Features of a documentary

Definition and purpose
The purpose of the documentary is to document that is to report with evidence, something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage or reconstruction. It can use a narrators voiceover to anchor the meaning or rely on thr participants themselves with perhaps the noccasional interjection by the narrator.
John Grierson- General Post Office Film Unit in 1930's, who made documentaries in the second world war. Defined documentary as "the creative treatment of actuality"(or reality).

Features
John Corner of the University of Liverpool said there are 5 central elements of the documentary:

Observation - The programme makers pretend the camera is unseen or ignored by the people tking part in the event. This makes the audience feel like an eye witness.

Interview - People give opinions and information. Documentaries often rely heavily on interviews.

Dramatisation - All documentaries use a sense of drama through the observation element.

Mise-en-scene - Documentary makers carefully contruct the settings.

Exposition - The line of argument in a documentary. It can be viewed as what a documentary is saying to an audience.

Types
Fully Narrated
A voiceover is used to convet the exposition. The voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and dominates the meaning. E.g Natural history documentarys.

Fly on the Wall
Draws on the french film movement of 'cinema verite'. The camera is unseen or ignored and comply records real events as they unfold.

Mixed
A combination of interview, observation, actuality and archive material and narration to advance the argument/narrative.

Self - Reflective
When the subject of the documentary acknowledges the presence of the camera of often speaks direcly to the programme maker.

Docudrama
Re- enactment of events

Docusoap
Documentary and soap opera. A group of central protagonists and follows the characters. E.g Airline

Structure
Narrative structure
Takes on different forms:
Open-loose ends which are not tied up at the end. (Questions are left un answered)
or
Closed- there is a definite conclusion to the narrative.

Linear structure-follows chronological order.

Non Linear structure- things are not in time order e.g. flashback or flash forward.

Circular structure- The beginning is the same as the end.

Visuals
Television is a visual medium
-The programme needs to be stimulating.

Archive material-Street scenes, open countryside, close up of faces = stock footage, old footage that can be used.

Interviews
An interview can be held anywhere, but the setting does affect the meaning.

Vox pop (vox populis)- voice of the people.
Go on the street and ask people all the same question and film their answers. Then edit to suite.

Construction of reality
Gate keeping (media theory)- The selection and rejection of information/content for inclusion in media text.

Editing process
Where gate keeping happens in a documentary.

Voice over (voice of god)-never seen.

Propaganda- deliberately set out to change the opinion of others. Eg the WW2 documentaries.