Amy critical debate question

'Portable, digital cameras, digital sound recording equipment and non-linear digital editing have had a very significant impact on documentary film.' How far has digital technology had an impact on your chosen documentary film? [20]

Candidates may include the following: 
• an understanding of digital technology relevant to the chosen documentary (which may include the role of portable, digital cameras and digital sound recording equipment which facilitate a closer connection with subjects) or non-linear digital editing (which may lead to conscious manipulation of material or the blurring of 'fact' and 'fiction' in some documentary filmmakers' work) 
• some discussion of the significance of the move from film to digital in the production of moving image work in more general terms 
• some discussion of the impact of digital technology on documentary style, for example, a particular kind of observational intimacy or a sense of mobility and improvisation. 
• Band 5 responses may recognise that some aspects of digital production (e.g. handheld cameras) may be used to convey an illusory sense of the real (i.e. that they are coded to give the impression of reality to spectators).

- The intimate and personal style of the documentary is dependant on the footage captured using portable digital cameras (home/non-professional footage)
- without this, the filmmakers would be limited on the footage they could show, as she is of course not alive to give her account on her life - we would also not have access to footage of Amy as a young girl, and her growth through fame, addiction and relationships
- in order to see her as a victim, this footage is crucial, as the media representation of her alone presents her as simply another celebrity involved in the life of drugs and addiction - does not encourage empathy form spectators