Documentary Modes

Documentary Modes -


Expository - Inform and educate the audience about a subject. Uses original and active footage. Professional voice-overs. Factual information. Examples include the Natural History Programmes.

Observational - Recording people in their natural environments with minimal fuss. Has a greater degree of naturalness. May not show exactly the thing observed because it can be cut to show good or bad things. Examples include Etre et Avoir.

Fly-On-The-Wall - Extension of observational. More naturalistic due to the fact it avoids cutting things out. More than likely to be short over a long time e.g a year whereas observational could be a lot shorter such as a day.

Interactive/Reflexive - The filmmakers' presence is fully acknowledged, even emphasised. The filmmaker is both author and character in his or her movie. Examples include Roger and Me, Biggie and Tupac.

Poetic/Avant Garde - In this instance the emphasis is on the creativity as the filmmaker explores, for example, the beauty in the everyday. Examples include Night Mail and Lido.

Drama Documentary - In the absence of archive material or access to witnesses, the filmmaker might stage dramatic reconstructions of events. Examples might include Who Bombed Birmingham and Hillsborough.

Mockumentary - Fictional films which parody the forms and conventions of documentary, often for humorous effect. Examples include This is Spinal Tap, Best in Shot, Blair Witch Project, The Office.

Personal - These 'films' are often shot on video and generally feature the maker addressing the camera directly, expounding or sharing his or her views with the viewer. Examples include Video Nation.



Documentary Mode -
Sequence/Scene -
Purpose and Effect -