Types of documentary

1. Features and Types of Documentaries Nina Chapman

2. Features of Documentaries • There are 5 central elements of the documentary according to John Carner from the University of Liverpool.  These are: Observation (Fly On The Wall) Interview Dramatisation Mise-en-scene Exposition

3. Observation (Fly on the wall) • Putting the audience in a role of eyewitness where the camera appears to be unseen. Indirect address to the audiences i.e. speech overheard is a common factor of this en-scene observation. Examples – Celebrity big brother 16 & Pregnant Keeping up with the Kardashians

4. Interview • Television documentaries use interviews to make a contrast between observation sequences and are structured in 2 ways: either intercut fragments of observation or a completely uninterrupted sequence. Examples – AMY Making a murderer Inside death row

5. Dramatisation • Even though all documentaries use a sense of drama, it is specifically used to portray people and events the film maker cannot gain access to in real life. These sequences are said to be based on fact. Examples – Supersize me Living on one dollar Touching the void

6. Mise-en-scene Exposition • Literally what the directors and producers put into the frame, so for example lighting and props in interviews. • Simply means the line of argument in a documentary which is what the doc' is 'saying'. Sequences that lead the audience to make their own conclusions.

7. Types of documentaries • There are at least 6 types which include: fully narrated, fly on the wall, mixed, sled reflexive and docu-drama, with the possible addition of docu-soaps. Fully Narrated Fly on the Wall Mixed Self Reflexive Docu-Drama Docu-Soaps

8. Fully Narrated flyon the wall • Rely almost totally on observation, as the cameras are left to record without interference and viewers come to their own conclusions. Example – Educating Essex • Fully Narrated -  Direct address documentaries use of the screen voiceover to convey the exposition. The narrator seems authoritative about the topic allowing them to make sense of visuals. A.k.a 'Voice of God'

9. Mixed Self Reflexive • The subjects of a documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and speaks directly to the film maker. Makes a point of drawing attention the film maker to create a view of reality. Example – Louis Theroux LA Stories • Uses a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the argument. Narrator is within the frame and this style is most common in news reporting. Example – Supersize me

10. Docu-Drama • A re-enactment of events as they are supposed to of happened. Fictional narrative is combined with elements of the exposition, however critics claim that docu-dramas will only ever deliver fiction. Example – Crime Watch Docu-Soaps • A phenomenon of recent years which follow the daily lives of particular people. E.g. 'Airport'. Many dispute whether these are real documentaries in any sense. Another example is The Only Way is Essex.

11. Current Affairs These are different from documentaries.Journalist based programmes that aim to address news in more depth. Differences include the pressure of deadlines, i.e. documentaries may take several months to create, therefore allowing them to be a lot more in depth, where as Current Affairs must have new stories daily, so each story will only be examined in 5-10 minute slots.Audience is a varied one for current affairs, i.e many watch for pleasure as well as information.