Documentary Techniques

There are 3 types of documentary;
- Compilation film - archive image or news reel
- interview/talking heads - people talking
- direct cinema - event recorded as it happens, little interference

Documentarys need good characters, tension and a point of view to be successful. They often use interviews and video footage.

Modern docments are often more visual as this appeals more to the audience.
Documentarys use parrallels to connect the audience with the characters, setting or a situation.

- Narration,aka voice of god, this enables audiences to understand the plot, documentarys usually use a voice that is recognisable, this is because the audience are more likely to trust the information that is being provided. they are traditionally done by males however this has began to change recently.

- Lighting, documentarys use natural lighting.

- Camera Work, handheld camera is most common, shakey shots make it more authentic and creates intimacy between the audience and the film.

- Editing, is a vital component , documentarys rely heavily on editing, e.g fade outs, fade in, dissolve and wipe. During the edit the producer selects, orders and places images in to a sequence to make it understandable.

- Diegetic Sound, Sound is actually there during filming
- Non diegetic sound, added in the edit, (Narrator). Documentarys rely on this so the auience responds in a certain way.

Documentarys are used to inform the publis and express an opinion, and also to illustrate the truth.

Current affairs

Current Affair programmes are mid way between documentaries and the news, they are journalist led programmes and there main aims are to address news and political agendas in a greater depth. They are often 5-15 minutes in length.

Their emphasis is on investigation, looking at political scandals and are organised around a journalistic report. Arguing a case or proving it wrong.

The reporter could be infront of the screen or as a voice over.
examples include, Channel 4's 'Dispatches' , Tonight with Trevor McDonald and BBC 2's News Night

Reality

Reality tv is where real events take place, it is often referred to as infotainment, as it is a combination of entertainment and useful information.
Reality tv are like magazine programmes e.g. police, camera, action.

It is a mix of raw authentic material with a seriousness of an information programme.
Hand held cameras are often used for reality programmes and require surveilance and observation.

They used to be based around emergency services but has now widened to ordinary people.

Introduction to Documentaries

Purpose; to document something that has happened
- showing actual footage or reconstruction
- Narrators voiceover/ participants anchor meaning

examples of documentaries include;

Planet Earth, Human Spiderman, BB, Man Who Jumps of Buildings

Features;
Made up of an observation
- People not noticing the camera is there and is ignored by the people taking part.

Interview;
Most important part of a documentary
- Show opinions and views on a subject
- Documentarys rely on interviews

Dramatisation
All documentaries use a sense of drama, through observation and reconstructions

Mise-en-scene
Carefully construct each shot
- costume, scene, lighting etc.

Exposition
line of argument in a documentary
- what is the purpose of the documentary

Documntaries are focused around problem/crisis

There are various different types of documentaries, they are shown below;

Fully Narrated - Off screen voiceover, voice over makes sense of the situation, they are experts on the footage shown which dominates the purpose & meaning (nature) of the documentary.

Fly on the Wall - Camera is there but unseen & ignored
- Captures things on set cameras wouldn't
- Real events, they are not staged
- No commentary/ voiceover
- The audience owns the conclusion

Mixed - uses combination of interviews and narration to advance argument
- Narrator in front of camera

Self Reflective - Subject featured acknowledges camera and talks to programme maker

Docudrama - reinactment of events as if it's happening/ happened
- fictional story to reinforce realism - using documentary techniques

Docusoap - film follows people's lives.
- learn about the person involved

Gate Keeper - selection/ rejection of info by editors of the documentary
- editer, director, producer etc.

Documentaries may contain;

- Visuals - Archive footage, street scenes, close ups to suggest emotion and meaning
- Interviews - Held anywhere (Mis-en-scene effects meaning), factual/ emotional questions
- Voxpops - Street interview - collect snippets of people in the street (public), they are all asked the same question - general agreement/ diverse opions

Narratives

Open - No answers are given thereore no conclusion is made and the audience make their own mind up

Closed - All answers given, there is a definite outcome

Single Story - One story/ one plot throughout

Non Linear - Info given in non chronological order, time is disrupted, flashbacks

Linear - Chronological - All told in order of events, beginning, middle and end

Circular - documentary is a circular format - question asked at beginning, information is then given and the same question i asked at the end

Documetaries rely on a traditional narrative

A beginning - shows the most dramatic footage, question is askedm, shows conflicting views

A middle - examines isues, peoples opinions and the conflict is strengthened

An end - Exposition - documentaries use this to answer the question, no doubt for the audience and they could take action