CHARACTERISTICS OF A DOCUMENTARY Please copy into the

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DOCUMENTARY Please copy into the Class Notes section of your notebook.

What is a documentary? � � � Definition: An informational documentary is a nonfiction film without actors. Typically, it is a journalistic record of an event, person, place or phenomenon. Its purpose is to convey factual data. An effective documentary should be… Compelling � � Based on facts. Has a point of view, but does not try to persuade… or does it? Entertaining � Engages the audience with a variety of media, such as narration, text, interviews, photographs, dramatizations, or music. � � Holds audience interest. � � Based on facts � � � Uses and cites data from reliable sources. � Does not rely on rumors or unsupported opinions.

What makes a documentary? ? ?

Observation (fly on the wall): � Putting the audience in a role of eyewitness where the camera appears to be unseen. Indirect address to the audiences, i. e. speech overheard is a common factor of this en-scene observation.

Interview: � � Use interviews to make a contrast between observation sequences. Structured in two ways: � Intercut fragments of observations � Completely uninterrupted sequence

Dramatization: � � Even though all documentaries use a sense of drama, it is specifically used to portray people and events the filmmaker cannot gain access to in real life (this is not so much the case with Making a Murderer). These sequences are said to be based on fact.

Mise-en-Scene � � Literally what the director(s) and producer(s) put into the frame. For example, lighting and props in an interview.

Exposition: � � The line of argument which is what the film is saying. Sequences that lead the audience to make their own conclusions.

Documentary vs. “Mockumentary”