Genre Analysis:- Documentaries (and its features)

A documentary shows something that has actually happened by using actuality footage (real footage from the event) or reconstruction of a real event, using a narrator or participants voiceover to help anchor the meaning of the particular documentary.



Examples of known/recent Documentaries

• Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die
• Miami Mega-jail
• The Fairy Job-Mother
• Babies Behind Bars

Features of Documentaries

1. Observation
The documentary makers pretend the camera is unseen/ignored by the people taking part in the events. The audience acts like an eye witness watching the events unfold. However the behaviour of the participants in the documentary could be false.

• Actually watching someone on screen.
• Pretending the camera is on scene/ ignored by people taking part.
• Split into sequences of observation.

2.  The Interview
The most important aspect of a documentary. Opinions and information is given through interviews and documentaries rely on them.

• Allows participants to say & show how they actually feel and catch it on camera.
• Documentaries rely on these.

3. Dramatisation
All documentaries use a sense of drama through; the observation element, or drama reconstruction.

• Showing drama through observation by either using 'undercover' filming to give us a sense of drama and what is happening.

4. Mise-En-Scene (Putting in the picture)
Documentary makers carefully constructed shots.

• Being aware of what is visable on camera i.e set, lighting, costume, action, what is said.

5. ExpositionThe line of argument in a documentary. It is what the documentary is ‘saying’.

• Purpose of the documentary and what it's argument is.
• Trying to solve the problem in some cases.