Features of a Documentary

John Corner of University of Liverpool said that there a five central elements of the documentary:

1. Observation- The programme makers pretend that the camera is unseen or ignored by the people taking part in the events. Audience are seen as 'eye-witnesses' observing the events unfold. 

2. Interview- Most important aspect, people give opinions, information. Documentaries rely on interviews. 

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

4. Mise-en-scene- Documentary makers carefully construct all the shots.

5. Exposition- The line of argument in a documentary. It is what the documentary is 'saying'

Different Types of Documentary

* Fully Narrated- Voice over is used to convey the exposition, and to make sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning. e.g. natural history docs.

* Fly on the Wall- Draws on the French film movement cinèma veritè. The camera is unseen or ignored and simply records real events as they unfold. 

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

* Self-reflective- When the subject of the documentary acknowledges the presence of the camera and often speaks directly to the programme makers.

* Docudrama- Re-enactment of events.

* Docusoap- Documentary + soap opera. Focuses on a group of central protagonists, follows everyday lives e.g. Airport

The Structure of a Documentary

Narrative Structure

*Open- loose ends which are not tied up at the end.

* Closed- there is a definite conclusion to the narrative.

* Linear- follows chronological order.

* Non-Linear- not in chronological order e.g. flashbacks or flash forward.

* Circular- narrative ends where it started. 

Visuals

* Television is a visual medium, the programme needs to be visually stimulating to maintain the audiences interest.

*Archive Material, street scenes, open countryside, close up of faces- all stock footage.

*Interviews- an interview can be held anywhere but the setting does affect the meaning.

*Vox-pop (vox populis- voice of the people) people are asked the same question, best answers are picked, represents the audience. 

* Construction of Reality- The produced selects or rejects certain facts and information for inclusion in a media text. This media theory is called gate keeping. 

* Editing Process- Editing can be used to construct a picture or create a figure which may not be entirely truthful. Editing is where gate keeping happens. Also, a voice over may be added which can affect mean and anchors to the image on screen.