there. Viewers arrive in car and on foot to pose beside the street sign or outside the houses of the show's character. Some wait outside White Dee's house and she invites them in for tea. 

Researching these different types of documentaries was interesting but I'm not sure whether to have a documentary like this or not as my idea as I wouldn't know what the subject would be. Maybe if I knew someone who struggled with money or had an eating disorder or mental health problem, I'd set up like 'Benefits Street' but I'm still not convinced yet. I'll keep researching other types of documentaries. 

- Wilson, B. (2011). The Camera That Changed the World, BBC Four, review. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8663989/The-Camera-That-Changed-the-World-BBC-Four-review.html. Last accessed 9th March 2017

- Channel 4. (2016). Benefits Street. Available: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefits-street. Last accessed 14th March 2017.

- Stacey, A. (2016). Benefits Street - where are they now? As White Dee reveals she's broke, a look back at the residents. Available: http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/benefits-street-now-white-dee-8052007. Last accessed 14th March 2017.

- Awford, J. (2016). Benefits Street star Lee Nutley is found dead on estate where Channel 4 series was filmed after long battle with health Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3832370/Benefits-Street-star. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3832370/Benefits-Street-star-Lee-Nutley-dead.html. Last accessed 14th March 2017.