Documentary Notes

Defining Documentary

Defining Documentary

A broad category of film or television show that attempts to "document" some aspect of reality

Non-fiction(true), un-staged

Presents "life as it is" or "a factual film that is dramatic"

Attempts to inform or get us to think about an issue in real life

History

Early film (pre-1900) captured single-shot moments and were "actuality" films. ex. a train leaving the station

Documentary was first coined in 1926.

Nanook of the North considered first documentary in 1921

Expository

A very traditional form of documentary in which an unseen speaker performs a voice over commentary that literally explains the images that we are seen (wildlife or historic)

Observational

This is the mode associated with 'fly-on-the-wall' type documentaries.

They appear to have been filmed in 'real time', as if the camera has happened upon events while those involved are seemingly unaware of the filming going on.

The filmmakers correspondingly attempt not to interfere in what is underway.

Interactive/Participatory

Many documentaries feature a certain amount of interactive mode filmmaking. Such sequences will involve those being filmed responding to questions asked of them.

In such interviews, the questions of the filmmaker may be left out or edited out

This may be a way that individuals in a film can make their own case, but it is also a mode that can act to undermine the interviewees, making them look foolish or deluded

Reflexive

This is a style that is usually associated with more experimental documentaries, ones in which the filmmakers are interested as much in the process of making a film, of how reality can be constructed, as the actual content. (ex no attempt to hide camera crew and construction)

Poetic

Instead of using traditional linear continuity to create story structure, the poetic documentary filmmaker arrives at its point by arranging footage in an order to evoke an audience association through tone, rhythm, or spatial juxtaposition.

Voice over

A commentary by the filmmaker, spoken while the camera is filming or added to the soundtrack; the filmmaker can speak directly to the viewer

Interview

People being filmed speak directly about the issue, events, etc.

Interviewees are called "talking heads" and they may represent various sides of the issue

Archival Footage

Material obtained from a film library or archive and inserted into a documentary to show historical events

Reconstruction/Reenactment

Artificial scenes portraying an event (have been reconstructed and acted out based on information about the event)

Montage

Conveys ideas by putting them in a specific order in the film; contains a sequence of shots that often link action with words (as manipulated by the filmmaker)

Wallpaper

Documentaries often need to convey abstract information - usually by voice-over narration. Since abstract concepts have no physical existence, they are impossible to record visually. But because the screen cannot be blank, the film maker and script writer must invent visuals that appear plausibly connected to the narration, even if they do not show what is actually being talk about on the soundtrack narration

Actuality

A non-fiction film genre that, like the documentary film, uses footage of real events, places, and things, yet unlike the documentary is not structured into a larger picture. In practice actuality films precede the emergence of the documentary

Close Up

Shows only one part of a subject Shown in great detail Can be a face, body part, item Purpose: create suspense show emotion Can show one subject or more

Medium Shot

Camera shows half of the subject. ex. waist up, back of car Often used in TV due to smaller screen Purpose: creates comfort. not intimidating, provides context, still intimate enough to draw audience in Can show one subject or more

Long Shot

Show the whole subject(s) Entire body of an individual, full car, full house Purpose: establish setting and context; creates a mood Can show one subject or more

Establishing Shot

Used at the beginning of a scene to tell the viewers where they are

Reaction Shot

Used to show the effect of one person's words or actions on the other people in scene

Low Angle

Camera is looking up at the subject Purpose: makes the subject appear important, powerful, or domineering

High Angle

Positions the camera above eye level, looking down on the subject Purpose: makes the subject appear insignificant, weak helpless or small

Eye Level

Taken so subject are equal Leaves the impression of being neutral

Tracking

Camera moves alongside what it's recording. Generally follow along the horizontal axis as the subject moves

Dolly

Camera moves toward or away from the subject you're shooting, Instead of utilizing the zoom to get close, the camera is physically moving relative to the subject

Panning

Camera stays in the same position but turns left or right

Tilting

Camera stays in the same position but turns up or down