John Grierson came up with the term "documentary" in 1926. The purpose of the documentary is to document something that has actually happened. It can be shown by using “actuality footage” or reconstruction. It can use a narrator’s voiceover to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves with perhaps an occasional interjection by the narrator.
Documentaries are not just about facts. Instead, facts can be used to create socially critical arguments, inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions.
Features of documentaries
Observation: Most documentaries contain sequences of observation, and the programme makers pretend that the camera is on scene or ignored by the people taking part.
Interview: An interview is the most important part of the document in which the participants give their opinions and views. Documentaries rely on these.
Dramatisation: All documentaries use a sense of drama through the observation element, such as creating drama through the observation process or through reconstruction.
Mise en scene: Documentary makers carefully construct the shot.
Exposition: The line of argument in a documentary. It is what the documentary, quotes saying.
Different types of documentaries
Fully narrated: An off-screen voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and dominate their meaning e.g. Nature documentaries.
Fly on the wall: The camera is unseen or ignored and simply records real events as they unfold. There is no commentary or narration thereby allowing viewers to come to their own conclusion.
Mixed: These use a combination of interview, observation and narration to advance the argument. The narrator is often in front of the camera.
Self- Reflective: When the subject of the documentary acknowledges the presence of the camera and often speaks directly to the filmmaker.
Docudrama: A re-enactment of the events as though they have actually happened.
Docusoap: Programmes that follow the lives of individuals with designated occupations.
Visuals
Archive footage, open countryside, street scenes and close ups of faces are all some of the stock materials uses to suggest the intended meaning or emotional qualities of a particular theme.
Interviews
An interview can be held anywhere but the setting does affect the meaning. Interviews normally begin with factual questions which are easy to answer and leave the more emotionally challenging questions until the end.
Voxpops
This technique consists of street interviews of the general public, which each person being asked the same question. The answers are then strung together in a fast sequence. These are good for illustrating a general agreement or a diversity of opinion.
Narrative Conventions
Documentaries rely on traditional conventions of narrative i.e. there is a beginning, a middle and an end.
Beginning - The central question of the documentary can be posed at the beginning in an intriguing way. Most dramatic pieces of action footage can also be placed at the start, or some quick interview cuts in conflict with each other can get the audience's attention.
Middle - The middle of a documentary often examines the issue in "human terms" focusing on people and their opinions. The conflict in the documentary is strengthened.
End - The exposition (line of argument) is fully apparent by the end of the documentary. The audience has no doubts as to what the programme is saying and there may even be a course of action the audience can take to address the problem.
Narrative Structure
Open - The audience is left to make their own mind up at the end.
Closed - There is a definite ending and outcome.
Single-strand - There is only one main plot throughout.
Multi-strand There are many different subplots which interweave.
Linear - It is in chronological order i.e. there is a beginning, middle and an end in that order.
Non-linear - There is no chronological order. Time is disrupted in some way e.g. via flashbacks.
Circular - There is a question at the start which is revisited at the end. Circular narratives can tie in with open narratives.
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