Styles Of Documentary_print

Documentary Styles

There are generally five broad categories or styles of documentary.

Fully Narrated: Here the ‘off screen’ narrator is used. His commentary is called the ‘voice over’. This narration or voice over directly addresses the audience and informs them what the story is about. The ‘voice over’ directs the audience in the way they interpret the images and therefore dominates the meaning. This style of documentary is often called the ‘voice of God’. David Attenborough’s nature documentaries would be a good example of this style. Write down some of the features/ elements of this type of documentary. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ What does this documentary tell us about the world?

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Cinema Verite Cinema Verite is a style of documentary that almost totally relies on observation. The story is not told via a ‘narrator’ but the action happens as if the cameraman was not there. This is called a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary. The story is told through the action on the screen and edited in a manner that provides a logical sequence. This style of documentary was developed to try and limit the filmmaker’s personal bias. Although not a true documentary, ‘Big Brother’ uses this observational technique.

Do you think a show like ‘Big Brother’ shows life as it really is? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Give a reason for your answer _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Self Reflective Self Reflective documentaries acknowledge the presence of the camera/ cameraperson. The main talent/ actor/ presenter, often speak directly to the camera. This gives the audience the impression that they are directly being spoken to by the presenter. This emphasises the intimacy that the presenter has towards their audience and acknowledges the filmmaker’s role in the communication process. Many films use this technique but a good example of this is Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman “Long Way Round”. Can you think of other documentaries that use this style/technique for the majority of the time? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

From an audience perspective do you think that this style of documentary views the world and shows it as it really is? _______________________________________ Why or Why not? _____________________________________________________________________

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What is your own response to this style of film?

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Docudrama Docudrama is a style of documentary that uses re-enactments of events based upon reconstructed facts. They are supposed to be as they have actually happened. In this style, the story is combined with a fictional narrative that is ‘based on fact’. There is a considerable amount of debate about whether or not this style of documentary really does give an accurate portrayal of life as it really was/ is… A good example of this style of documentary is Walking With Dinosaurs. Discuss some of the significant documentary elements that are used by the filmmaker to make this film. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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Why would there be issues with thinking that this kind of documentary did not show life as it really was/is? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Mixed Documentary The Mixed Documentary is the most popular and well-recognised form of documentary. It uses a combination of different styles and techniques including: observation ‘fly on the wall’, narration (voice of God), re-enactments etc. Films such as ‘Bowling For Columbine’ or Dog Town and the Z Boys best represent this style of documentary.

Is there evidence of bias in the first few minutes of ‘Bowling For Columbine’? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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