Interactive documentary
Definition
The production team get more involved than the interviewees. They get involved within the experiments and take an active role to give their opinion.
Conventions
The conventions of this style is that the interviewer will get involved within the experiment which allows the audience to watch their journey and feel there emotion- making the documentary more real. This is and advantage to this type of documentary as we align with the presenter and actually believe they are enduring this experiment on our behalf as they want us to know annoy this information. However, a disadvantage to this because usually its only the presenter enduring the experiment the result may not be that reliable, for example in super size me the presenter may be prone to not digesting food, thus meaning his body react badly compared to other people. There will be a lot of stats and figures which gives more evidence for the interviewer, there may be a medical team or scientist helping with the experiment.
Example
An example of this would be the documentary ‘Super size me’ directed by Morgan Spurlock in 2004.
Why it fits
This is a good example of the interactive documentary style because the presenter Morgan Spurlock endured the social experiment of eating McDonald’s for thirty day. He documented his experience and allowed the audience to interact with the challenge- resulting in us feeling sorry and being persuaded/ put off from eating fast food constantly.
Harvard Reference check
Rob Munday. (2016). A guide to interactive documentary: Structure, tool and narrative. Available: http://directorsnotes.com/2016/08/08/interactive-documentary-guide/. Last accessed 18th September 2017.
The production team get more involved than the interviewees. They get involved within the experiments and take an active role to give their opinion.
Conventions
The conventions of this style is that the interviewer will get involved within the experiment which allows the audience to watch their journey and feel there emotion- making the documentary more real. This is and advantage to this type of documentary as we align with the presenter and actually believe they are enduring this experiment on our behalf as they want us to know annoy this information. However, a disadvantage to this because usually its only the presenter enduring the experiment the result may not be that reliable, for example in super size me the presenter may be prone to not digesting food, thus meaning his body react badly compared to other people. There will be a lot of stats and figures which gives more evidence for the interviewer, there may be a medical team or scientist helping with the experiment.
Example
An example of this would be the documentary ‘Super size me’ directed by Morgan Spurlock in 2004.
Why it fits
This is a good example of the interactive documentary style because the presenter Morgan Spurlock endured the social experiment of eating McDonald’s for thirty day. He documented his experience and allowed the audience to interact with the challenge- resulting in us feeling sorry and being persuaded/ put off from eating fast food constantly.
Harvard Reference check
Rob Munday. (2016). A guide to interactive documentary: Structure, tool and narrative. Available: http://directorsnotes.com/2016/08/08/interactive-documentary-guide/. Last accessed 18th September 2017.
Performative Documentaries
Definition
Emphasizes the filmmakers own involvement with the subject. The filmmakers shows a large political and historical reality illustrating there own experiences thus making it a personal guide with raw emotion.
Conventions
The conventions of this style is that the documentary is very raw and 'honest' towards the audience as there are no cuts between scene and we can see the camera crew working. This differs from usual documentaries who won't to keep the documentary looking professional. This is an advantage as the audience believes they can trust the presenter and the filmmakers due to them not cutting away anything and sacrificing the 'professional look' towards their documentary, thus making it more powerful. Yet, a disadvantage to this style is it less professional which may not engage certain people to its style as they may want a more clean looking documentary. Also, we now see the invisible hand or voice behind the camera as the film maker will tend to come into shot a lot of the time. This style allows the audience to gain the trust of the filmmakers as they are documenting the whole journey through all the failures and proves how devoted they are too making their film.
Example
An example of this would be the running documentary show 'Can't pay we'll take it away' produced by channel 5 which started in 2014.
Why it fits
This is a good example of an Performative documentary as the filmmaker is shown throughout and you can see the cameras the debt collectors have strapped to them in many shots. In the documentary they don't edit out scenes where people are swearing and fighting the debt collectors as this makes the series more raw and honest to the viewers watching.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.
Emphasizes the filmmakers own involvement with the subject. The filmmakers shows a large political and historical reality illustrating there own experiences thus making it a personal guide with raw emotion.
Conventions
The conventions of this style is that the documentary is very raw and 'honest' towards the audience as there are no cuts between scene and we can see the camera crew working. This differs from usual documentaries who won't to keep the documentary looking professional. This is an advantage as the audience believes they can trust the presenter and the filmmakers due to them not cutting away anything and sacrificing the 'professional look' towards their documentary, thus making it more powerful. Yet, a disadvantage to this style is it less professional which may not engage certain people to its style as they may want a more clean looking documentary. Also, we now see the invisible hand or voice behind the camera as the film maker will tend to come into shot a lot of the time. This style allows the audience to gain the trust of the filmmakers as they are documenting the whole journey through all the failures and proves how devoted they are too making their film.
Example
An example of this would be the running documentary show 'Can't pay we'll take it away' produced by channel 5 which started in 2014.
Why it fits
This is a good example of an Performative documentary as the filmmaker is shown throughout and you can see the cameras the debt collectors have strapped to them in many shots. In the documentary they don't edit out scenes where people are swearing and fighting the debt collectors as this makes the series more raw and honest to the viewers watching.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.
Observational Format
Definition
Observational format addresses the viewers directly, with title or voice, which propose a perspective, advance and arguments and recounts history. It is the most analytical out of the type of documentaries.
Conventions
The conventions that come with observational format are voice of God commentary, where we only hear the voice of the narrator (Morgan Freeman). Or utilizes a voice-of-authority, you can see and hear the narrator. Its very analytical and factual with the information it gives out. The narrator will usually watch and comment on the subject of the documentary giving out their own opinion. This is an advantage as this style educates the audience and thus becomes more powerful as they are learning something new, it can give us an insight into science or psychology and a different angle on topics we would usually know nothing about. However, it does have its disadvantages due to the presenter speaking with more authority, as they know more about the topic, it can seem patronising to the audience as they are less likely to align with the presenter as the presenter is in a way talking down to them. This means the message said in the documentary becomes less powerful and badly received.
Example
A good example of this would he the channel four series 'The secret lives of four, five and six year olds' which was made in 2015
Why it fits
This is a good example due to the narrator and some psychologists are watching the children and analysing their behaviour and how they interact with one another. These professionals then comment using factual and researched techniques on how this will affect the development of the child. This covers this style due to the narrator having a source of authority due to them knowing and understanding more then the viewer, this program is used to educate the viewer. It does this by using voice-of-authority narration throughout.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.
Observational format addresses the viewers directly, with title or voice, which propose a perspective, advance and arguments and recounts history. It is the most analytical out of the type of documentaries.
Conventions
The conventions that come with observational format are voice of God commentary, where we only hear the voice of the narrator (Morgan Freeman). Or utilizes a voice-of-authority, you can see and hear the narrator. Its very analytical and factual with the information it gives out. The narrator will usually watch and comment on the subject of the documentary giving out their own opinion. This is an advantage as this style educates the audience and thus becomes more powerful as they are learning something new, it can give us an insight into science or psychology and a different angle on topics we would usually know nothing about. However, it does have its disadvantages due to the presenter speaking with more authority, as they know more about the topic, it can seem patronising to the audience as they are less likely to align with the presenter as the presenter is in a way talking down to them. This means the message said in the documentary becomes less powerful and badly received.
Example
A good example of this would he the channel four series 'The secret lives of four, five and six year olds' which was made in 2015
Why it fits
This is a good example due to the narrator and some psychologists are watching the children and analysing their behaviour and how they interact with one another. These professionals then comment using factual and researched techniques on how this will affect the development of the child. This covers this style due to the narrator having a source of authority due to them knowing and understanding more then the viewer, this program is used to educate the viewer. It does this by using voice-of-authority narration throughout.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.
Reflective Documentaries
Definition
Reflective documentaries challenge assumptions and expectations about the form itself and question the authenticity of the documentary in general by making the audience feel a specific way by directing them.
Conventions
They use old footage from old videos and news reports and involve interviews with people and use emotive language to persuade the audience to feel a different way. An advantage to this style is it gives a new perspective on topics we have heard about for example spray painting is it art or vandalism. This is more gripping to the audience as they are taken on a journey to learn more about the topic, thus meaning they engage more with the documentary. However, a disadvantage to this style is because it's trying to persuade its audience there is less of an alignment between the film maker and the viewer, as the film maker is trying to change their view. This may make the audience loose their trust towards the film maker and not accept their ideas on the documentary. It isn't like interactive where he share a bond with the presenter and trust them it is quite the opposite, this can have a bad effect on the audiences opinion towards the chosen topic.
Example
An example of this style would be 'Exit through the gift shop' a 2010 film directed by Banksy.
Why it fits
The documentary 'Exit through the gift shop' shows old footage during many of Banksy's spray painting missions. Also, the documentary uses emotive techniques in order to make the audience align with Banksy and change their opinion of him.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.
Reflective documentaries challenge assumptions and expectations about the form itself and question the authenticity of the documentary in general by making the audience feel a specific way by directing them.
Conventions
They use old footage from old videos and news reports and involve interviews with people and use emotive language to persuade the audience to feel a different way. An advantage to this style is it gives a new perspective on topics we have heard about for example spray painting is it art or vandalism. This is more gripping to the audience as they are taken on a journey to learn more about the topic, thus meaning they engage more with the documentary. However, a disadvantage to this style is because it's trying to persuade its audience there is less of an alignment between the film maker and the viewer, as the film maker is trying to change their view. This may make the audience loose their trust towards the film maker and not accept their ideas on the documentary. It isn't like interactive where he share a bond with the presenter and trust them it is quite the opposite, this can have a bad effect on the audiences opinion towards the chosen topic.
Example
An example of this style would be 'Exit through the gift shop' a 2010 film directed by Banksy.
Why it fits
The documentary 'Exit through the gift shop' shows old footage during many of Banksy's spray painting missions. Also, the documentary uses emotive techniques in order to make the audience align with Banksy and change their opinion of him.
Harvard Reference Check
Peter Biesterfeld. (2015). Six Primary Styles of Documentary Production. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c06/18423-six-primary-styles-of-documentary-production. Last accessed 18th september 2017.