Free cinema was a huge step forward in some social characteristics. These productions were black and white documentaries capturing fly on the wall footage. They are seen as the basis of reality TV and documentaries. They followed working class people in Britain, which as mentioned above, was a huge step forward. Up until now, working class people were portrayed as being 'unworthy' and were commonly stereotypes as criminals. The release of 'We Are The Lambeth Boys' by Karl Reisz showed this to be very different and it was huge barrier breaking moment for the divide between classes.
When creating these short films, they usually used hand held 16mm Bolex Cameras using an unpaid crew and experimenting with sound and style. These films were funded by the BFI Experimental Film Fund and concentrated on the working class within the work place and in society.
From a Sociologists point of view, short film, especially Free Cinema, may have been a key event in the change of division of cultures and classes. But little research has been done on the work of short film acting as an agent of social change.
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