FEATURES AND TYPES OF DOCUMENTARIES

Features of Documentaries The features of a documentary

must include 5 central elements according to John Corner from the University of Liverpool

This includes• Interview• Observation• Dramatization• Mise-en-scene• Exposition

Observation (fly on the wall) This put the audience in a role

of eyewitness, this is where the camera appears to be unseen. It indirect addresses to audiences which is speech that is overheard, a common factor or this en-scene observation.

Interview

Television Documentaries use interviews to make a contrast between observation sequences

They are structured in 2 different ways:

Intercut fragments of observationA completely uninterrupted

sequence

Dramatization

Even though all documentaries use a sense of drama, it is used to portray people and events the film maker cannot gain access to in real life. These sequences used are said to be based on fact.

Mise-en-scene

This is what the directors and producers put into the frame. Such as:

LightingProps

Initially, whatever is used in interviews that we can see on screen.

Exposition

This means the line of argument in the documentary which is what the documentary is saying. Sequences like this lead the audience to make their own conclusions.

Types of Documentaries There are 6 types of

documentaries which are:Fully narratedFly on the wallMixedSled reflexiveDocu-Drama- possible addition

of Docu-Soaps.

Fully Narrated

Direct Address documentaries use of the screen voiceover to illustrate the exposition. The narrator seems authoritative about the topic which allows them to make sense of visuals. For example the voice of god.

Fly on the wall

They rely almost totally on observation. The cameras are left to record without interference and viewers come to their own conclusions

Mixed

This uses a combination of interview observation and narration to advance the argument. The narrator is within the frame and this style is most common in news reporting.

Self- Reflexive

The subjects of a documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and speaks directly to the film maker. This creates a point of drawing attention to the film maker to create a view of reality.

Docu-drama

This shows re-enactments of events as they are supposed to of happened with fictional narrative combined including elements of the exposition. However, critics claim that Docu-dramas will only ever deliver fiction.

Docu-soaps

A phenomenon of recent years which follow the daily lives of particular people. For example, Airport.

Some may dispute whether these are real documentaries in any sense.

Narrative structure The beginning- Needs to capture the

audiences attention. Central question of the doc can be posed at the beginning in an intriguing way. Quick interviews capturing conflict with different people.

The middle- known as the complication stage and needs to be the most compelling and often examines the issue in human terms e.g. The focus on people and their opinions. Conflict is strengthened to provide blockages for the fulfilment of the exposition.

The end- makes the exposition fully apparent by the resolution stage. The audience by this time has no doubts what the argument is saying.

Lighting- if you are trying realism or authenticity poor lighting is one of the first things to give the game away.

Visuals- what we see in the screen included with archive footage. Stock materials are used to support the intended meaning.

Construction of reality- When watch a documentary you should always ask yourself not just what they are showing but also the question what they are not showing. This could be due to bias or preference along with the selection and rejection of information.

Sense of movement- can add strength to the narrative elements. The 3 forms are physical movement in time or psychological change.

Music and SFX- Sound effective in producing an emotional response in the audience.