Cameraperson Review: A look into the makers behind documentaries

‘Cameraperson’ is a 2016 documentary by filmmaker Kirsten Johnson. She has been a part of the documentary community for about 25 years but before know, she has been behind the camera instead of directing it. The amazing part of this film is that it is all composed of recycled clips from her current and previous films from her entire history as a cameraperson. What we are shown is not simply the stories the camera sees but also little comments, questions, and sounds from off screen. This adds an interesting layer that is rarely seen in documentaries, the layer of external influence on the events. It is usually frowned upon from a formal structure because it is almost as if filmmakers are changing what naturally happens. In this film, it is the little moments that break the 4th wall that is the highlight.

3.5⭐⭐⭐/5

Framing is very important for documentaries as it gives viewers the perspective to view the film. In this film, there is no obvious frame because the perspective you are shown is not the frame that is shown but is instead the eyes of the person capturing the scenes. The frame for this film is then the eyes of that is creating the film and it allows for viewers to relish the little moments outside the main scene instead of the actual story. It is a refreshing perspective to view the film and allows viewers to think about the filmmaking as an emotional tool to describe the story of this woman. Johnson is only seen twice, once as a shadow and once with her mother and this creates this idea of the cameraperson in your mind. She is the myth of the movie as the story focuses on her and her experiences across her life and you get to experience it through what she is seeing.

While most of the focus should be on Johnson and how she is crafting the stories. The individual vignettes allow us to not only see different perspectives on the world but also understand them through the eye of the camera. At points, it is easy to get lost in the simplicity of the just watching the obvious layer of the visuals on screen but when you do, it is hard to understand the thematics of the doc. If you forget the added layer of thinking about what the camera is doing you just get lost in trying to figure out connections between the story when little to none exists. The film is truly comprised of all of its different parts. The layers are obvious and it takes every different angle to tell the story at its best. Whether it is Johnson’s camerawork, the editing on the doc, or the characters in the story there is a clear throughline that truly makes this a film about filmmaking.

Overall the film is an in-depth look into the role of the cameraperson. The roles they play in different situations as well as the places and things they capture throughout the travels. Through the eyes of Johnson, we see a new perspective on the world. We barely get to meet her yet we seemingly know all about her and her story. That is the power of the cameraperson.

If you are looking to learn more about the film check out this great interview with Kirsten Johnson

Check out the website for the film for more information.

Images courtesy of Janus Films