Title: The Truth about Tooth
Duration: 9 mins 45 seconds
Director: Hazel Baillie
Production: Bridging The Gap. Scottish Documentary Institute/Edinburgh College of Art

This film is an excellent place to start exploring the relationship between fact and fiction. It employs different filmmaking techniques associated with both documentary and fiction films, as well as featuring a subject to which each viewer brings their own experience and understanding.

Allow the class to come to the film fresh. Don't give them too much information beforehand

related activities

  • Promoting The Truth

    Using the film The Truth about Tooth, learn about fact & fiction, and how to market your film product

  • The Pitch

    Pitching your ideas, exercises for groups based on the film The Truth about Tooth.

  • Through Your Eyes Only

    Use empathy skills to produce responses to tailored scenarios

  • Windows On The World

    Experiment with different genres

discussion Notes

  • When it began, what were your impressions about what you were watching? Why? What made you think this?
  • Was there a particular moment when your impressions of the film changed? What led to this? What was the class reaction at the time?
  • How would you describe what kind of film this is? Is it easy to put into a particular category?
  • Can you identify different things the filmmaker has done that you would normally find in a factual film, and things they have done that you associate with fictional films?
  • Why do you think the filmmaker has chosen to use each of these techniques in this film?
  • Did the way the film was made suit what it was about?