There are several types of documentary films. Fully narrated documentaries use an off-screen narrator to provide context to the visuals and help viewers understand nature documentaries. Fly on the wall documentaries simply record real events without narration or an obvious camera presence, allowing viewers to form their own conclusions like in COPS or Deadliest Catch. Mixed documentaries combine interviews, observations, narration and archive footage to advance a narrative argument. Self-reflective documentaries acknowledge the camera's presence and may include interviews with subjects. Docudramas reenact real events for documentary films like Crime Watch. Docusoaps follow individuals' lives over long periods for shows about occupations or communities such as One Born Every

1. Types of Documentary

2. Fully Narrated
This is when an off screen voice over is used to make
sense of the visuals that the audience see and helps
create a meaning. Narrators are often refered to as
the voice of god. Examples of fully narrated
documentaries are this like nature documentaries.

3. Fly on the wall
This type of documentary is when the camera is
unseen or ignored and it simply just records the real
events. There is little or no narration in a fly on the
wall documentary. The camera is unobtrusive and is
used to allow the audience to form and create their
own conclusion. An example of this documentary are
things like Cops and Deadliest Catch.

4. Mixed
A mixed documentary uses a combination of
interviews, observations and narration. It also
includes achieve footage/achieve material and could
contain actual footage. The narration in a mixed
documentary advances the narrative and therefore
advances the argument.

5. Self reflective
A self reflective documentary is when the subject
acknowledges the presence of the camera. They are
aware of the cameras presence and may take to the
camera.

6. Docudrama
A doc-u-drama is when a re-enactment of an even is
featured in a documentary. This is re-enactment
featured is exactly like the actual event happened. An
example of a docudrama are documentaries like
Crime Watch.

7. Docusoap
A doc-u-soap is a documentary that follows the lives of
individuals and it could be set within one occupation
or one community. They are often long running and
the documentary goes into detail about the
characters and their lives. Examples of a docusoap
are things like one born every minute and my big fat
gypsy weddings.

8. Reality TV
Reality TV is factual television also known as
‘infotainment’ which is a combination of information
and entertainment. This type of documentary was
first applied for news programmes.