There are 5 central elements of documentaries: observation, interviews, dramatization, mise-en-scene, and exposition. There are also 6 main types of documentaries: fully narrated, fly on the wall, mixed, self-reflexive, docu-drama, and docu-soaps. Fully narrated documentaries rely heavily on narration to provide context to visuals, while fly on the wall documentaries allow viewers to draw their own conclusions with minimal interference. Mixed documentaries combine elements like interviews and narration. Self-reflexive documentaries acknowledge the filmmaker. Docu-dramas include fictionalized reenactments while docu-soaps follow

1. Features and Types of
Documentaries
5 Central Elements
&
6 Types of Documentaries

2. Features of Documentaries
The features of a documentary MUST include 5 central
elements according to John Corner from the University of
Liverpool.
These features included are the following:
• Observation (Fly On The Wall)
• Interview
• Dramatization
• Mise-en-scene
• Exposition

3. Observation (Fly On The Wall)
This puts the audience in a role of eyewitness, this is
where the camera appears to be unseen.
It indirect addresses to audiences which is speech that is
overheard, a common factor of this en-scene observation.

4. Interview
Television documentaries use interviews to make a contrast
between observation sequences.
These are structured in 2 different ways such as:
• Intercut fragments of observation
OR
• A completely uninterrupted sequence

5. Dramatization
Even though all documentaries use a sense of drama, it is
used to portray people and events the film maker
cannot gain access to in real life. These sequences used
are said to be based on fact.

6. Mise-en-scene
This is what the directors and producers put into
the frame.
For example:
• Lighting
• Props
Whatever is used in interviews that we can see on
screen.

7. Exposition
This simply means the line of argument in the
documentary which is what the documentary
'is saying'.
Sequences like this lead the audience to make
their own conclusions.

8. Types of Documentaries
There are 6 types of documentaries
which are:
• Fully Narrated
• Fly On The Wall
• Mixed
• Sled Reflexive
• Docu-Drama - Possible addition of
Docu-Soaps.

9. Fully Narrated
Direct address documentaries use of the
screen voiceover to illustrate the exposition.
The narrator seems authoritative about the
topic which allows them to make sense of
visuals.
For example: The 'Voice of God'

10. Fly on the Wall
They rely almost totally on observation. The
cameras are left to record without
interference and viewers come to their own
conclusions.

11. Mixed
This uses a combination of interview,
observation and narration to
advance the argument.
The narrator is within the frame and
this style is most common in news
reporting.

12. Self-Reflexive
The subjects of a documentary
acknowledge the presence of the
camera and speaks directly to the film
maker.
This creates a point of drawing
attention to the film maker to create a
view of reality.

13. Docu-Drama
This shows re-enactments of events as they
are supposed to of happened with a fictional
narrative combined including elements of
the exposition. However, critics claim that
Docu-Dramas will only ever deliver fiction.

14. Docu-Soaps
A phenomenon of recent years which
follow the daily lives of particular
people.
For example: 'Airport'.
Some may dispute whether these are
real documentaries in any sense.

15. Current Affairs
• These are different from documentaries that are
Journalist based programmes that aim to address
news in more depth.
• These differences include the pressure of deadlines
e.g. documentaries may take several months to
create therefore this will allow them to be a lot more
in depth and detailed.
• In contrast 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, e.g. many watch for pleasure as well as
information.