Purpose Of Documentaries

The purpose of a documentary is to give a realistic picture of some aspect of life or work of a technical nature. Depicting both sides or many sides of a situation from the point of view of the people in a certain situation with different roles and so having a different story of the same subject. Uses actual footage or reconstructions to get the point acrosss. Can us a narrators voiceover to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves, with the occasional interjection by an unseen narrator.

Documentaries are not just about facts. Instead facts are used to create socially critical arguments. Thereby inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions.

Features Of Documentaries.
Observation sequences of observation, programme makers pretend the camera is on scene or ignored by people taking part.

Types Of Documentary.

Drama Documentary- Dramatise research so stimulating interest in issues through empathy with characters. I.e Hillsborough.

Fly On The Wall- Camera crew work as unobtrusive as possible. No camera or narration interference allows viewers to come to their own conclusions. A study of individuals or institutions, characterised by close and detailed observation and the questionability of the recording team. Avoids voiceovers & commentary. Indirect address to the audience. Relatively long takes. Diegetic sound. Focus on specific individuals.

Docusoap- Hybrid-combination of styles. Follow group of characters for entertainment. I.e Airport. Focuses on entertainment. Soap like structure, several interweaving plotlines.

Fully Narrated- Use of off-screen voiceover & the voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals on screen. The narrator always seems quite authorative.

Mixed- They use a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the argument. The narrator is often on-screen.

Self Reflexive- The makers of the documentary gives his/her thoughts or angle on a subject. Subjects of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak to the film maker directly. They make a point of drawing attention to the film makers role in cinstructing a view of reality.

Visuals- Archive footage, street scenes, open countryside and close-up of faces are just some of the stock materials used to suggest the intended meaning or emitional qualities of a particular theme.

Interviews- An interview can be held anywhere but the setting does effect the meaning. They normally begin with factual questions first. They do this to put the interviewee at ease then they can ask more emotional and personal questions at the end.

Vox Pops- Technique consists of street interviews of the general public, with each person being asked the same question. Answers are then put together in a fast sequence. They are good for suggesting a general agreement or diversity of opinion.

Narrative Conversations- Documentaries rely heavily on traditional conversation of narrative i.e Beginning, middle & end.

Begining- Central question of the documentary can be posed at the beginning in an intreging way. Most dramamtic pieces of action footage can also be placed at the start or some quick cuts in cinflict with eachother can get the audiences attention.

Middle- Often examines the issue in human terms focusing on people and their opinions and conflict is strengthened. However aparentally conflicting evidence may be intoduced but all complications must eventually support the exposition (line of argument).

End- Exposition is fully aparent by the end. The audience has no doubts about what the programme is saying and there may even be a course of action the audience can take to address the problem.