Dogme 95

• Danish directors 'Lars von Trier' and 'Thomas Vinterberg' created the 'Dogme 95 Manifesto' and the 'Vow of Chasity'
• These two directors started the Dogme 95 filmmaking movement in 1995
• The Dogme 95 consists of rules which are based on the traditional values of story, acting and theme and excluding the elaborate use of special effects or technology
• The Dogme 95 Collective was eventually formed and they were joined by directors Kristain Lerving and Soren Kragh-Jacobsen
• This new genre took an interest from unknown filmakers as it suggests that one can make a film without being dependent on comissions or huge Hollywood budgets, making films in this genre easily accessible
• It instead depends on European government subsides and television stations
• However, the movement was criticised for being a 'disguised attempt to gain media attention'
• On the other hand, Dogme was actually intiated so that it would make filmmakers rethink the art, effect and essence of filmmaking

History

• They announced the Dogme Movement on March 22, 1995 in Paris
• The cinema world had gathered to celebrate the first century of motion pictures and contemplate the uncertain future of commercial cinema
• When called upon to talk about the future of film, Lars Von Trier gave the audience pamphlets to their suprise, annoucing the Dogme 95 movement
• Von Trier and Vinterberg - 'In a buisness of highly extreme budgets, we figured we should balance the dynamics as much as possible'

Goals and Rules

• Goal of Dogme collective is to purify filmmaking by refusing expensive and spectacular special effects, post-production modifications and other technical gimmicks
• Concentrate on story and the actors performance
• This approach is used as it is believed it will better engage the audience, as they are not alienated or distracted by over production

'Vows of Chasity'

• Filming must be done on location. Props/sets must not be brought in. If particular prop is neccessary for the story, a location must be used from where the prop is found
• Sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless is occurs within the scene being filmed
• Camera must be hand held. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. Film must not take place where camera is standing, filming must take place where action takes place
• Film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable.
• Optical work and filters are forbidden
• Film must not contain superficial action
• Temporal and geographical allenation are forbidden
• Genre movies are not acceptable
• Final picture must be transferred to the Academy 35mm film, with aspect of ratio 4:3, that is not widescreen
• Director must not be credited