This document describes several styles and techniques used in documentaries. It discusses fully narrated documentaries that rely heavily on voiceover, fly-on-the-wall documentaries that have no interference or commentary, and mixed documentaries that use a combination of interviews and narration. It also outlines self-reflexive, docu-drama, docu-soap, and current affairs styles. Additionally, it explains several conventions for structuring documentaries, including using a narrative with a beginning, middle, end, conflict, and movement.

2.  Fully narrated- Direct address documentaries use an off screen
voiceover to convey the exposition. The voiceover is used to make
sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning. The narrator often
gives such an impression of authority about the topic that critics have
dubbed the style ‘the voice of God’ documentary.
 Fly on the wall- These documentaries rely almost totally on
observation. There is no commentary or narration; the cameras are
left to record the subjects without interference and viewers come to
their own conclusions.
 Mixed- Many documentaries use a combination of interview of
observation and narration to advance the argument. In contrast to the
‘voice of God’ style, the narration is often within the frame, (and
therefore the action). Narration from in the scene is also the style
adopted in modern news reporting. The journalist speaks to the
camera and then pictures of the action continue over his/her voice.

3.  Self Reflexive- When the subjects of a documentary
acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak
directly to the film maker this style is said to be self reflective.
These documentaries make a point of drawing attention to
the film makers’ role in constructing a view of reality.
 Docu-drama- A docu-drama is a re-enactment of events as
they are supposed to actually happen. In this style, the
elements of argument and exposition are combined with
those of the fictional narrative. The resulting story is then
said to be ‘based on fact’. The format is particular popular
with TV companies and many striking examples have
succeeded in vividly recreating dramatic and often tragic
events e.g. Hillsborough, ITV 1996. Critics say that docu-
dramas claim to represent the truth but can only ever hope to
deliver fiction. In passing themselves off as reality they are at
best misleading and at worst positively dangerous in their
inevitable partiality.
 Docu-soaps- A phenomenon of recent years has been the
explosion of programmes that follow the daily life’s of
particular individuals with a designated occupation.

4.  These are different from documentaries.
They are journalist based programmes that
aim to address news and more dept.
Different does include the pressure of
deadlines e.g. documentaries may take
several moths to take therefore allowing
them to be in a lot of detail were as current
affairs must have new stories daily so each
story will only be examined in 5 to 10 max.
The emphasis is on the investigatory and
the political, seeking out the atrocity and
political scandal.
Current Affairs

5.  Documentaries rely heavily on traditional
conventions of narrative. There should
be a structure accompanied with a verity
of other conventions.
Structuring a documentary-
Narrative connections

6.  The Beginning- needs to capture the audience attention.
Central question of the documentary can be posed at the
beginning in a intriguing way. Quick interview captureing
conflict different people are an example.
 VOXPOPS- (voxpopuli voice of the people) this technique
consists of street interviews of the general public with each
person been asked the same question. There replies are
then strung together in a fast sequence. Voxpop is good for
suggesting that there is a general agreement or the opposite
on the topic.
 The middle- otherwise known as the complication stage it
needs to be the most compelling and often examines the
issue in human terms e.g. the focus on people and their
opinions. Conflict is strengthened to provide blockages for
the fulfilment of the exposition.
 The end- makes the exposition fully apparent by the
resolution stage. The audience by this stage has no doubts
what the argument is saying.
 Conflict- can be between people with different beliefs goals,
circumstances or ambition. It is shown developing through
different stages which allows the documentaries to use a
narrative technique.

7.  Sense of movement- This can add strength to the narrative
elements there are three types of movement 1 physical
movement e.g. change of location 2 movement in time e.g. a
change of season 3 psycogical change e.g. an exprisoner
adjusting to the outside world.
 Music and sound effects- sound and be effective in
producing an emotional response in the audience.
Documentaries rely heavily on non-diagetic sound.
 Lighting- the source of lighting in a documentaries usually
ordinates naturally from the environment being filmed. If you’re
trying to create realism authenticity pair lighting is one of the
first things to give and give away.
 Construction of reality- when you watch documentaries you
should always ask yourself no just what they are showing but
also question on what they are not showing. This could be due
to bias or performance along with the selection and rejection of
information by producers (this is known as gatekeeping)
 Visuals- what we see on the screen and archive footage.
Stock materials are used to report the intended meaning.
 Interviews- in a documentary either the researcher or
producer arrangers the interviews during the planning and
developing stage. And interview can be held anywhere but the
setting does effect there meaning.

9.  Open Narrative structure- the audience is let to
make up their own mind at the end of the
documentary.
 Closed Narrative structure- There is a definitive
ending and outcome.
 Single-standard- there is only one main plot
throughout the documentary.
 Multistranded narratives-There are many subplots
which interweave throughout the documentary.
 Linear narrative- the documentary is told in
chronological order.
 Non-linear narrative-the documentary is not told in
chronological order, it is disrupted in some e.g.
flashbacks.
 Circular narrative- there is a question at the start
which is revisited at the end. Circular narratives can
tie in with open narratives.