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DocumentaryStyles

There are generally five broad categories or styles of documentary.

Fully Narrated:

Here the ‘off screen’ narrator is used. His commentary is called the ‘voiceover’. This narration or voice over directly addresses the audience and informsthem what the story is about. The ‘voice over’ directs the audience in the waythey interpret the images and therefore dominates the meaning. This style of documentary is often called the ‘voice of God’. David Attenborough’s naturedocumentaries would be a good example of this style.Write down some of the features/ elements of this type of documentary. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ What does this documentary tell us about the world?

_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ____________

Cinema Verite

Cinema Verite is a style of documentary thatalmost totally relies on observation. The story is

not

told via a ‘narrator’ but the action happens as if the cameraman was not there. This is called a ‘flyon the wall’ documentary. The story is told throughthe action on the screen and edited in a manner that provides a logical sequence. This style of documentary was developed to try and limit thefilmmaker’s

personal bias

. Although not a truedocumentary, ‘Big Brother’ uses this observationaltechnique.Do you think a show like ‘Big Brother’ shows life as it really is? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Give a reason for your answer _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Self Reflective

documentaries acknowledge the presence of the camera/ cameraperson. The maintalent/ actor/ presenter, often speak directly to thecamera. This gives the audience the impression thatthey are directly being spoken to by the presenter.This emphasises the intimacy that the presenter hastowards their audience and acknowledges thefilmmaker’s role in the communication process.Many films use this technique but a good exampleof this is Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman“Long Way Round”. Can you think of other documentaries that use thisstyle/technique for the majority of the time? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ From an audience perspective do you think that this style of documentary views theworld and shows it as it really is? _______________________________________ Why or Why not? _____________________________________________________________________