Documentary Genres

Definition of a documentary:A documentary is a film,

television or radio programme that provides a factual report

on a particular subject

Purpose of a documentary:

A documentary film is a nonfictional motion picture intended to document some

aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or

maintaining a historical record.

History of Documentaries - John GriersonJohn Grierson was a pioneering

Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of

British and Canadian documentary film.

In 1926, Grierson coined the term “documentary” and this has been the name ever since.

The main purpose of documentaries was to inform

and educate but also entertain.

In 1995 John Corner wrote documentaries and said the

purpose is to record sound and images of actuality.

John Grierson won the best historical documentary and

won best drama documentary.

He produced 38 films and was a consultant to the Prime Minister during

WW2

Within documentaries there is always a levels of construction

and editing which has and this has been the case since the easily

stages of documentaries

A documentary is when you report with evidence

something that has actually happened.

Elements of a Documentary - John Corner

John Corner said that the purpose of a documentary was to record “sound and images of actuality” in

1995.

He said a documentary was a report with evidence, something

that has actually happened.

Corner created the 5 key elements of a documentary:

observation, interviews, exposition, mise-en-scene and

dramatization.

Still constructed – using editing, voice overs (voice

of God), cutting bits of footage out etc ….

5 Key Elements

Observation

- Observational footage- Unacknowledged camera- Capturing visuals of actuality- Camera taking the roll of the eye

witness

Interviews

- Recording people answering questions

- Addressed and questioned

Dramatisation

- Re-enactment of events- Entertaining- Witnessing dramatic events

Exposition

- Line of argument – what the documentary is saying

- Either direct and obvious or indirect and subtle

- Either way it is always present

Mise-en-scene

- Carefully composed to include relevant mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, background/location, costume and make up)

- Provides meaning and a sense of reality