Theroies and Concepts

* A documentary focuses on and also asks questions about people and events this often places the audience in the position so that they form opinion about whom and what they are seeing.
* There are many devices that are used during the genre these are recorded events as they are occurring, information presented using visual aids e.g. charts and even maps and also events can sometimes be staged for the camera.
* The crew consist of one camera operator and a sound person this is so they can remain movable while filming.
* Interview or “talking heads” are where the film is recorded about people, events and social movements. Direct cinema is when the event is recorded ‘as it happens’ (live).
* A narrative form is often used throughout documentaries this means it tells us a story.
* ‘Voice-of-god’ always remains anonymous; they tell the story to the audience. An example of the ‘voice-of-god’ would be the voice throughout “Big Brother”, as you have never seen the person who talks to the audience watching the programme.
* Lighting used throughout a documentary regularly originates naturally from the environment being filmed, unlike the feature film maker who can use the additional light; they use this to influence the image so the audience is presented with a documentary film maker which can usually use the light that is available.
* The camera work that is mostly used throughout documentaries is hand held this creates a subjective point of view that is aimed at the intimacy between the audience and the film
* The operator does not always want a smooth camera movement as the shaky shots make the documentary appear more ‘genuine’ and ‘real’ therefore they use their body as the support.
* The editing is the vital part of a documentary, as they rely on it, there are..
Fade out – When the image slowly darkens into blackness.
Fade in – When the image slowly lightness from blackness.
Dissolve – When the end of the shot is superimposed with the beginning of the next.
Wipe – When the shot is replaced by another using a line, this then moves across the screen.
* Editing is used to interpret an event in a understandable form, throughout the editing process the material is then selected, ordered and then replaced therefore it is ‘meditated’.
There are a few documentary genres and styles throughout and these are Expository, Observation, Docusoaps, Reality TV, and Interactive, Drama-Documentaries, Current Affairs and Documentary dilemmas.

Expository
Involves the ‘voice-of-god’
A voice over anchors the meaning of the video/images being shown
Documentaries are normally centred on a problem that needs to be solved

Observation
Also known as ‘fly-on-the-wall’
Does not use the voice over or commentary
The camera is as unobtrusive as it possibly can be
Very close to ‘window of the world’ which is also allows the audience to see an unmediated reality
Techniques that are used include and indirect address towards the audience, diegetic sound and relatively long takes
Often tend to focus on an individual often during a crisis or drama

Docusoaps
Very popular
Uses lightweight equipment
Soap-like structured

Reality TV
Used to describe the most high-impact of the new factual television
The term was applied to the news magazine programmes which were based around emergency services
It is a mix of ‘raw’, ‘authentic’ material with the seriousness of an information programme and the commercial success of tabloid content

Interactive
Not as common these days
The style - used to acknowledge the presence of the camera and the crew for instance ‘Cribs’
Audiences feel that interactive documentaries are being honest because there is no attempt to disguise the camera and the crew

Drama-Documentary
Uses reconstruction and re-enactments
They provoke debate
Less truthful
The purpose and effect of the techniques used is more than important than the labelling

Current afaires
Journalist-led programmes
Aim is to address the news and the political agenda in the greater depth than the news bulletins allow
Reporters often appear in vision but there may be a voiceover.

Documentary dilemmas
Footage that are rarely broadcast unedited
The film maker balances their responsibility to those who appear in the programme with their legal obligations, their desire to make a successful programme and their responsibility towards the audience.