Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
Encyclopedia
"Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" is the 16th episode of the second season
of Community
. The episode originally aired on February 17, 2011 on NBC
. In the episode, Pierce pretends to be dying from a drug overdose and takes psychological revenge on the rest of the study group for not taking him seriously. He stages a documentary with Abed and plays on the rest of the study group's sympathies by giving them gifts and promises that torments them with their insecurities.
The episode was written by Megan Ganz
and directed by Joe Russo
. It parodies mockumentary
sitcoms such as The Office and Modern Family
. It was very well received by critics, and is regarded as one of the best episodes of the series.
) is found unconscious on a park bench after nearly overdosing on his painkiller medication and is admitted to a hospital. The study group rush to the hospital to be with him. He pretends he is dying and asks Abed (Danny Pudi
) to film a documentary on the "final" moments of his life. Unbeknownst to them, the documentary is in fact revenge – in the form of psychological torture – on the rest of the group for not taking him seriously, with varying results.
Pierce summons each member of the group to his room one-by-one for his "bequeathals":
During Jeff's confrontation with Pierce outside the hospital, the group gathers round to stop Jeff. Pierce has an outburst where he chastises the group for not taking him seriously and neglecting him throughout the year, though Jeff points out that the whole episode has made the group's relationship with him worse.
Abed wraps up the documentary by pointing out that it was not as easy to make as he imagined it to be but finishes it off saying that the documentary format of storytelling works.
, her second writing credit of the show. It was directed by executive producer Joe Russo
, his 12th directing credit of the series.
The idea for a mockumentary spoof was conceived by show creator Dan Harmon
. It was the show's latest attempt at pushing more generic and stylistic boundaries, having already done action/shooting ("Modern Warfare
"), zombie Halloween ("Epidemiology
"), space ("Basic Rocket Science"), stop-motion animation ("Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
") and Dungeons & Dragons
("Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"). Executive producers Joe and Anthony Russo also wanted a redemptive episode for Pierce, who has been increasingly "evil" throughout the season, for the audience to understand what's going on emotionally with the character.
LeVar Burton
guest starred as himself.
-style filmmaking of other comedies such as The Office, Parks and Recreation
, and Modern Family
. Character Abed Nadir described the style as "fish in a barrel", suggesting that its methods – such as talking head interviews – are a lazy way to divulge a complex plot:
He goes on to mock the technique of using voiceover
s over random shots at the end of episodes:
Craig Sanger of The Washington Times
said "the [episode's] main conceit was so spot on, that it really spotlighted what the satirical showcase does best."
Jeffrey Kirkpatrick called the episode "pitch perfect" and gave it a 5/5 rating, the highest of the season for the show on TV Fanatic. He praised the episode's use of the mockumentary concept, remarking "[a]s always, Community shines best when it's skewering pop culture." He added "Everything I love about the show was powering on full thrusters, from the impeccable characterization to some of the funniest, wit-laced dialogue in its history..." and that the dialogue was "off the wall amazing."
Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
called it "pretty stellar" and a "great, great episode of television in a great, great season." He praised Donald Glover
's performance as Emmy Award
-worthy. Despite his concern about Pierce's character arc, VanDerWerff still describes the episode as "an immensely well crafted piece of catharsis that brings a number of things that have been building all season to a head... It gives every member of the ensemble something wonderful to do, and it gives Glover a plot that tops all of the other amazing stuff he's done on the show."
Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com gave the episode "a resounding 'Yes'" and singled out Glover for praise, calling him a "comedy god". She said that the show's creators "are proving that they love television just as much (if not way, way more) than the rest of us; so much so that they can take the tropes, styles and techniques of other shows, adopt them into their own amorphous world and still make it work."
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
called the episode "pretty fantastic" and one of his favorite ever. He called both Glover and Joel McHale
's performances Emmy-worthy although he did wonder "how the hell [the writers will] dig their way out of the Pierce hole after this."
Community (season 2)
The second season of the television comedy series Community premiered on September 23, 2010 and concluded on May 12, 2011, on NBC and aired on Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET as part of Comedy Night Done Right.-Starring:*Joel McHale as Jeff Winger...
of Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
. The episode originally aired on February 17, 2011 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In the episode, Pierce pretends to be dying from a drug overdose and takes psychological revenge on the rest of the study group for not taking him seriously. He stages a documentary with Abed and plays on the rest of the study group's sympathies by giving them gifts and promises that torments them with their insecurities.
The episode was written by Megan Ganz
Megan Ganz
Megan Ganz is an American comedy writer and former associate editor of The Onion. She serves as a writer on the NBC series Community.-Early life and career:Ganz graduated from Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2002....
and directed by Joe Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
. It parodies mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
sitcoms such as The Office and Modern Family
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
. It was very well received by critics, and is regarded as one of the best episodes of the series.
Plot
Pierce (Chevy ChaseChevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) is found unconscious on a park bench after nearly overdosing on his painkiller medication and is admitted to a hospital. The study group rush to the hospital to be with him. He pretends he is dying and asks Abed (Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi is an American actor, best known for his role as Abed Nadir on the NBC comedy series Community.-Early years:Pudi, who is of Indian and Polish descent, was born and raised in Chicago and grew up speaking Polish...
) to film a documentary on the "final" moments of his life. Unbeknownst to them, the documentary is in fact revenge – in the form of psychological torture – on the rest of the group for not taking him seriously, with varying results.
Pierce summons each member of the group to his room one-by-one for his "bequeathals":
- He gives Shirley (Yvette Nicole BrownYvette Nicole BrownYvette Nicole Brown is an American actress and comedian. Brown has appeared in various commercials, television shows, and films throughout her career...
) a CD purportedly containing a recording of the group talking behind her back. She becomes incredibly insecure although the group dismisses it. Britta eventually forces her to listen to the recording, which reveals an incident where the group defends her when Pierce talks behind her back. She realizes that she often uses guilt as a weapon.
- He gives "sourface" Britta (Gillian JacobsGillian JacobsGillian Jacobs is an American film, theatre and television actress, best known for her role as Britta Perry on the NBC comedy series Community.-Personal life:...
) a check with the payee line blank for $10,000 to give to the charity of her choice since she considers herself the most selfless one in the group. Due to her own poorly managed finances, she considers cashing in the check herself and begins making excuses not to donate it. She eventually gives the money to the Red Cross, though she admits she only did so because she was in front of the camera, which makes her feel guilty. During a conversation with LeVar Burton, he tells her that she is generous but stupid with her money, making her feel better.
- He tells Jeff (Joel McHaleJoel McHaleJoel Edward McHale is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on Community....
) that his estranged father is on the way to the hospital to meet him. Jeff is unconvinced but becomes emotional at the thought of speaking to his father. He constantly freaks out while being interviewed and filmed by Abed. He then threatens to assault Pierce if he finds out that Pierce lied about his father coming, which causes Pierce to panic. A sedan pulls up outside the hospital, and Jeff receives a call purportedly from his father inside the sedan, but it is obvious the person speaking is Pierce. He chases the car down, pulls Pierce out of it and beats him. By the end of it, he accepts that he needs to confront his father one day instead of avoiding the issue. Pierce thinks that he managed to take the role of Jeff's father on the day and is glad to have one-upped Jeff.
- He manages to get LeVar BurtonLeVar BurtonLevardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. , professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer and author who first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley...
to come to the hospital and meet Troy (Donald GloverDonald GloverDonald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
), who becomes stunned and speechless. Troy had previously told Pierce that he never wanted to meet Burton in person and only wanted a picture of him, because "you can't disappoint a picture." He is unable to speak to Burton for fear of disappointing his idol. At the persuasion of Britta, Burton cancels an appointment and spends the rest of the day with Troy trying to communicate with him. They end up having dinner together in the library, during which Troy runs outside screaming in panic.
- He gives Annie (Alison BrieAlison Brie-External links:...
) a very valuable tiara, since she's his "favorite". This gesture makes her realize the dangers of her being too tough on herself which causes pain to people around her. She returns the gift to Pierce, who unwittingly praises her catharsis even though he remarks later in a talking head that "she's actually just [his] favorite."
During Jeff's confrontation with Pierce outside the hospital, the group gathers round to stop Jeff. Pierce has an outburst where he chastises the group for not taking him seriously and neglecting him throughout the year, though Jeff points out that the whole episode has made the group's relationship with him worse.
Abed wraps up the documentary by pointing out that it was not as easy to make as he imagined it to be but finishes it off saying that the documentary format of storytelling works.
Production
The episode was written by Megan GanzMegan Ganz
Megan Ganz is an American comedy writer and former associate editor of The Onion. She serves as a writer on the NBC series Community.-Early life and career:Ganz graduated from Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2002....
, her second writing credit of the show. It was directed by executive producer Joe Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
, his 12th directing credit of the series.
The idea for a mockumentary spoof was conceived by show creator Dan Harmon
Dan Harmon
Dan Harmon is a writer and performer. He is the creator and an executive producer for the NBC television comedy series Community, and, along with Rob Schrab, a founder of the alternative television network/website Channel 101....
. It was the show's latest attempt at pushing more generic and stylistic boundaries, having already done action/shooting ("Modern Warfare
Modern Warfare (Community)
"Modern Warfare" is the 23rd episode of the first season of Community and originally premiered on May 6, 2010 on NBC. In the episode, after the Dean announces the prize for a friendly game of paintball, Greendale sinks into a state of all-out paintball war, with every student battling for...
"), zombie Halloween ("Epidemiology
Epidemiology (Community)
"Epidemiology" is the sixth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Community, and the 31st episode of the series overall...
"), space ("Basic Rocket Science"), stop-motion animation ("Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
"Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" is the 11th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series, Community and the 36th episode overall...
") and Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
("Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"). Executive producers Joe and Anthony Russo also wanted a redemptive episode for Pierce, who has been increasingly "evil" throughout the season, for the audience to understand what's going on emotionally with the character.
LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton
Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. , professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer and author who first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley...
guest starred as himself.
Cultural references
The episode pays homage to and mocks the mockumentaryMockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
-style filmmaking of other comedies such as The Office, Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
, and Modern Family
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
. Character Abed Nadir described the style as "fish in a barrel", suggesting that its methods – such as talking head interviews – are a lazy way to divulge a complex plot:
He goes on to mock the technique of using voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
s over random shots at the end of episodes:
Craig Sanger of The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
said "the [episode's] main conceit was so spot on, that it really spotlighted what the satirical showcase does best."
Ratings
In its original American broadcast on February 17, 2011, the episode was viewed by an estimated 4.12 million viewers with a Nielsen rating of 1.8 in the 18–49 demographic.Reviews
"Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" was one of the best reviewed episodes of the series' second season.Jeffrey Kirkpatrick called the episode "pitch perfect" and gave it a 5/5 rating, the highest of the season for the show on TV Fanatic. He praised the episode's use of the mockumentary concept, remarking "[a]s always, Community shines best when it's skewering pop culture." He added "Everything I love about the show was powering on full thrusters, from the impeccable characterization to some of the funniest, wit-laced dialogue in its history..." and that the dialogue was "off the wall amazing."
Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
called it "pretty stellar" and a "great, great episode of television in a great, great season." He praised Donald Glover
Donald Glover
Donald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
's performance as Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-worthy. Despite his concern about Pierce's character arc, VanDerWerff still describes the episode as "an immensely well crafted piece of catharsis that brings a number of things that have been building all season to a head... It gives every member of the ensemble something wonderful to do, and it gives Glover a plot that tops all of the other amazing stuff he's done on the show."
Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com gave the episode "a resounding 'Yes'" and singled out Glover for praise, calling him a "comedy god". She said that the show's creators "are proving that they love television just as much (if not way, way more) than the rest of us; so much so that they can take the tropes, styles and techniques of other shows, adopt them into their own amorphous world and still make it work."
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
called the episode "pretty fantastic" and one of his favorite ever. He called both Glover and Joel McHale
Joel McHale
Joel Edward McHale is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on Community....
's performances Emmy-worthy although he did wonder "how the hell [the writers will] dig their way out of the Pierce hole after this."
Quotes
While the episode was noted for its witty dialogue throughout, one exchange between Jeff and Britta was highlighted by many critics:External links
- "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" at NBC.com
- "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" at TV TropesTV TropesTV Tropes is a wiki which collects and expands on various conventions and devices found within creative works. Since its establishment in 2004, the site has gone from covering only television and film tropes to also covering those in a number of other media such as literature, comics, video-games,...