Question 1

True or false: The term 'documentary' was first coined by Scottish filmmaker John Grierson in the 1920s.

Accepted Answer

True. Grierson used the term in a 1926 review of Flaherty's 'Moana,' defining it as the 'creative treatment of actuality.'

Question 2

True or false: Most documentaries use hidden cameras to capture authentic reactions from unsuspecting subjects.

Accepted Answer

False. Hidden cameras are rare due to legal and ethical constraints; most documentaries rely on interviews and observed behavior with informed consent.

Question 3

True or false: Many nature documentaries use captive or trained animals to film behaviors that are rare in the wild.

Accepted Answer

True. Examples include the BBC's 'Frozen Planet' filming polar bear cubs in a zoo, and staged scenes in Disney's 'White Wilderness'. Such practices are common for difficult or dangerous shots.

Question 4

True or false: Most documentary footage is shot without any prior script or planning.

Accepted Answer

False. Even cinéma vérité documentaries often have extensive pre-production, including shot lists and interview outlines. Spontaneity is limited; planning is crucial.

Question 5

True or false: The documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' held the record for highest-grossing documentary worldwide from its 2004 release until 2009.

Accepted Answer

True. Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' earned $222.4 million, dominating the documentary box office until Michael Jackson's concert documentary 'This Is It' surpassed it in 2009 with $261.2 million.

Question 6

True or false: A documentary must be 100% non-fiction with no reenactments to qualify for an Academy Award.

Accepted Answer

False. The Academy’s documentary rules do not mandate 100% non-fiction or ban reenactments; they allow reenactments provided they are not misleading.

Question 7

True or false: Documentary filmmakers are legally required to obtain signed releases from every person who appears on camera.

Accepted Answer

False. In the US, releases are not required for subjects in public places or for news/documentary purposes, though many filmmakers get them to avoid legal risks.

Question 8

True or false: The first feature-length documentary was a silent film about a doomed Arctic expedition.

Accepted Answer

False. It was about a doomed Antarctic expedition. Robert Flaherty's 'Nanook of the North' (1922) is often cited, but Frank Hurley's 'South' (1919) about Shackleton's failed Antarctic expedition is earlier and is a feature-length documentary.

Documentary Filmmaking Trivia Questions