Documentary Research

Media Documentaries

The Purpose of documentaries
To document and report with evidence something that has happened, it can show this by using actual footage or reconstructions. it can use a narrative voice over, or will rely on the participants themselves, with perhaps the occasional interjection than unseen narrator.
John Grierson created the term documentary in 1926. Documentaries are not just about facts though, instead facts are used to create socially critical arguments, there-by inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions.

Features of Documentaries
Obvservation - Most documentaries contain sequences of observation and the programme makers pretend that the camera is unseen or ignored by people taking part.
Questions are not heard. Mise-en scene reinforces what the interview is about.

Types of documentaries
Fully Narrated - Off-screen voice-over and the voice-over are used to make sense of visuals on-screen. The narrator always seems authoritive, knows what he's talking about.

Fly on the wall - This means no commentary or narration is used and the camera is left to record the subjects. There is also no interference, which leaves subjects to come to their own conclusion.

Mixed documenaries- use a combination of interview observation and narration to advance the argument. Narrator is often in front of the camera.

Self refliective - Subjectives of the documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak directly to the film makers.
They make a point of drawing attention to the film makers role, in constructing a view of reality.

Docu-drama - A re-inactment of events as they were supposed to have actually happened.

Docu-soaps - Programmes that follow the lives of particular individuals with designated occupations.

Visuals

• Archive footage
• Street scenes
• Open country-side
• Close-up of faces

These are just some of the stock materials used to suggest the intended meaning or emotional qualities of a particular theme.

Interviews
An interview can be held anywhere, however, the setting does affect the meaning. They normally begin with factual questions first to put the interviewee at ease. After this comes the more emotionally challenging/gripping questions at the end.

Voxpops
Technique consists of street interviews of the general public, with each person being asked the same question. The answers are then strung together in a fast sequence. they are good for a general question for a general agreement or the diversity of opinion.
Narrative of Conventions
Documentaries rely heavily on traditional conventions of narrative, i.e beginning, middle and end.
Beginning - Central question of a documentary can be posed at the beginning in an intriguing way. The most dramatic pieces of action footage can also be placed at the start or quick interviews cut in conflict with eachother and can get the audiences attention.

Middle - Often examines the issue in human terms focussing on people and their opinions. Conflict is strengthened in the middle section. However, apparently conflicting evidence may be introduced but all complications must support eventually the exposition (line of argument).

End - Exposition is fully apprent towards the end. 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.