“The relatively uncommercial aspects of documentary throughout history has forced the genre to the continuous search for its ideal platform”, Ana Vicente.
The 'red tape' required for funding and distribution of documentaries via the professional film industry can work to prevent would be film makers, particularly social activists, from creating content that is often critical of the status quo. For this reason I think online documentaries are particularly important in helping to ensure the potential for all voices to be heard, and more importantly, freedom of speech.
Enabling documentaries to be viewed online has opened up a world of possibilities for documentary makers. No longer do they have to have the support of a production company to distribute their creations. Ultimately this means that more voices van be heard and more variety of documentaries can be potentially viewed.
This is a very positive thing for society at large. The benefits of not having only commercialised documentaries available is a great thing. Often, when documentaries have been produced with backing of major production companies, the forces of needing to follow a particular 'doctrine' or 'ideology' has, I'm sure, influenced the content of said doco's. Advertisers and the fear of upsetting 'mainstream' opinions has probably deterred people from saying exactly what they think - and documentary makers may not have been 100% happy to do this but taken on the view that at least a version of what they want to say is getting outthere. This is not a problem anymore thanks to online sources!
The problem that does exist with online documentaries is that not everyone knows how to find them, and as people can be protective of their internet usage they may not want to risk using up too much download by viewing a documentary online that turns out to be something they have not enjoyed. Even though they would have to pay to see mainstream documentaries at cinema's etc. it's almost as though people are less adventurous when it comes to the internet.
In order to help with the fact people are not necessarily aware I am here to offer some sites that provide access to online documentaries (unfortunately I cannot give away free broadband so help with the 'cheapness' factor of some people, but as least directing people where to go is a start):
I have utilised the ABC's online documentary archive and I must say it was very interesting. It gave me access to documentaries on topics I would never have thought to investigate for myself... and it didn't even eat too much in my download either! :P
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