The document outlines four styles of documentaries: expository, observational, interactive, and reflective. The expository style uses voiceovers to explain scenes and is suited to historical or nature topics. The observational style films subjects without interaction "like a fly on the wall." Interactive documentaries involve direct interviews but may edit out questions. Reflective documentaries experiment with construction and make no attempt to hide the filmmaking process.

1. DOCUMENTARY STYLES
BY LOUIS TAYLOR

2. EXPOSITORY DOCUMENTARY
• THIS STYLE OF DOCUMENTARY IS THE MORE TRADITIONAL STYLE, IT HAS A
CLASSICAL VOICEOVER WHICH EXPLAINS ALL OF THE IMAGES AND SCENES BEING
SHOWN. THIS FORM IS TYPICALLY RELATED WITH HISTORICAL OR NATURE
DOCUMENTARIES WHERE THE VIEWER MAY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED SOME ADDED
INFORMATION. THIS SORT OF DOCUMENTARY DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY
AUDIENCE INTERACTION THE STYLE OF DOCUMENTARY IS FOR PEOPLE WHO
JUST WANT TO LISTEN TO THE INFORMATION.
• E.G. PACIFIC OCEAN PARADISE

3. OBSERVATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
• TYPICALLY KNOWN AS A FLY ON THE WALL TYPE STYLE, THE DOCUMENTARY
APPEARS TO THE AUDIENCE AS IT IS FILMED IN REAL TIME AS THEY WATCH THE
SUBJECTS LIVE IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE AS IF THEY ARE THERE IN THE ROOM
WITH THEM. THE SUBJECTS RARELY INTERACT WITH THE CAMERA AND YOU WILL
RARELY SEE ANY OF THE CAMERA CREW GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE SCENES.
WE DO NOT HEAR ANY QUESTIONS BEING ASKED AND THERE IS USUALLY NO
VOICE OVERS.
• E.G. BIG BROTHER AND THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX

4. INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY
• THIS TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY WILL USUALLY INVOLVE A LOT OF DIRECT
INTERVIEWS, THE QUESTIONS ASKED WITH IN THE DOCUMENTARIES WILL OFTEN
BE CUT OUT BY THE EDITOR SO THAT YOU CAN ONLY HEAR THE QUESTIONS
BEING ANSWERED. BY USING THIS TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY IT CAN SHOW
OPINIONS BUT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK DELUDED OR
FOOLISH AS PERSONAL ACCOUNTS MAY BE CUT AND EDITED.
• E.G. LOUIS THEROUX

5. REFLECTIVE DOCUMENTARY
• THIS STYLE OF DOCUMENTARY IS A EXPERIMENTAL TYPE, THE MAKER OF THESE
ARE USUALLY JUST AS INTRESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
DOCUMENTARY AS THEY ARE THE INFORMATION WITH IN IT. YOU WILL SEE NOT
ATTEMPT OF HIDDEN CONSTRUCTION OR CAMERA WORKERS.
• E.G. A MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA