There are 6 main types of documentaries: fully narrated, fly on the wall, mixed, self reflective, docu-drama, and docu-soap. Fully narrated documentaries use voiceovers to provide context, fly on the wall is purely observational with no interviews or narration, mixed documentaries incorporate interviews, observations, narration and archive footage, self reflective acknowledges the filmmaker's presence, docu-dramas recreate events dramatically, and docu-soaps show real life in a particular field over time. The document also discusses key elements of documentaries like observation, interviews, dramatization, mis-en-scene, and exposition. It notes the contributions of John Grierson
2. There are 6 types od documentrys
Fully narrated
Fly on the wall
Mixed
Self re
Docu-drama
Docu-soap
3. Fully narrated
Has a voice over to help the
audience gain a better
understand of the documentary's
purpose. This can also be known
as the voice of god. The voice
over is based and goes along on
visuals.
4. Fly on the wall
This is purely
observational with no
interviews,
commentary or
narration. This
documentary is
actuality and not
staged, the camera’s
are not
acknowledgment.
5. Mixed
This type of documentary
involves interviews,
observations, narration and
archive footage. All of these
features help the audience
gain a better understand of
the topic of the documentary.
6. Self reflective
This is the type of
documentary when there is
total acknowledgment of
the camera’s and the film
maker is present and could
also host.
An example of his is bear
grills.
7. Docu-drama
This type od documentary
can be seen like are-
enactment or could be
reconstructed . This is a
factual show but it does
involves drama.
E.g 911 documentary
8. Docu-soap
This is a documentary of
people in a particular
occupation or location of a
period. It does show real
life
e.g airline
10. 5 elements of documentaries
Observation – where the audience is the eye witness, and the camera is
invisible.
Interviews – mainly used with the convention of ‘the rules of thirds’ in vision.
It is a way to gain factual information.
Dramatization – the reconstruction of a event, played by actors, used to give
a further insight of event.
Mis-en-scene – to help establish and set a scene
Exposition – the commentary and description behind the scenes.
11. John grierson
“Creative treatment of actuality”
He created the term documentary and knew how to structure them
He was a British and Canadian film and documentary director/ maker.
John corner
“recorded sound and images of actuality”
