TVTV’s Four More Years is a video documentary about the 1972 Republican National Convention from an on-the-ground perspective. It based on run and gun interviews with delegates, “Nixonettes,” Republican heavyweights, attendees, broadcast journalists covering the convention, and anti-war protesters. Stylistically it is a series of vignettes which together tell the story of the convention from the perspective of the people, as opposed to the sanctioned, on stage perspective. In fact, almost none of the footage is of the main stage speakers. It is interviews, people directors, cheering crowds, angry crowds, honest opinions, and people at work. Most shots feel like they are right in the face of the subject, with a bold fisheye lens that heavily distorts shapes up close. Even a seemingly regular interview will be shot so close that the person’s face is blown up and cropped. The camera operator will turn, mid-sentence, to examine a subjects hands, clothing, or the people’s expressions in the vicinity. This video is widely regarded as a highly influential, and exciting film to watch.
From an alternative-media standpoint, Four More Years manages to break all the rules of the time by refusing to give a platform to anyone who stands on the platform, focusing entirely on what is happening on the ground, telling the story of political issues through people’s words. Everything is candid and on-the-go, no time for preparation by the subjects.This is especially important considering that the re-nomination of Nixon was inevitable, making the numerous speakers and musical acts were nothing more than political theater. One can see today how this style of television has influenced today’s programming. On-the-ground, in the crowd coverage of events is much more common for mainstream media, and the networks make it look a lot sharper (although they still haven’t adopted TVTV’s candid interview style). Additionally, a plethora of web-based media producers utilize these once-groundbreaking stylistic techniques. Interestingly, in the history of TVTV, this tape marks a transition from social change to cultural change. The content is as close to objective as can be (far more than network news has ever been), with minimal editing of interviews and opinions offered primarily from regular folks instead of established experts. It has such an effect that the viewer will likely read it as affirming whatever opinions they already have, thus reducing the possibility for social change by focusing on creating a form and style which runs counter to the broadcast networks of the time.
Top Value Television. Four More Years. 1972. Video Databank. DVD