1. Documentary
• The purpose of a documentary is to document
or in other words to report, with evidence,
something that has actually happened.
It can show this by using actuality footage or
reconstructions.

2. Types of documentary
Fully narrated – An off screen voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and dictates and anchors their
meaning. Anchorage is the term given to something that pins down the meaning of an image.
Fly on the wall – The cameras record subjects without interference, viewers are allowed to come to their own
conclusions. The cameras used in these types of documentary are non-intrusive. Also known as Cinéma vérité
meaning truthful cinema.
Mixed documentary – Uses a combination of interview, observation, narration and archive material.
Examples – Most documentaries.
Self reflexive – This is when the subject of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and
often speak directly to the documentary maker.
Drama documentary Or Docudrama – Features re-enactments of events are they are supposed to have
happened
Docusoap – Combines elements of documentary and soap opera genres. Usually revolves around the same
‘characters’ in each episode.
Examples – Airline, The Cruise, Driving School and The hotel.

3. Features of a documentary
Observation – The ‘unseen’ observation places the audience in the role of eye-witnesses to the realities
portrayal. The participants do not acknowledge the camera.
Interview – TV documentaries rely on interviews. The speaker does not acknowledge the camera and they
address the off screen interviewer not the audience.
Dramatisation - all documentaries use a sense of drama throughout the observation element. These events
seem to occur naturally in front of the camera.
Mise-en-scené – Documentary makers carefully compose shots so they contain images that they want the
audience to see.
Exposition – This is the term given to the line of argument in a documentary, or in other words, what the
documentary is saying.

4. Types of narrative structure
Open narrative – Contains loose ends and unanswered questions that need to be tied up; either through
another episode or otherwise.
Closed narrative – Does not contain any loose ends; all issues covered are rounded off and every end has been
clearly ended.
Linear narrative – These types of narrative follow a chronological order, following the story as it happened
through time.
Non-linear narrative – These types of narrative do not follow chronological order and instead use techniques
such as flashbacks to change the alter the portrayal of the narratives timeline.
Single strand narratives – These type of narratives follow only one narrative thread, so focus solely on one
element of the story.
Multi-strand narratives – These types of narrative often follow more than one narrative thread; these
sometimes converge or overlap to demonstrate how the threads affect each other.