Riga Diary… tv and Artistic Docs

Iikka Vehkalahti, YLE Finland had this comment to Riga Diary 5:

“Dear Tue. I have to admit, that we (YLE TV 2 Documentaries) have a slogan: ” don´t look at tv, look at TV 2 Documentaries”. It´s implement is actually the fact, that the nature of the television has changed. In the minds and in the decisionmaking. Because of several reasons of course. Starting from the competition of viewers, the slot programming, the new entertainment programmes, the nature of societies and cultural atmosphere etc.. etc.. etc..

The fact is that for a demanding, complex, creative, different documentary film there is not very much of space in television. And commisioning editors, they know that. But another thing is of course if they have given up, if they don´t fight for the best films with all possible tools starting from festival awards and ending at the marketing tools from YouTube to blogs and like art museums, the circle of friends.

Ok, we can say, that  in mainstream television art fight is doomed, that only special channels like.. documentary channels… but.. at the same time I have to copy my own words that I planned to write into Steps by Steps book, but left out (because it can be misunderstood). Good to read also I think: TO BE IN BETWEEN

Too often directors consider themselves more fascinating, than the stories they tell. And that means they place themselves between the audience and the story – usually in the name of Art. And sure it’s great if the director really is an artist and is able to create new dimensions and interpretations of a story.

But if the director is just trying to make a weak story more interesting by decorating it – the only audience that’ll be satisfied are the lousy juries at little tinhorn film festivals.”