Types Of Documentaries

• Central to documentaries is the focus on actual people, events, questions in a social context, placing the audience in a position to form an opinion about who or what we are seeing.

• The term documentary was coined by John Grierson in 1926

• The purpose of a documentary is to document something that has actually happened, it can be shown using actual footage or reconstruction. It can use a voice over or a narration, to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves with perhaps an occasional interjection by the narrator.

FeaturesAccording to John Corner of the University Of Liverpool there are five central elements of a documentary, these are:

Observation (fly on the wall)•The programme makers are observing the action•The camera is ignored by the people taking part- unseen observation puts the audience into a role of witness•There is indirect address to the audience

Interview•Can be used to make a contrast with the observation sequences. The interviewer is either seen or unseen, The interviewee addresses the interviewer not the audience. Images can be dubbed over the speakers replies in support of what has been said, interviews can be constructed in two ways:•Run fully•Segments of interview with cuts

DramatisationAlthough documentaries use a sense of drama, this feature is specifically used to portray people and events the film maker could not gain access to. These sequences are based on fact

Mis en sceneWhat the director or producers put into the frameFor example, props or clothing

ExpositionThe line of argument in a documentary

Features

Types of DocumentariesFully naratedDirect address, use of an off screen voice over to convey the exposition. The voice over helps make sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning. The narrator gives authority about the topic. Critics call it the “voice of god”Fly on the wallRely on observation. No commentary or narration to advance the arguments. The cameras are left to record subjects without interference views and narration to reach their conclusionsMixedUses a combination of interviews, observations and narration to further the arguments, narration is often in the frame.Self reflexive The subjects of a documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and speak to the film maker. This style makes a point of drawing attention to the film makers in constructing their view of reality.DocudramaA re-enactment of events as they are supposed to have happened in this style the elements of the arguments are combined with the fictional narrative resulting in the story being based on fact.DocusoapA phenomenon of recent years which follows the daily lives of individuals with designated jobs