Types of documentaries
The purpose of a documentary is to inform for example report with evidence: something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage or reconstructions.
There are six main types of documentaries.
Fully Narrated documentary
An off screen voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and anchor their meaning the best example of this is natural history documentaries.
Fly on the wall documentary
This is following for example celebrities and they are truthful the camera is observing the real true life as it happens and the participants are “unaware” of the cameras presence.
Mixed documentary (our coursework)
Using a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the narrative and the wide variety of material.
Self reflective
When the subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak to the film maker.
Docudrama
The re-enactment of events as they are supposed to of actually happened.
Docusoap
Most recent e.g. airline it is occupation based it follows a storyline and has a multistrand narrative.
Construction of reality
Edited, camera work (handheld camera work) – not during interviews.
Gatekeeping
Theory to do with media controlling the flow of information. Controlling what’s included- camerawork use what archive footage they use (decision making)
Narrative structure
Open Narrative structure
In terms of a documentary – raises a question usually not proven and presents evidence and leaves the audience to make up their own minds about the issues.
Closed narrative structure
A documentary telling a story that has a clear beginning middle and end and answers any questions that it has asked during the documentary.
Single strand narrative
Something that has just one narrative
Multi strand narrative
Something that has more than one narrative within the programme.
Linear narrative
When the documentary is in a chronological order.
None linear
When time is disrupted and when events do not follow any order of time for example flash backs.
Circular narrative
When something ends how it begins and throughout the programme you see the exposition of the argument and the documentary would not answer the question and will leave the audience to make up their own mind.
Codes and conventions of documentaries.
Handheld camera work.
Interviews.
Must be a certain type of documentary.
A range of camera angles –to keep the audience sustained.
Either a open or closed narrative-varies.
Should be linear or non linear.
Single strand narrative.
Voice over’s.
Use archive material e.g. newspapers, magazines- anything from other types of media.
Use of varied movement to keep the audience interested.
Interviews usually close-ups or medium close-ups are conventional. Stationary camera work. Eye line is roughly a third of he way down the screen. Framing is to the left or the right of the shot (zoom in and out used for effect however not essential)
Establishing shots used to show the setting of the documentary.
Pan and zoom are used when filming still images in/out depending of subject of matter.
P.o.v shots sometimes used to position the audience in the action.
Mise-en-scene behind the interviewees is either relevant to the subject e.g. where chromekey is used alternatively mise-en-scene anchors their job or relevance to the subject.
Graphics- Used to translate where necessary and give any information of names or locations and also in some cases occupation or relation to the subject. Also graphics may be used as part of archive material such as magazines or news papers, finally graphics are also used for the opening and closing credits.
Sound- Voice overs used to link everything together and hold the narrative structure. The voice over is spoken in standard english and the age and gender of the voiceover is related to the subject of the programme. The voice over is emotionless as it is just a statement of fact.
All the questions in interviews are edited out.
Music is relevent to the topic.
During the interview there is no background noise and questions are edited out.
Editing creates pace.
The cut is the most common edit- there are no editing effects used unless relevent so that the viewer is not distracted and they are foccusing on the documentary.
Disolve is used, cut aways are used frequently and are always relevenent to what is being talked about.
Fade to black and fade from black are sometimes used- this conveys passage of time this can be used to show the end of the chapter and fade from black to show the next chapter.
The devil made me do it- Mixed Documentary
Mixed documentary – interviews actuality footage archive material (mansons videos, TV programmes)
Themes- The power of the media can music (Manson) influence the behaviour of young people.
Narrative structure
Single strand narrative-one story line
Open narrative- question is not answered allows people to have their own views and audience are left to make up their own minds.
Non linear structure.
Camera Work
Close-ups and mid- close ups used during interviews. Framed to either side of the screen.
Not including the interview with the couple (two shot)
Maralyn Manson filmed in low angle to show that he is powerful-the use of light is dark and light lighting which connotes good vs. evil (mise-en-scene)
Mise-en-scene
Constructed dilibretly to potrey certain people in a a certain way for example the use of the mise-ens-cene when interviewing Manson
Interviews provide information about the people and there is a lot of religious iconography featured in the documentary.
The town is shown to show the location of the subject of the documentary.
Sound
Religious music to relate to the themes of the documentary
Mansons music
Sound effects such as the heartbeat used to create an atmosphere and have an effect on the audinece
Voice over s male and young possibly used to relate to the target audience- holds the whole narrative together
Voiceovers translation in to italian matches the age and gender of who is being interviewed.
Editing
Cutting and cross cutting
Fade to black and fade from black to show the space of time
Elliptical editing- from one day to the next
Montage is used to show what the documentary is featuring
Archive material
Mansons videos
Press conference
Mansons concerts
American television- news programmes
News paper cuttings
Graphics
Title of the programme Gothic appearance to relate to the themes of the documentary
The names and occupation of the people being interviewed as a way of introducing them
Relevance of the subjects
Subtitles of lyrics
Marketing meatloaf notes - Mixed Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8drBafBphXg
Themes
Behind the scenes of marketing.
How audiences are addressed.
Promotion of the singer.
Narrative structure
Single strand narrative
None-linear narrative
Closed narrative
The narrative of the music video (beauty and the beast) Fairy tale narrative
Camera Work
Low angle camera work (establishing shot)
P.o.v shot so that the audience feel as if they are there.
Close-ups of still images.
Handheld camera work.
Mise-en-scene
Formal address shows importance and authority.
Pictures of meatloaf and texts behind interviews on the screen.
Recording studio to show the video (context of the media text)
Large mobile phones (gives a sense of time)
Still photographs.
Sound
Voice over- Non-diegetic sound (commentary and description)
Sound track – dramatic sound track in parts.
Dialogue- insight into the marketing of the video.
Editing
Dissolving super imposed edits.
Fade In people over the text.
Shot reverse shots and continuity editing.
Archive material
Footage from what looks like an awards ceremony
Footage from a television programme
Footage from the brit awards and the press conference that took place after the awards.
That thing notes - Mixed Documentary
Themes
Virtual games.
Video games.
Representation of gender.
Popular culture.
Fantasy.
Narrative structure
Closed narrative – leaves nothing to think about.
Raises a question and answers it for you.
Single strand narrative
Non-linear.
Camera work
Medium close-ups for interviews.
Big close-ups inventor of the character (importance)
Tilted frame – hand held camera work for a point of view shot (fast motion)
Zooms and panning.
Variety of camera work to sustain audiences interest.
Sound
Music in the back ground.
Music from the game featured.
Changes towards the end to Madonna as she is mentioned through the voiceover.
Voiceover- young male.
Dance music to target the audience.
Standard English used. Relevance of slang to relate to the viewers.
Editing
Cutting.
Fast motion- sped up footage.
Point of view tracking shot (less boring)
Super imposed (blue and green screen)
Archive material
Footage from the video game.
Footage from the film.
Internet sites.
Interviews with Angelina Jolie (filmed differently)
Nike advert.
Graphics
Sans serif.
White text.
No capital letters.
Modern.
Interviewees name- that thing linked to the title of the programme.
Mise-en-scene
Chromekey- Blue/green screen when filming.
Images are projected during editing.
Extracts from the game – Black projection behind the interviewee.
Front projection.
Interview of the man in the computer screen relates to the themes.
Tilted frame and big close up when showing the man in the computer screen to show importance as well as relating to the themes.
The purpose of a documentary is to inform for example report with evidence: something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage or reconstructions.
There are six main types of documentaries.
Fully Narrated documentary
An off screen voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and anchor their meaning the best example of this is natural history documentaries.
Fly on the wall documentary
This is following for example celebrities and they are truthful the camera is observing the real true life as it happens and the participants are “unaware” of the cameras presence.
Mixed documentary (our coursework)
Using a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the narrative and the wide variety of material.
Self reflective
When the subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak to the film maker.
Docudrama
The re-enactment of events as they are supposed to of actually happened.
Docusoap
Most recent e.g. airline it is occupation based it follows a storyline and has a multistrand narrative.
Construction of reality
Edited, camera work (handheld camera work) – not during interviews.
Gatekeeping
Theory to do with media controlling the flow of information. Controlling what’s included- camerawork use what archive footage they use (decision making)
Narrative structure
Open Narrative structure
In terms of a documentary – raises a question usually not proven and presents evidence and leaves the audience to make up their own minds about the issues.
Closed narrative structure
A documentary telling a story that has a clear beginning middle and end and answers any questions that it has asked during the documentary.
Single strand narrative
Something that has just one narrative
Multi strand narrative
Something that has more than one narrative within the programme.
Linear narrative
When the documentary is in a chronological order.
None linear
When time is disrupted and when events do not follow any order of time for example flash backs.
Circular narrative
When something ends how it begins and throughout the programme you see the exposition of the argument and the documentary would not answer the question and will leave the audience to make up their own mind.
Codes and conventions of documentaries.
Handheld camera work.
Interviews.
Must be a certain type of documentary.
A range of camera angles –to keep the audience sustained.
Either a open or closed narrative-varies.
Should be linear or non linear.
Single strand narrative.
Voice over’s.
Use archive material e.g. newspapers, magazines- anything from other types of media.
Use of varied movement to keep the audience interested.
Interviews usually close-ups or medium close-ups are conventional. Stationary camera work. Eye line is roughly a third of he way down the screen. Framing is to the left or the right of the shot (zoom in and out used for effect however not essential)
Establishing shots used to show the setting of the documentary.
Pan and zoom are used when filming still images in/out depending of subject of matter.
P.o.v shots sometimes used to position the audience in the action.
Mise-en-scene behind the interviewees is either relevant to the subject e.g. where chromekey is used alternatively mise-en-scene anchors their job or relevance to the subject.
Graphics- Used to translate where necessary and give any information of names or locations and also in some cases occupation or relation to the subject. Also graphics may be used as part of archive material such as magazines or news papers, finally graphics are also used for the opening and closing credits.
Sound- Voice overs used to link everything together and hold the narrative structure. The voice over is spoken in standard english and the age and gender of the voiceover is related to the subject of the programme. The voice over is emotionless as it is just a statement of fact.
All the questions in interviews are edited out.
Music is relevent to the topic.
During the interview there is no background noise and questions are edited out.
Editing creates pace.
The cut is the most common edit- there are no editing effects used unless relevent so that the viewer is not distracted and they are foccusing on the documentary.
Disolve is used, cut aways are used frequently and are always relevenent to what is being talked about.
Fade to black and fade from black are sometimes used- this conveys passage of time this can be used to show the end of the chapter and fade from black to show the next chapter.
The devil made me do it- Mixed Documentary
Mixed documentary – interviews actuality footage archive material (mansons videos, TV programmes)
Themes- The power of the media can music (Manson) influence the behaviour of young people.
Narrative structure
Single strand narrative-one story line
Open narrative- question is not answered allows people to have their own views and audience are left to make up their own minds.
Non linear structure.
Camera Work
Close-ups and mid- close ups used during interviews. Framed to either side of the screen.
Not including the interview with the couple (two shot)
Maralyn Manson filmed in low angle to show that he is powerful-the use of light is dark and light lighting which connotes good vs. evil (mise-en-scene)
Mise-en-scene
Constructed dilibretly to potrey certain people in a a certain way for example the use of the mise-ens-cene when interviewing Manson
Interviews provide information about the people and there is a lot of religious iconography featured in the documentary.
The town is shown to show the location of the subject of the documentary.
Sound
Religious music to relate to the themes of the documentary
Mansons music
Sound effects such as the heartbeat used to create an atmosphere and have an effect on the audinece
Voice over s male and young possibly used to relate to the target audience- holds the whole narrative together
Voiceovers translation in to italian matches the age and gender of who is being interviewed.
Editing
Cutting and cross cutting
Fade to black and fade from black to show the space of time
Elliptical editing- from one day to the next
Montage is used to show what the documentary is featuring
Archive material
Mansons videos
Press conference
Mansons concerts
American television- news programmes
News paper cuttings
Graphics
Title of the programme Gothic appearance to relate to the themes of the documentary
The names and occupation of the people being interviewed as a way of introducing them
Relevance of the subjects
Subtitles of lyrics
Marketing meatloaf notes - Mixed Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8drBafBphXg
Themes
Behind the scenes of marketing.
How audiences are addressed.
Promotion of the singer.
Narrative structure
Single strand narrative
None-linear narrative
Closed narrative
The narrative of the music video (beauty and the beast) Fairy tale narrative
Camera Work
Low angle camera work (establishing shot)
P.o.v shot so that the audience feel as if they are there.
Close-ups of still images.
Handheld camera work.
Mise-en-scene
Formal address shows importance and authority.
Pictures of meatloaf and texts behind interviews on the screen.
Recording studio to show the video (context of the media text)
Large mobile phones (gives a sense of time)
Still photographs.
Sound
Voice over- Non-diegetic sound (commentary and description)
Sound track – dramatic sound track in parts.
Dialogue- insight into the marketing of the video.
Editing
Dissolving super imposed edits.
Fade In people over the text.
Shot reverse shots and continuity editing.
Archive material
Footage from what looks like an awards ceremony
Footage from a television programme
Footage from the brit awards and the press conference that took place after the awards.
That thing notes - Mixed Documentary
Themes
Virtual games.
Video games.
Representation of gender.
Popular culture.
Fantasy.
Narrative structure
Closed narrative – leaves nothing to think about.
Raises a question and answers it for you.
Single strand narrative
Non-linear.
Camera work
Medium close-ups for interviews.
Big close-ups inventor of the character (importance)
Tilted frame – hand held camera work for a point of view shot (fast motion)
Zooms and panning.
Variety of camera work to sustain audiences interest.
Sound
Music in the back ground.
Music from the game featured.
Changes towards the end to Madonna as she is mentioned through the voiceover.
Voiceover- young male.
Dance music to target the audience.
Standard English used. Relevance of slang to relate to the viewers.
Editing
Cutting.
Fast motion- sped up footage.
Point of view tracking shot (less boring)
Super imposed (blue and green screen)
Archive material
Footage from the video game.
Footage from the film.
Internet sites.
Interviews with Angelina Jolie (filmed differently)
Nike advert.
Graphics
Sans serif.
White text.
No capital letters.
Modern.
Interviewees name- that thing linked to the title of the programme.
Mise-en-scene
Chromekey- Blue/green screen when filming.
Images are projected during editing.
Extracts from the game – Black projection behind the interviewee.
Front projection.
Interview of the man in the computer screen relates to the themes.
Tilted frame and big close up when showing the man in the computer screen to show importance as well as relating to the themes.
Jamie Bulger – a mothers story – Mixed Documentary
Themes
Telling a story
Personal Reflection
Crime
Explanations
Narrative structure
Single strand
Closed Narrative
Non-linear documentary
Camera Work
Establishing shot of the location where the first interview is taking place
interview framing either to the left or the right of the screen
Panning camera work when showing locations
Establishing shot of the newspapers offices (liverpool echo)
Zooming in and out of photos throughout to have an effect on the audience (emotional)
P.o.v and birds eye view shots of liverpool to enphasise the location
Tracking backwards and forwards on the train line where James was found
Panning around the police station to highlight the location of the reconstructions
Panning around the memorial for atmosphere to create emotion
Mise-en-scene
Bulilt up area
Regular middle class house
Shopping centre regularly featured (Location where James was last with mother)
CCTV footage used as part of the narration of the story
James's eyes highlighted for an emotional effect
Reconstructions clothes shown to show what they may have been wearing for the real thing
Home videos of James for an emotional effect on the audience
Sound
Voiceover throughout holding the narrative together
Tense dramatic music that relates to the story in significant and graphic explanations
Voiceovers from the news over shots from the documentary making
Voice over over the cutaways
Voice over narrating the answers from interviews as we can not hear killers voices
Editing
Cuts between different CCTV footage
Cut aways during interviews showing locations of what they are talking about
Archive Material
CCTV footage
Press conference
News footage
Home videos
Crimewatch
Footage from the funeral
Graphics
Text Introducing occupationns
Text from CCTV footage
Text to indicate times and dates of arrest and murder
Text to label reconstructions and tv shows
9/11 Faker- Mixed documentary
Research from channel 4 On demand
Themes
Story
Tale of survival
Theories
Narrative structure
Non-linear
Single strand
Open narrative
Camera work
Interview frames framed to either left or right of the screen
Panning showing locations
Establishing shots of Newyork
Shots and panning of the effects of the damage
Mise-en-scene
Interviewees in casual clothes in regular environments e.g. cafe
Exploding buildings
Dammage to locations
Heards of people
American flag
Photographs of some of the survivers and people who died
Sound
Voiceover explaining the documentary and the 9/11 story breifly
Tense sounds when voice over is featured
Non diegetic sound od exploding buildings and police sirens also diegetic sound of police sirens
Editing
Montage of photographs
Cutting
Cross cutting
Archive Material
Funeral/memorial footage
News programmes
News articles
Graphics
Text to show titles and dates and times, occupations and names of interviewees
Story
Tale of survival
Theories
Narrative structure
Non-linear
Single strand
Open narrative
Camera work
Interview frames framed to either left or right of the screen
Panning showing locations
Establishing shots of Newyork
Shots and panning of the effects of the damage
Mise-en-scene
Interviewees in casual clothes in regular environments e.g. cafe
Exploding buildings
Dammage to locations
Heards of people
American flag
Photographs of some of the survivers and people who died
Sound
Voiceover explaining the documentary and the 9/11 story breifly
Tense sounds when voice over is featured
Non diegetic sound od exploding buildings and police sirens also diegetic sound of police sirens
Editing
Montage of photographs
Cutting
Cross cutting
Archive Material
Funeral/memorial footage
News programmes
News articles
Graphics
Text to show titles and dates and times, occupations and names of interviewees
