Types of Documentaries

Fully Narrated

-Makes sense of visuals
-voice of god


Fly on the wall
-Cinema verity
-Recorded as it happens
-Observation
-Camera can convey thrill
-Editing builds the meaning

Mixed
-Combination of observation, interview, narration
-Narrator leads the action
-Pictures and actions over speaker
-Objective reality not selective construction


Self reflexive
-Director plays part
-Talk to camera
-Attention drawn to film makers role
-Can be confusing
-Seek publicity

Docu drama
-Re-enactment of events
-Examples- JFK, Hillsborough
-Aim to relive truth but deliver fiction
-Not filmed actuality

Docu Soap
-Follows daily lives of people, groups
-Disputed if they are actual documentaries
-Based on eves dropping, popular
-Low budget
-Examples- Airport, The Family

Disneyfication 

-Steven Barnetts theory
- Bright, glossy
-Being watered down to appeal to audiences
-Docu soap, Docu drama are examples
-Hard hitting subjects being dismissed for raiting winners

Narrative
-Beginning must have central question/purpose
-Middle is the conflict/argument
-End, make the exposition understood with clear message
-Conflict is important for tension
-Music and sound effects will heighten it
-Lighting is important, right balance
-Who and where you interview
-Mise en scene, background appropriate
-Truth people you film with
-Knowledge on the subject, research
-Interview technique
-Editing- cutaways
-Camera movement
-Must use narration
-Background music- when relevant
-Voxpops, ask numerous people the same question.