Comparing Waiting For Guffman And Miss Representation

Final Exam Paper

The films “Waiting for Guffman” and “Miss Representation” are two completely different movies in topic but have and implement certain aesthetics of realism which are alike. These films utilize the various aesthetics of voice overs, old footages, cast addressing the camera, on camera interviews, use of non actors, handheld cameras etc. But the certain aesthetics that are prominent in offering a certain view or truth about the world which we are currently in are that of voice overs, cast addressing the camera, and the use of non actors. These two movies are both shot in a documentary style, however one of which is fiction while the other is not. They both offer a certain sense of truth about the real world through this documentary
In “Waiting for Guffman” the main character, Corky St. Clair, takes the viewers through the whole movie from the auditions to the planning of the play and then the directing and presentation of it all and throughout talks explaining it more or less in a voiceover style. “Miss Representation” uses this aesthetic heavily, utilizing it to explain and display the views that are being presented. It might seem to one that the use of interviews is a little too much, seeming that there is scripted dialogue and heavily edited videos. Directors need to have a certain balance and if they do have an agenda or view they are trying to make something agree with you can’t push that idea on them, the movie has to be able to subtly get them to the realization of that topic. Jennifer Newsom with other members of the cast use voice over for around at least a good third of the film while old footage and text is presented featuring
“Guffman” implements this aesthetic also but more of a mocking way. This film is what is called a mockumentary, using actors that can pass of as random people that otherwise wouldn’t be seen in the films, none of the characters are over accentuating either which gives it more of a sense of the real world. There is a sense of truth in the aspect that the actors in “guffman play their roles, which is that in real life everyone doesn't wait for each other to speak and are perfectly able to guide a group of individuals. They are revolving the film around commemorating the founding of their small town by having a play which conveys the history of blaine, this idea along with the normalness of the cast give off a vibe of nonfiction. The cast for “Miss Representation” although having a very high likeability factor and real world connectivity to the viewers include actual actors and specialist which in this case give it a feeling of backing of statistics and