What is a documentary

1. Central to a documentary is the focus on and questions, actual people and events, often 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 narrator’s voice over to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves, perhaps with occasional interjection by the narrator. What Is A Documentary?

2. Features Of Documentaries According to John Corner (of the University of Liverpool), there are 5 central elements of a documentary. These are: Observation (fly on the wall) -Programme Makers observe the action -Pretend the camera is unseen or ignored by the people taking part -Unseen observation put the audience in the role of eye witnesses -Indirect address to the audience Interview -Interviews can be used to make a contrast with the observation sequences -The interviewer is wither seen or unseen -The interviewee addresses the interviewer not the audience -Sometimes pictures are dubbed over the speaker, in support of what has been said -Interviews can be structured in two ways, either to be run fully or there are cuts in between.

3. Dramatisation -Although documentaries use a sense of drama, this feature is specifically used to portray people and events, the filmmaker can not gain access to in real life. These sequences are based on fact. Mise -en-scene -What the directors and producers. Put in the scene e.g. Lights and propps in interviews. Exposition -The line of argument in a documentary

4. There are 6 different types: Fully narrated -Direct address documentaries -Use an off screen voiceover to convey the exposition -Voiceover helps to make sense over pictures -Dominates the meaning -Narrator often gives sense of authority about the topic -Critics have called the style “voice of god“ Fly On The Wall -Rely totally on observation -No commentation or narration -Cameras left to record people with viewer making their own conclusion Types Of Documentaries

5. Mixed Documentary -Uses combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the argument -Narration is often from within the frame (most commonly seen on the news) Self reflexive -The subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of a camera and speaks directly to the filmmaker. -This style makes a point of drawing attention to the filmmakers role in constructing a view of reality Docudrama -A reinactment of events as they are supposed to have happened -In this style the elements of argument and exposition are combined with those of fictional narrative. Basically stories based on fact. Docusoap -A phenomenon of recent years which follow the daily lives of particular induviduals with a designated job (airport) -Many dispute that they are documentaries in any aspect

6. Current Affairs -These are different from documentaries, they are journalist based, they aim to address news in more depth. For example, Panorama. The differences are that they include the pressure of deadlines and they have to be up to date

7. Structure Relies heavily on traditional conventions of narratives. In other words, there is a beginning, middle and end. Strong focus on character and conflict. Other conventions of narrative forms are also used including music, special settings and lighting. Beginning – The central question is posed. Alternatively the most dramatic piece of action footage, or some quick interview cuts in conflict with each other can get audience attention Middle – Known as complication stage, often examines the issue on human terms, with a focus on people and opinions. Conflict is strengthened to provide blockages for the fulfilment of the exposition. All complications must support the exposition. End – Makes exposition fully apparent by the resolution stage, the audience has no doubt what the programme is saying .

8. Conflict -Can be between people with different beliefs, goals, circumstances or ambitions. It can be within an induvidual surroundings, generations or social classes. -Conflict must be shown in action. Usually some kind of confrontation, for the camera. Often it develops through stages Sense of movement Add strengths to the narratives of the documentary, there are three types: -Physical e.g. change of location -Movement in time e.g. Change in season -Psychological changes e.g. Ex prison adjusting to outside world Music and SFX Sound is effective in producing an emotional response Lighting To achieve realism and authenticity you must ensure good lighting is used. Poor lighting gives it ways.

9. Construction of reality When you watch a documentary you need to ask not just what they are showing but also question what they are not showing you. This could be due to bias or preference along with the selection and rejection of information gate keeping. Visuals What we see in the screen included with achieve footage stock materials are useed to support the intended meaning.

10. Narrative Structure Open – Audience left to make up their own mind Closed – Definitive ending and outcome Single strand – Only one main plot throughout Multistrand – More than one main plot they can cross over Linear – In Chronological order Non linear – Is not in an order Circular – Question at the start is revisited at the end. Circular can tie in with open. Voxpops – Short or the ‘Voice of the people’, consists of street interview of public, each person asked the same questions, the answers are strung together in fast sequence. These are good for suggesting either a general argument or opposition