The Ten Rules of Personal Documentary Filmmaking - Rule #3

This rule might as well be rule 2A, but then I'd have to come up with 11 rules and whoever heard of doing that?  It's really in line, though, with what I was saying about not working out your personal therapy on screen...

RULE #3: Don't tell us your feelings.  Show or indicate your feelings.

It's so much more interesting to convey your state of mind through the language of cinema, as opposed to spoken language.  Especially when it comes to narration.   In 51 Birch Street, I made it a point to only talk about what was happening story-wise in the narration.  My feelings were never referred to.

Which doesn't mean you don't know what I'm feeling.  When you see my dad marry his former secretary so shortly after my mom's death and they lip-lock for 12 (count 'em, 12!) seconds, do you really need to hear me to say "Yuck"?  Or is it better to let the audience decide for themselves that this must be profoundly uncomfortable for me?

It doesn't mean avoiding emotion, either.  Just don't tell us about it.  Let it come out organically through the story rather than stating the obvious.