Techniques in Documentary Film

What is documentary film? : Documentary films are non-fictional films meant to document reality, usually to educate, instruct, document events, and more recently, to entertain.

\ In order to achieve the purpose of a documentary film, there are various techniques that a director may utilize. These are known as %%persuasive techniques%% and are used to elicit a particular reaction from the viewer.

\ The persuasive techniques can be split into 4 categories:

1. What viewers see
2. What viewers hear
3. What viewers read
4. The organization

\ What Viewers See

• Primary Footage   * scenes shot/created by the filmmaker specifically for the film (think of location, interviews, re-enactments)
• Secondary Footage   * scene shot by other filmmakers that is gathered and used by the documentarian
• Still Images   * Photographs instead of videos

\ What Viewers Hear

• Dialogue   * Communication between 2 or more people.   * Conversational in wording.
• Narration   * Single speaking individual that tells the story or ads context to what is being seen. Sometimes the individual speaking is seen, others they are not.
• Diegetic Sounds   * Any sound that the character(s) or individuals can physically hear. Originates within the video or film’s world. (voices, background, an instrument)
• Non-diegetic sounds   * Any sound the audience can hear but the characters/individuals on screen cannot. Generally added in during post-production (narration,score, effects)

\ What Viewers Read

• Subtitles   * add additional information to images
• Graphics   * images, charts, graphs, that add additional information to spoken words

\ The Organization

• Sequence   * How events unfold   * The order of the film elements presented
• Transitions   * Video and audio techniques that filmmakers use between film elements
• Cohesiveness   * Consistent look and feel given to the entire film

\ \