Documentaries

Documentaries- The different types

The purpose of the documentary is to document, that is to report with evidence, with something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actual footage or reconstruction. It can use a narrator’s voice over to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves with perhaps the occasional interjection by the narrator.

John Grierson- General post office film unit in 1962
He invented the term documentary and he said that 'The creative treatment of actuality'

Documentaries are just about facts, instead facts are used to create social critical arguments. Thereby inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions.


Features of documentaries

John Corner of University of Liverpool

There are five central elements of the documentary

1. Observation - The programme makes pretend that the camera is unseen or ignored by the people taking part in the events. It is like being an eye witness as the events unfold.

2. Interview - Most important aspect. They give opinions and information.

3. Dramatisation - All the documentaries use a sense of drama through the observing element. They also use dramatic reconstruction or used in the observation.

4. Mise-en-scene - Documentary makes carefully constructed shots.

5. Exposition - The line of the argument in a documentary. What the documentary is 'saying'

Types of documentaries

Fully narrated- Commentary throughout to reiterate the images shown on screen and it makes sense of the visuals on screen. The narrator always authoritative but it always off screen.

Fly on the wall- Avoids voices over or commentary camera is non-abrasive as possible. It is like a window in the world, audiences can see as much of the reality as possible. They use a indirect address to the audience, relativity long takes, diagetic sound and they tend to focus on the specific individuals.

Mixed documentary- A combination of interview observation and actually, achieve material and narration to audience the argument/narrative. The narrator is often on screen.

Self reflexive - Documentary maker gives his/her angle on the subject, subject of documentary realises the presence of the camera and speaks directly to the programme maker. They draw attention to the film makers rule in constructing a view of reality.

Docudrama- A re-enactment of events as they are supposed to actually happened.

Docusoaps- A hybrid/combination of styles for example 'airport'. The follow a group of characters. They also focus on entertainment rather than social commentary. They have soap like structure- several interviewing plot lines.

Drama documentary- A documentary work, usually on television or radio, in which real events are re-enacted by actors, or in which real events and characters are mingled with fictional ones.

Structure

Narrative structure open- lose ends that are not tied up at the end
V's
Narrative structure closed - there's a definite conclusion to the narrative

Linear- Follows chronological order

Non-linear - Things are not in time order, use of flashback or flash-forward.

Circular - The beginning is the same as the end.

Interviews

An interview can be held anywhere but the setting does affect meaning. Normally begin the factual information and questions first to put the interviewee at ease, then the more taxing and emotional questions at the end.

Visuals

Television is a visual medium. The programme needs to stimulate to maintain the audiences interest. They have to entertain. Archive material street scene, open countryside, close up of face is the main part of the stock material used to suggest the intended meaning or emotional equalities of a particular theme. Interviews can be held anywhere but the setting does affect the meaning.

Construction of reality

The media are responsible for the majority of the observation and experience from which we build up our personal understandings of the world and how it works. Much of our view of reality is based on media messages that have been pre- constructed and have attitudes, interceptions and conclusions already built in. The media, to a great extent gives us our sense of reality.

Gate keeping - The selection and rejection of information/content for inclusion in the media text.

Editing process - Chop up the interview. Where gate keeping happens in a documentary.

Voice over- Can affect the meaning.

Vox pop
Vox populis - voice of the people

Technique consists of the street interviews of the general public asked the same question, the answers are then strung together in a fast sequence. They are good for suggesting a general agreement or the diversity of opinion.
You set a camera up in the street and ask passers by the same question.

Narrative Conventions

Documentaries rely heavily on traditional conventions of narrative i.e. beginning, middle and end.

Beginning- Central question of the documentary can be posed at the beginning in an intriguing way.
Most dramatic pieces of action footage can also be placed at the start of some quick interview cuts in conflict with each other can get the audience’s attention.

Middle- Often examines the issue in human terms focusing on people and their opinions. Conflict is strengthened in the middle section however conflicting evidence may be introduced but all complications must eventually support the exposition (line of argument).

End - Exposition is fully apparent by the end. The audience has no doubts to what the programme is saying and there may even be a course of action the audience can take to address the problem.