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
like filming.

The voice over aesthetic or “voice of god” style is used in both films in different ways.
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
explanations.

Both of these movies being filmed as documentaries rely heavily on the cast addressing the camera in an interview style manner. “Guffman” uses this style of filming so that the actors can whole heartedly present and embody their characters. The interviews allow the actors to play of of ad libs and bad jokes, the main person that is featured however in this addressing the camera style is Corky where in more than half of the movie he is addressing the viewers or interviewing the rest of the cast. The “Guffman” style interview is completely different in utilizing aesthetics than “Miss Representation” though using comedy and satire whereas the latter uses mostly facts and discussion in all seriousness. “Miss Representation” heavily relies on the film interviews to convey the agenda the movie is trying to push intertwining a feeling of interaction with the real world. Both heavily rely on the cast addressing the camera however Guffman is taken less seriously because the viewers know they are actors whereas the other film has non actors.

“Miss Representation” makes a point of using non actors, this is where the cast is not scripted and say what they want, which brings more of a down to earth feeling and a sense of connectivity to the film.
“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
validation.
These films use these particular aesthetics of voice overs, cast addressing the camera, and the use of non actors in order to offer a certain viewpoint on the real world. They both offer a certain perception of truth about the real world through the style in which these movies are filmed. “Miss Representation” while giving the viewer a chance to inspect valid and urgent topics that need to be addressed seemed too scripted for my liking. Everything seems genuine in what they’re saying but the high schoolers talking really threw some of the class off, noticing that high schoolers are not that developed to address a topic like that with such linguistic professionalism off the tops of their head. “Guffman” is obviously a fiction film so you can't compare it the same way as you look at “Miss Representation” however it is filmed to look and feel real in visual terms. In this sense it turns it into a comedy because you get the sensation that you're watching real things happen to real people and that its not being scripted.