1. A documentary is a form of film or television programme that provides factual
information that can be used through picture evidence or interview. A documentary aims
to document, inform and educate.
The purpose of a documentary is to explain past events, interview people from the
evens/time/place, to get a better understanding of a topic and to entertain.
John Grierson defined the term documentary as “The creative treatment of actuality” in
the 1930’s before TV had been created.

3. Observational
Programme makers usually
pretend that the camera is
unseen.
The footage is often used to
illustrate or provide evidence for
the film makers exposition.
Documentary follows the
person around to observe the
events that happen in their life.
Usually no interviews.

4. Interview
Set up in a
particular format
The interviewee is
usually an expert in
something they are
talking about, either
a witness or relevant
in another way.
Interviewee responds to the
interviewer not the audience.
Usually the question isn’t heard on
screen and has been cut out.Usually cut-
away to
observational
footage or
archive
footage that
fits with what
the
interviewer is
saying.

5. Dramatization Observation element of
dramatization seems to
occur naturally in front of
the camera.
Audience is the witness in
the dramatic events.
Actually
constructed/set-up
footage.
Re-enacted footage of an actual event that
happened.

6. Mise en scene
Shots are
carefully
composed to
contain what
they want the
audience to see.
E.g the setting
the interview
takes place.
The lighting used is carefully selected.
Framing
is kept
in mind.
Visual Style.
People starring in the
documentary may wear
certain types of clothing
to convey a stereotype
or tell you something
about the interviewee.
What’s in the documentary, through setting, clothing they are wearing,
lighting etc.

7. Exposition
What the
documentary is
saying (Narrative).
There is a line of
argument.
It can be direct or
indirect.
Observational
documentaries could be
criticised for not having
enough exposition in it.
The narrative of the documentary.

9. Self- Reflexive
The people know that the
camera is there and often
stop to talk to it.
Camera follows a person
or group of people
around.
Sometimes the film
maker makes an
appearance in their
own production.
Self reflexive documentaries often have the film maker acknowledge their presence in front
of the camera.
Usually used in experimental documentaries.

10. Docudrama
A docudrama features dramatized re-enactments of actual events. It’s classed a
documentary because it really happened.
Representations of actual
historical events
Focus on the
facts of actual
events
Avoids overt
commentary.
Clearly no link
in-between the
film makers
opinion and
facts.
History – Linked to literature texts.

11. Fly on the wall
A fly on the wall documentary is when the camera crew works as unobtrusively as possible. It is
common for the subjects in the documentary to be interviewed.
Fly on the wall style was influenced by direct
cinema in the USA and cinema verite in France.
It is a purely observational documentary.
Subject aren’t
asked questions
during the
documentary
Reflectiv
e of real
life.
Realistic
documentaries

12. Docusoap
The Hawthorne effect can be relative to this documentary as it proved
that people change their behaviour when they are being watched on
camera.
A docusoap is when the documentary makers film people in a particular occupation or
location over a period of time.
Certain
career paths
or locations
are
documented
Unscript
ed.
Reflect the real
jobs.

13. Fully Narrated
Often used in
nature
documentaries
and referred
to as ‘the
voice of god’.
Fully narrated documentaries mean there is a voice over the documentary commentating
on what is happening in the programme.
Often uses
direct address
to convey
exposition and
anchors the
meaning so
there is a visual
sense of
authority
Everything based around
the visuals.
People take what
they hear as the
truth.

14. Mixed
A mixed documentary is a combination of interviews, observations, actual
footage from different events, archive material and narration.
Often uses
narration.
Interviews
Archive material.
Real footage.
Narrator often links
the story together.
This advances the
narrative.
A lot of the more
modern documentaries
are mixed.