Social Action Media Production: Documentary analysis RIZE

1.     What is the social issue being focused on in this documentary?

The documentary follows the beginning and the evolution of krump dancing which started off in the Ghetto suburbs of Los Angeles as Clowning and how it has benefitted the community from whence it came.

2.     Summarise what happens in the beginning/middle/end of this documentary

Beginning

The film opens with the text: “The footage has not been sped up in any way.” The dance moves are aggressive and involves rapid body movements.

The director inserts actual footage from the Watts Riots, which took place in the 60’s in the Watts in Los Angeles. The rebels were oppressing the brutal acts used by the black police officers onto a black motorist by the name of Marquette Frye.  

The main character Tom Johnson who is better known by his dancing persona Tommy The Clown, grew up in Watts following the Watts Riots he was a big time drug dealer and after going to jail he decided he is going to turn his life around and that’s when he started Clowning. Clowning is a fast pace, high-energy dance style and it ended up uplifting Tom’s community from the travesties that they had faced. He became a Ghetto Celebrity soon having kids following him and clowning besides him on the streets.

     Middle

Clowning became something so uplifting and inspiring in the community. The film then follows the lives of some of the most famous krump dancers in the area such as Tight Eyes, Baby Tight Eyes, Miss Prissy, Lil C and others. They each tell there story of their life before Clowning and how clowning became an outlet, a platform on which they could express their pain and anguish. They all give thanks to Tommy for starting the clowning movement because most of them were Tommy’s dancers when they were younger. Tommy began another movement called the battle zone, where every krump dancer in the area is included, old, young, fat, thin, male or female anyone was allowed to take part. It became something so great it went national. And Tommy and his people performed for the prestige clowning title on a grand stage. Clowning verses Krumping the title is won by the team with the most individual wins, The clowns won seven to four, however their celebration was cut short as Tommy’s house was broken into and vandalised.

     End
The turn of events documented in the film, focused on the trials an tribulations that the people of this community face, which are getting harder and harder to over come. The director, focuses  on a police officer consoling Tommy who is broken up about his home. Telling him that these things only happen when someone is doing good. This ties into, other strong African American Leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. An interview is conducted with two dancers saying they saw a man get shot on a street corner just as they were turning a corner in a car.  They stress the fact that two them this is a normal thing in their area. Towards the vary end of the film a 15 year old girl by the names of Quinesha Dunford (other wise known as Lil' Dimples) gets shot and killed while walking to the grocery store as well as her friends. Although heartbroken, the family refuses to speak on their loss. There final minutes of the film brought the documentary to an end by tying all the dance styles together. As well as including dances from the spirit, to religion and spirituality. It is a known fact that the Church has always been a crucial part in the lives of African Americans.

         

3.     What type of documentary is this? Conventions used?

This is an exposure documentary. It documents the lives of people in the Ghetto suburbs of Los Angeles and how they use Dance as an out let to cope with their everyday struggles. Instead of joining gangs and committing crimes they dance to escape from the hardships they face.

4.     What techniques are used to maintain the audiences attention?

The clips of the dance battles sustain the audience’s attention by giving them something to ease the tension from a serious topic. Using eyewitnesses telling their own traumatic stories.

The use of music, also maintains the audiences attention.

5.     What is the purpose of this documentary? What change is it campaigning for?

This documentary is urging people to rise above their troubles, there is a lot of bad in the world, and these people see beauty in what they do, so the film encourages it’s audience to look past their struggles and strive for a better tomorrow.

6.     Who is the target audience? Age/gender/interests/location/language etc.

All age groups.
Male/Female.
African American History and Society, Urban street dance, Documentaries.
Initially; U.S.A, but suitable for any English Speaking Country
English

7.     How have they been targeted?

They have been targeted through cinema, producers (Lions Gate films), through dance.

8.     How is the audience encouraged to participate in creating change?
The audience is encouraged to follow their dreams and make a change in their community starting with changing themselves the way Tommy The Clown did.