The document discusses four main types of documentaries: 1) Expository documentaries use voiceovers to explain events and have traditionally been used for nature and history films. 2) Observational documentaries, also known as "fly on the wall" films, show unedited real life without narration or explanation. 3) Interactive documentaries use direct questioning of subjects to get different perspectives and allow audiences to form their own opinions. 4) Reflective documentaries involve the interviewer interacting with and participating in the subject matter to give audiences a more in-depth understanding.

1. Documentary types
Leah Douglas

2. Expository
This is a style of documentary which uses a voiceover to literally explain what is going on
in the documentary. This style of documentary is usually associated with wildlife and
historic documentaries. The audience is not particularly empowered by this kind of
approach, finding themselves listening to the version of events that the filmmakers
choose to prioritise. This type can either make the audience engaged with what is
presented to them, or in fact disengaged with what's going on as they would rather make
their own judgement with what's going on. However in saying this, the associated
documentaries of this sort are well suited to a voice over as the subject matter is usually
factual and would be unfair to the audience to not say what is going on- in which the
viewer might feel in need of information about what they are seeing. This type of
documentary is more the traditional type as its been about for a long time and its
probably the most effective way of portraying information. I like the way the voice over is
used when saying what is happening as it makes it easier to communicate with the
audience what is happening and the certain emotions and feelings involved- this
inevitably helps to achieve the story line.

3. ObservationalThis type of documentary is usually referred to as the ‘fly on the wall’ type.
This may be because the audience are mostly viewing peoples life's as its been
filmed in real life and we make our own judgements as there is no voice overs
to explain anything to us as its usually pretty self explanatory. This
documentary an sometimes give a overwhelming effect as it’s mostly filmed as
if it were to be in real life and enthralling footage can be captured which
would make their target audience more excited about what is going to happen
next. I think this type can have more of an effect than say for example
expository types of documentaries. I think that this can create a greater
impact upon the audience as anything can happen in that moment that the
footage is being filmed. This type of documentary would be suited to the
psychographic associated people of mainstreamers and explorers as these
types of documentaries are usually targeted to the younger age range of
people as they involve documentaries of celebrity lifestyles such as keeping up
with the Kardashian which are the role models for many young girls.

4. Interactive
This type of documentary uses an interactive approach in order to create its effect. This
creates a more personal effect as the camera man/woman would be asking questions which
the audience would be drawing from the topicality of the documentary. This may be a way
that individuals in a film can make their own case, but it is also a mode that can act to
undermine the interviewees, making them look foolish or deluded. These questions are asked
throughout the use of direct address. Their interpretation of events or personal account may
be rendered to seem trustworthy or untrustworthy depending on the context of surrounding
shots or the nature of the statements being made in their own right. I feel that this type of
documentary helps the audience gather their own opinions through the use of interactivity of
the camera man/woman which can intimidate the views of the audience. However this is not
used all the time because their questions are sometimes edited out. Therefore we just see
someone answering questions which we gather there is someone asking them.

5. Reflective
This type of documentary is useful to more visual people as the interviewer is interacting with
the subject matter that he is working with. This helps the audience to engage with what is
happening in the documentary and to see how matters are dealt with through the actions of the
interviewer. The use of partaking in the events of the subject matter can engage the audience
and draw a more detailed and in-depth study of what is being explored. I don’t exactly think that
this type of documentary is the most effective as we are just watching someone partake in the
events, this doesn't exactly have a great impact in my opinion. I think that this type of
documentary would be well suited to the style of documentary which is crime. This would be
effective as whilst the investigation is going on, the people who are investigating could get
involved and help lead the story line/ criminal case.