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.

2. 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

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. 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