The beginning of Wiseman’s career coincided with the post–World War II rise of portable filmmaking equipment, a boon to a generation of mid-century documentarians. Handheld cameras facilitated intimate access to the various places he profiled, allowing Wiseman to survey without additional distraction. Along with a small crew, he immersed himself in hubs of American activity: high schools, hospitals, court rooms, meat-packing plants, military bases, stores, parks, and theaters. His films eschew traditional documentary techniques such as explanatory voice-over and talking-head interviews, and his presence isn’t acknowledged by on-camera subjects. He didn’t artificially impose drama while filming—only during the editing process, when he would compress and shape hundreds of hours of footage.