2. Fully Narrated Documentary
Uses a voice over to help the audience understand
Often uses direct address
Narration goes along with the visual aid – the moving images are
narrated
The voiceover conveys the line of the argument, it makes sense of
what is on screen
The narrator is authoritative – known as the voice of god
For example: The Grizzly Man from 2005
3. Fly On The Wall - Observational
First used in the 1960s
A documentary made by filming people as they do their everyday
habits/lifestyle task they normally do, rather than interviewing them
directly
Started with lightweight cameras to film right where the action is
happening
Little or often voiceover is used
Camera captures everything – supposed to be unstaged/natural
For example: Educating Essex from 2013
4. Mixed
Uses a mix of strategies such as interviews, narration and observation
– used to advance the argument
It represents reality as well as conventional areas
Could be considered both informal or formal
For example: We Are Together, Channel 4
5. Self-Reflexive
Subjects of the documentary talk directly to the camera themselves –
acknowledge they are there
Personal – exposing a personal subject matter
7. Docu-Soap
A genre of reality TV
A television documentary series in which the lives of certain
individuals are filmed for entertainment or drama purposes
Generally represented in a soap-oprah style
Get to know/learn about the characters
For example: The Only Way Is
Essex
