What is a Documentary?
To help with planning our documentary, I decided to research in what documentaries are and consist of. After reading an article in "Film Art: An Introduction", I was given a clearer insight to the subject.
Documentaries are distinguished from other types of film in many ways. One of the main being how the documentary is identified; by its title, publicity or subject matter, allowing us to believe the contents is real and actually exists.
Documentaries aim to present factual information, in some cases allowing filmmakers to re-enact scenes or events that could not be captured in order to present the audience with more information.
Although things like this may lead to suspicion that it is therefore unreliable material, some staging is legitimate in order for filmmakers to be as informative as possible.
The article also introduces us to two different documentary forms.
Rhetorical Form - An approach used to present the audience with a persuasive argument to agree with the opinion which has been stated within the film.
Categorical Form - A simplistic approach to film structuring, this allows the filmmakers to break the film down into categories, which can then be introduced and spoken about at different/specific times.
This article and information is useful as it has given me a wider understanding of documentary and how they can be presented.
Types of Documentary
Informative -Based often with multiple contributors giving factual information about a detailed subject
Collage - An approach that combines moving image, archive footage, stills etc. to present a subject differently
Direct Cinema - When the filmmaker involves him/herself within the production, interacting with the subject of the film to reveal more information about the topic
Observational - The camera and filmmaker simply observes a subject, and does not intervene
Poetic - Often using a universal human theme, Poetic documentary uses music, metaphors and visual lyricism to portray the subject
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