The document discusses four documentary styles: expository, observational, interactive, and reflective. The expository style uses voiceovers to explain images shown. The observational style films events as they occur without interference. The interactive style includes interviews that may be edited and aimed at undermining interviewees. The reflective style focuses on the documentary's construction and may include accidental visible filmmakers.

1. DOCUMENTARY STYLES By Jamie Marshall

2. EXPOSITORY
This is the stereotypical documentary style. Images are shown on screen
whilst a voiceover is played explaining and commenting on what we see.
You would usually associate this kind of documentary with a historic or
wildlife documentary where the audience may need some explanation of the
images they are seeing.
The audience are not being controlled by this style of documentary, however
they are less powerful as they are being taught and shown what the film
makers want them to see and could miss out subjects and facts the audience
wished to see.
What I like about this documentary style is that it is very informative and a
lot of information and facts can be given to the audience in a short amount
of time.
What I dislike about this documentary style is that it isn’t very interactive
with other people and the fact that people rarely don’t feature in this style of

3. OBSERVATIONAL
This is a real time documentary where cameras capture the action shown
when it really happens, sometimes known as the ‘fly-on-the-wall’ style.
Those featured in the filming are unaware that they are being filmed and all
their actions are natural and real.
The filmmakers intend not to interfere with what is happening. We do not
see them or hear any questions they may ask.
There is no voiceover explaining what to happen leaving the audience to
draw their own conclusions and thoughts.
What I like about this documentary is that nothing is interfered with and
everything is shot in real time leading the audience to believe everything is
real, whether is it or not.
What I dislike about this documentary is that there is no presenter or
voiceover meaning that it may leave the audience a little lost at what the
think and what is happening.

4. INTERACTIVE
There is an interactive side to most documentaries. Interactive features
include interviews with people where a guest on the show replies to answers
asked by the filmmakers.
Questions asked by the filmmakers may be edited out, this may be because
they are trying to make their own case.
The interviews may be a way of the filmmakers trying to undermine the
interviewees by asking them tough to answer questions making them look
clueless and weak.
The information gathered from these interviews may seem trustworthy or
untrustworthy depending on what the audience feel and believe.
What I like about this documentary style is ability to interact with other
during the documentary, gathering addition information or person views.
What I don’t like about this documentary style is that it doesn’t give out a lot
of information and some of the information may not be true.

5. REFLECTIVE
This type of documentary style is associated with people
experimenting with documentaries, people who are creating them for
the first time.
In this style the filmmakers with concentrate on more on the
construction and editing of the documentary than they do on the final
piece.
In some cases the actual filming is quite poor and cameramen and so
on are visible in the footage by accident.
What I like about this documentary style is that the putting together
of the documentary is quite visible and I can use some of the ideas
shown for mine.
What I don’t like about this documentary style is that is doesn’t look