Modes of documentary
Realism
This is when film-makers is using actual footage as opposed to a re-enactments. The techniques you would expect to see is a handheld camera, interviews with people talking about the topic, statics and graphs to support the facts given to show what they are saying is true and is not fake. You even sometimes see the people setting up the cameras as part of the film.
Dramatisation
This is when film-makers uses a re-enactments and voices overs of an actor to create drama out of real life situations. Interviews are also included in this mode so we are able to get more information about the specific topic. Usually the music and sound which is used is non diegetic because the person is talking and we need to hear what they are saying. The music in the background is there to make the audience feel a certain emotion when watching. An example of this is watchdog.
Narrativisation
This tells a story through a narrative form, based on facts.
Expository
This is a type of documentary that addresses the audience directly. The expository mode is the most common mode from documentary films. It is heard but not seen and is known as 'the voice of god'. Expository uses a voice over to narrate what we see happening. It is very popular in wildlife documentaries which shows us the life of animals. However because this documentary has 'the voice of god' people would lose interest.
The documentary I have chosen to use is Tiger: Spy in the jungle. Which is about the life of young tiger cubs growing up. Rather than using normal cameras to film the tiger cubs they have put cameras on elephants so we can get a closer look at the tigers private life. Throughout the documentary David Attenborough uses argumentative logic which is common in expository documentaries. This is good to have in the documentary as it makes it more real because they do talk about the animals and give relevant and true facts about each individual one, so this keeps it real which conforms to this particular mode.
The show can be very dramatic, but this is only when something dangerous may happen as tense fast pace music can be heard in the background to make the audience feel fear or anticipation for what they are about to watch. For example, when the mother tiger leaves her den and the cubs leave the den also theres a cheetah which David Attenborugh explains cheetahs like to eat changes the atmosphere, making us question what will happen to the cubs.
The conventions which are used in documentary are:
Voiceover
When doing a voice it is good to do have someone who has clear professional voice so we are able to understand what is being said. A person like David Attenborough narrating this documentary would make it more popular because he is a well known wild life expert making it more appealing. His slow but gentle voice really gets you into the events we see happening. Throughout the documentary he informs about the animals in detail, what they do and some facts about the tiger letting us learn new things about them.
Camera
The way this documentary has been filmed is different from others as there are camera attached to elephants so we are able to get a closer look on the life of the cameras. Many of the cameras have been hid in a 'trunk cam' that are covered in wood without blocking the camera are cameras elephants pick up the trunks and carry around so we are able to get a closer look on the tigers life and watch the young grow up. Because of these cameras aren't a threat to tigers they wont attack when they see one and so they can follow them around closer without any hassle.The documentary is shot with life cameras and has not been rehearsed or edited which makes it more entertaining to know nothing was rehearsed. It also make the documentary reliable and real to the audience which makes them engaged as its like we are actually there with the cubs as they grow up. The camera men do aren't hiding in bushes or from a distance as the cameras are closer which makes it easier for us to see. We can be directly in front of the cameras and the tigers wouldn't even pay attention if it isn't a threat.
Observational
Dramatisation
This is when film-makers uses a re-enactments and voices overs of an actor to create drama out of real life situations. Interviews are also included in this mode so we are able to get more information about the specific topic. Usually the music and sound which is used is non diegetic because the person is talking and we need to hear what they are saying. The music in the background is there to make the audience feel a certain emotion when watching. An example of this is watchdog.
Narrativisation
This tells a story through a narrative form, based on facts.
Expository
This is a type of documentary that addresses the audience directly. The expository mode is the most common mode from documentary films. It is heard but not seen and is known as 'the voice of god'. Expository uses a voice over to narrate what we see happening. It is very popular in wildlife documentaries which shows us the life of animals. However because this documentary has 'the voice of god' people would lose interest.
The documentary I have chosen to use is Tiger: Spy in the jungle. Which is about the life of young tiger cubs growing up. Rather than using normal cameras to film the tiger cubs they have put cameras on elephants so we can get a closer look at the tigers private life. Throughout the documentary David Attenborough uses argumentative logic which is common in expository documentaries. This is good to have in the documentary as it makes it more real because they do talk about the animals and give relevant and true facts about each individual one, so this keeps it real which conforms to this particular mode.
The show can be very dramatic, but this is only when something dangerous may happen as tense fast pace music can be heard in the background to make the audience feel fear or anticipation for what they are about to watch. For example, when the mother tiger leaves her den and the cubs leave the den also theres a cheetah which David Attenborugh explains cheetahs like to eat changes the atmosphere, making us question what will happen to the cubs.
The conventions which are used in documentary are:
Voiceover
When doing a voice it is good to do have someone who has clear professional voice so we are able to understand what is being said. A person like David Attenborough narrating this documentary would make it more popular because he is a well known wild life expert making it more appealing. His slow but gentle voice really gets you into the events we see happening. Throughout the documentary he informs about the animals in detail, what they do and some facts about the tiger letting us learn new things about them.
Camera
The way this documentary has been filmed is different from others as there are camera attached to elephants so we are able to get a closer look on the life of the cameras. Many of the cameras have been hid in a 'trunk cam' that are covered in wood without blocking the camera are cameras elephants pick up the trunks and carry around so we are able to get a closer look on the tigers life and watch the young grow up. Because of these cameras aren't a threat to tigers they wont attack when they see one and so they can follow them around closer without any hassle.The documentary is shot with life cameras and has not been rehearsed or edited which makes it more entertaining to know nothing was rehearsed. It also make the documentary reliable and real to the audience which makes them engaged as its like we are actually there with the cubs as they grow up. The camera men do aren't hiding in bushes or from a distance as the cameras are closer which makes it easier for us to see. We can be directly in front of the cameras and the tigers wouldn't even pay attention if it isn't a threat.
This is what makes the show interesting to the audience because rather than exaggerating what is happening we get to see real life events of the tigers and what they would do in their day to day life. For example, we get to see the tiger chasing a cheetah, the tigers hunting deer's. This is all close up and follows the action making it more real and entertaining for the audience when watching it. Also because the cameras are so well hidden and good we are able to grow up with the cubs as they get older and see them going from little cubs who like to play to hunters chasing down their own food which shows their lives realistically.
Observational
This is when the filmmaker is behind the camera and is not seen on camera and has no participation in the events happening. Unlike the expository mode this mode does not have any voice over and the purpose of this is for the people to observe. This allows the audience to make their own opinions and come up with their own conclusions. By maintaining this mode the people who are being filmed forget that there is a camera presence which would allow them to act more natural. Using this makes it more engaging for the audience because it makes it feel more real. The people we are watching aren't scripted and so we can see them be themselves as they don't have to put an act on. This is what some people like. However, this type of mode can be boring for the audience as it can get boring watching these girls as some of them go through the same thing.
When doing an observational documentary it is mostly filmed with a handheld camera as they have to be able to move fast. Using a tripod would make it seem staged.
Link:http://www.mtv.com/full-episodes/a68i1d/16-and-pregnant-courtney-season-5-ep-511
This is a reality/tv documentary which follows the life's of five 16 year old girls and following their lives of how they deal with being pregnant and school. It starts from their 5 months pregnant's and observes their life to when they give birth. It does not have any interviews or voice overs but will have each girl talk directly to the camera on about how they feel or what is happening. Throughout this nobody else rather than the girls family talk as the only thing the cameramen do are follow the girls around. 16 and pregnant use a lot of long takes which follows the girls around. This allows it to make it look more realistic or even dramatic which would engage the audience when something happens.
Participatory
This mode welcomes direct contact with the filmmaker and the people being filmed as the filmmaker becomes part of the show. The filmmakers presence in the impact they make are acknowledged. This is done when the filmmaker are interviewing a person. This mode mainly focuses on sexuality , gender and race. The filmmaker will also in the documentary will play quite a part by maybe following someone around, asking questions and almost become a part of the subjects life for the duration of the documentary. Rather than not influencing or getting involved with the subject they will directly engage with them.
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06fq2v6#in=collection:p039pgzd
When doing an observational documentary it is mostly filmed with a handheld camera as they have to be able to move fast. Using a tripod would make it seem staged.
Link:http://www.mtv.com/full-episodes/a68i1d/16-and-pregnant-courtney-season-5-ep-511
This is a reality/tv documentary which follows the life's of five 16 year old girls and following their lives of how they deal with being pregnant and school. It starts from their 5 months pregnant's and observes their life to when they give birth. It does not have any interviews or voice overs but will have each girl talk directly to the camera on about how they feel or what is happening. Throughout this nobody else rather than the girls family talk as the only thing the cameramen do are follow the girls around. 16 and pregnant use a lot of long takes which follows the girls around. This allows it to make it look more realistic or even dramatic which would engage the audience when something happens.
Participatory
This mode welcomes direct contact with the filmmaker and the people being filmed as the filmmaker becomes part of the show. The filmmakers presence in the impact they make are acknowledged. This is done when the filmmaker are interviewing a person. This mode mainly focuses on sexuality , gender and race. The filmmaker will also in the documentary will play quite a part by maybe following someone around, asking questions and almost become a part of the subjects life for the duration of the documentary. Rather than not influencing or getting involved with the subject they will directly engage with them.
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06fq2v6#in=collection:p039pgzd
This documentary follows Reggie Yates as he travels to USA to talk examine the position of African-Americans in US society. This documentary is also filmed from an handheld camera as we follow the filmmaker and whoever he is talking too. The participatory mode is mainly the filmmaker as they are the ones asking questions, talking about the certain situations. At all times we should the filmmaker as a big part of the participatory is interviewing people about the problem they have experienced. As Reggie Yates explains what happens in front of the camera becomes an interaction between filmmaker and the subject. We know that none of this is stage due to the filmmaker asking questions a lot and actually interacting with the people they meet. This documentary is also very balanced as Reggie asks for both opinions of what people think. He interviews people who agree and disagree making the documentary stray away from being biased.
Reflexive
Reflexive documentaries like this one show the audience how they are recording it and make it obvious how they have edited it. The filmaker is present in the film and provides a narrative all the way through the film. The filmmaker will go out and try to put themselves in the issue and understand what that person is going through. This type of document isn't about facts but more of a statement to that the filmmaker wants to get across. The Reflexive mode acknowledges the constructed nature of documentary and displays it proudly. The presence of directions, cameras and lights is emphasised. The making of the documentary is at the centre of the documentary along the subject matter. There is an intentional display of the filmmakers activities. It strengthen the relationship between the makers and the audience and suggest a transparency. But, at the same time it gets audiences to consider and question the ways that documentaries shape the vision of reality.
This document follows Louis Therox as he travels to California which has on of the most highest meth users in the United States. In this documentary Louis theorx addresses his audience and gets their opinions to keep them watching. This is entertaining for the audience as he is involved which makes it less boring for the audience as he gets into it and sees what its like for the people but he is also dethatched so he can let the audience make their own opinions and also lets them watch so they can get more information. In this documentary Louis is explaining a lot and just telling us what the drug does and how it affects people. He mostly lets the people who he is interviewing talking so the audience know what's it like from that persons perspective.
Performative
In Performative documentary the filmmaker is deep involved in the filming. They are the narrative but it more to do with personal experience, this means we acknowledge their presence and most of the time they will be talking to the camera and will be explaining what is happening. This type of documentary is also very subjectivity as it does not talk about the truth but shows the emotional aspects and a persons personal experience.
This documentary is able to make people aware when they are talking online. It can be very dramatic as when the people are about to meet each other there's a lot of tense music to build up the tension to see if the person they are about to meet our who they say each other. This would even make the audience feel bad for the person if the person they are talking aren't who they say they are by. We would feel sad for them.
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