Documentary Formats: Viewings

Expository documentary

An example of a Expository documentary is We Are The Lambeth Boys.
  • Disembodied and authoritative voice over which directly addresses the audience on what is happening in the accompanying images (giving meaning to the images – not opinion)
A voice over is used to narrate what is shown in the documentary, like for example the voice over explains on what the people do as their jobs while showing close ups of what they are doing (like meat, typewriting and letters). 
  • Facts and arguments are provided by the voice over which also provides ‘captions’ for the images
Facts are used at the beginning as a way to give some brief information on the setting of where the documentary is filmed and summary of what they are going to present throughout the film.

  • A series of images (which are descriptive/informative) are used to compliment the voice over

  • The effect of the expository documentary is (predominantly) one of objectivity, of direct and transparent representation.

Observational documentary

An example of a Observation documentary is High School.
  • Unobtrusive construction and depictions – presents a slice of life.

  • Non-intervention of the filmmaker – they are an uninvolved bystander

  • The filmmaker/director is hidden from the audience
No filmmaker is present throughout the documentary but only the people within the high school (students, teachers and staff).
  • More centred on what is not contained, e.g., commentary, intertitles, interviews etc.
Within the documentary, no commentary and interviews are present. 
  • Presents a transparent record of an event and is neutral/non-judgemental
The documentary presents the transparent record of an event but not intervening into the event on screen but they don't cut it out (which also adds to the realism of the events within the scene).  
  • Audiences decide what to think/decode from the text.
For people viewing the documentary, based upon it's content the audience can decide on what the documentary is about. 

Interactive documentary

An example of a Interactive documentary is Louis and The Nazis.
  • The filmmaker’s presence is evident – they are a participant
The filmmaker, Louis Theroux is present and visibly seen screen throughout the documentary. 
  • There is interaction between interviewees, the presenter and also the audience
Within the documentary, the filmmaker takes part in interviewing and visiting various people related to the documentary's main theme.  
  • Arguments (agendas) are usually presented
There are moments in the documentary where the filmmaker is discussing his views and how they reacted/respond to his view, on which they either express how they feel like it right to them and are chill about their opinion while some might become wary or defensive in their response.   
  • Manipulation of the text through editing is more evident

  • Sometimes criticised for ‘misrepresentation’ and ‘manipulation’ but defended by filmmakers due to the projected image being more important than fine details.


Reflexive documentary

An example of a Reflective documentary is Powaqqatsi.
  • The filmmaker attempts to expose the conventions of documentary to the audience
The filmmaker exposes the conventions of the documentary to the audience by presenting the documentary by just showing the two different environment (a natural to a urban environment) with a original soundtrack instead of the generic narrator to present the tone. 
  • The construction of documentary texts are exposed and also experimented with

  • The documentary text will consist of shots that have captured ‘everyday life’ but they are then used as bricks which can make vastly different/experimental films.
The shots within the documentary capture the everyday life of people within an area, they also experiment with their shots but for example at the start of the documentary, shots change to sync up/go to the beat of the soundtrack within the background.

Performative documentary

An example of a Performative documentary is The Thin Blue Line. 
  • Represents the world indirectly and emphasis is on presentation rather than content

  • Use of re-enactments, exaggerated camera positions and soundtracks help to submerge the audience into the diegesis
Re-enactments with exaggerated camera positions are used to represent the timeline and major points within the investigation (for example, when the re-enactments for the crime are present within the documentary, the shots are exaggerated. The shots involving the cup of milkshake being thrown when a bullet was fired as an example.)
  • Aims to present the subject matter in a subjective, expressive, stylised, evocative and visceral manner.
The documentary aims to present the subject matter, which is a shooting of a police officer and someone being presented as wrongly accused. It presents the people involved with the investigation (such as the person who is accused, lawyers and officers) and it is also stylised with their shots within the reenactments of the crime scene. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Documentary Mini-task

Image
Introduction What is a documentary? / How would you define ‘documentary’? A documentary is a genre in media that can be presented in various ways such as film and programmes which are based upon factual subjects (for example, a documentary could be about a crime that's either solved, unsolved or still being investigated). On defining a documentary is that how compared to other genres within media, it takes real-life scenarios or a theme and presents that to the audience in a way that intrigues, like how people could like or be interested into a certain topic a filmmaker has made.    Expository Identify the key features of expository documentaries +  Provide your own example of an expository documentary The key features seen in expository documentaries are that there is a voice-over/narrator present (not on screen but instead over the top of the documentary) who directly presents information based from the images shown on screen to the audience.  A example of a exposi...
Read more

The Nature and Purposes of Research

Image
Primary research "Primary research is research you conduct yourself (or hire someone to do for you.) It involves going directly to a source – usually customers and prospective customers in your target market – to ask questions and gather information." ( https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/strategy/market-research/primary-second-research ) The definition of primary research is when any type of research is collected by yourself.  Examples of primary research is surveys, interviews and observations. As the way you have collected the research by yourself rather than someone else (as this would be secondary rather than primary).  An example of the use of primary research in my own work is when the questionnaire was made as I collect the research by myself as getting information from the internet or other sources was not the best to use for the task.  Secondary research "Secondary research involves the summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research. Second...
Read more

Unilever Rebranding (Notes)

Unilever is a consumer goods company, first founded back in the 1890's. It's goal is to make their business grow and make their products and business more sustainable so it doesn't impact the environment in any negative way. They also want to present a sustainable and unique to the commonplace. Ben and Jerry's is a Vermont-based ice cream company founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield back in 1978. It was sold to Unilever in the 2000's. The main target audience for Ben and Jerry's ice cream is younger people mainly ranging from the ages of 8 to 25 as it's marketing and overall design of their advertising image is unique and creative and the bright and cartoony style of the packaging might attract the target audience. The secondary audience for Ben and Jerry's ice cream would have to be people slightly older than the target audience because some people might not appeal to Ben and Jerry's due to the packaging or variety of flavours as a example...
Read more