Making the Abstract Tangible: Computer Generated Images and the Science Documentary

Documentary is an ever-developing genre and has undergone significant changes in the last two decades due to the influence of digital technologies. Advancements in these technologies now allow for the rapid creation of relatively low-cost Computer Generated Imagery (CGI). This is a totally new tool for documentary filmmakers, a tool which has enhanced their ability to make highly abstract concepts tangible for their audiences. This new ability has enabled filmmakers to tackle topics which may have been previously deemed too difficult for documentary, and have given audiences new insight into various scientific subjects. However, this new ability has also had certain negative consequences. In some cases CGI my not be the best communicative tool for a filmmaker to use. Furthermore, the stylistic decisions that filmmakers make to determine the look and feel of a CGI piece can mislead their audience and distort the truth. Through the analysis of several documentaries which make extensive use of CGI, as well as my Science Communication Masters Thesis film Coming Clean, a better understanding of these consequences will be developed. Additionally, some guidelines for documentary filmmakers will be proposed. These guidelines will assist producers and directors to make informed decisions about how and why CGI should be used in a science documentary