Bill Nichols is a Swedish film theorist known for pioneering work in documentary film. He developed the documentary mode conceptual scheme that identifies six styles or modes of documentary filmmaking: poetic, expository, observational, participatory, reflexive, and performative. Each mode has distinguishing traits and conventions regarding the relationship between the filmmaker and subject and how information and arguments are conveyed.

1. Bill
Nichols

2. Bill Nochols (born 1942) is a
Swedish film critic and
theoretician best known for his
pioneering work as founder of
the contemporary study of
documentary film. He is
Professor Emeritus in the
cinema department at San
Francisco State University and
Chair of the Documentary Film
In

3. Documentary mode :
is a conceptual scheme
developed by American
documentary theorist Bill Nichols
that seeks to distinguish particular
traits and conventions of various
documentary film styles. Nichols
identifies six different documentary
'modes' in his schema: poetic,
expository, observational,
participatory, reflexive, and
performative.

4. ● Poetic Mode: is not to create a film with a
traditional narrative but rather to look into
presenting patterns and associations to
create meaning and evoke an emotional
response from the audience. This is often
achieved by arranging imagery into rhythms
and juxtapositions
Samsara (2011) Directed by Ron Fricke
Koyaanisqatsi cinematographer Ron
Fricke was evidently influenced by
the films he previously worked on
and went on to direct his own series
of poetic documentaries. Filmed over
the span of nearly five years in 25
different countries, Samara takes the
audience on an intimate journey
across the world where the yget a
special view of “sacred grounds,
disaster zones, industrial complexes
and natural wonders.”
Examples:
Koyaanisqatsi is an
American
documentary that
explores “nature,
humanity and the
relationship between
them.” With no
conventional plot, the
film uses stunning imagery of landscapes and the environment
without narration. By combining the cinematography of Ron Fricke
and music from Phillip Glass we get a powerful film that essentially
shows us the effect humans have had on the world.

5. ● The Expository mode stresses an importance on creating an impression of authenticity and
having a well-supported argument. It addresses the viewer directly and does this through the use
of titles and/or voice over to add a perspective or argument to what is shown in the film.
The Blue Planet (2001)
The Blue Planet is an 8 episode documentary series that grants audiences a look into the world’s
most amazing oceans and the life found within them. With each episode being 50 minutes long,
viewers are able to explore life under water guided by narration. The sound design and stunning
cinematography adds to the beauty we see when discovering the different creatures of the ocean. I
would highly suggests watching the British version, as the rich voice of David Attenborough adds
to the magical feel each episode provides.

6. ● Participatory Mode: is where the “filmmaker interacts with his or her social actors and
participates in shaping what happens before the camera.
An example of this type of
documentary found most prevalent is
the use of interviews and asking the
subjects questions. The person filming
is talking directly with the subject. The
filmmaker interacts with, rather than
observes, the subjects.
Here is a video of participatory mode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QHkwU-fgLk

7. ● reflexive documentary mode : to aid the
audience in their understanding of the process
of construction in film so that they could
develop a sophisticated and critical attitude
This mode points out the methods involved in the
filmmaking process within the actual film. This action
calls formal vs. political attention to the filmmaking
process.
A man with a movie camera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtTlgxtoqhg
The documentary shows the construction and production using videos of the
director filming and editing. By the audience seeing how a film is produced, allows
critical response as they are able to see ‘behind closed doors’ on his filming

8. ● Observational Mode: involves
emphasizing the documentary
filmmaker's engagement in observing
the subject's daily life and
circumstances and documenting them
with an unobtrusive camera.
Hospital(1970) was one of the earliest
observational documentaries and arguably
succeeded in presenting an authentic
representation of reality. This was as a
result of the developed camera equipment
that allowed the filmmakers to follow the
events of the hospital as they occurred, thus
portraying a sense of time, speed and
chronology to the audience.
Example
Hospital(1970)

9. The Performative Mode: is the direct opposite of the observational mode. It emphasizes
the filmmaker’s own involvement with the subject.
In performative mode the filmmaker gives a “what’s it like to be there” perspective on a
world, a culture or an event in history.
Tongues Untied
This documentary shows a proud lifestyle of a black gay
man. The video clip here used emphasises the power and
strength in these males standing up for who they are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWuPLxMBjM8