2. Types of Documentaries
There are at least 6 types which include: fully narrated, fly on the wall, mixed, sled reflexive and docu-drama, with the possible addition
of docu-soaps.
Fully Narrated - Direct address documentaries use of the screen voiceover to convey the exposition. The narrator seems authoritative
about the topic allowing them to make sense of visuals. A.k.a 'Voice of God'
Fly on the Wall - Rely almost totally on observation, as the cameras are left to record without interference and viewers come to their
own conclusions.
Mixed - Uses a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the argument. 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. Makes a
point of drawing attention the film maker to create a view of reality.
Docu-Drama - A reenactment of events as they are supposed to of happened. Fictional narrative is combined with 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. E.g. 'Airport'. Many dispute whether these
are real documentaries in any sense.
Current Affairs
These are different from documentaries. Journalist based programmes that aim to address news in more depth. Differences include the
pressure of deadlines, i.e. documentaries may take several months to create, therefore allowing them to be a lot more in depth, where
as Current Affairs must have new stories daily, so each story will only be examined in 5-10 minute slots. Audience is a varied one for
current affairs, i.e many watch for pleasure as well as information.
