Five Types of Documentary

Introduction:

A documentary is filming of real events which are unstaged but uses factual information to show an audience the "nature of events" (Buckland, W). Documentary's can be anything between expository, observational, interactive, reflexive and performative. 

Expository Documentaries:

This type of documentary is a direct and transparent way of presenting an audience with a voice over as a guide to what is happening on screen although this does not imply the voice's own opinions. This format also uses a series of informative images which also acts as a guide for the audience to develop a better understanding. Factual information is also given to the audience as well as an argument which is usually the main topic of the documentary. Although there are many ways that a documentary may be expository, it does not need to include every one of these points, suggested by John Grierson's expository documentary that is "poetic and aesthetic, rather than simply descriptive and informative." (Buckland, W). An example of a expository documentary is An Convenient Truth, created in 2006. This documentary is based upon a global warming campaign and includes verbal commentary and factual information, both being elements of an expository documentary. 

Observational Documentaries:

An observation documentary involves the filmmaker to be completely uninvolved and not evident at any point of the documentary. This format is a traditional way in which the film maker simply observes an event with no voice over, only the sound which is included in the shots and the use of long takes so that the audience can think for themselves with the lack of a guide putting words into the audiences head. This type of documentary is a way in which events are not manipulated to give the audience a "sense of place" (Buckland, W). An example of an observational documentary is Children Underground which was produced in 2001. This documentary was shot over a years period presenting footage from the street kids of Romania as well as the subways. Director Edet Belberg presents the audience with only footage and without the use of music to attempt to give a serious sense which adds to his message on "political statement about the consequences of the despotic Ceaucescu regrime" (SBS, 2014)

Interactive Documentaries:

A interactive documentary is very different to an observational documentary in the fact that the filmmaker is present and acts as a participant in the documentary. This format allows the audience to have not only a voice over to act as a guide like expository documentaries, but their very own presenter which is sometimes portrayed as misrepresenting the topic. This presents the audience with opinions and views from others on a certain topic with the use of interviews and arguments which can be addressed with or without the film-maker, either way giving it the same effect. An example of an interactive documentary is Kidneys for Jesus, directed, written and starred by Jon Ronson. This documentary is based upon Christians giving up everything they own to donate their kidneys to strangers. The elements of interactive documentary in this documentary consists of Jon Ronson acting as a participant.

Reflexive Documentaries:

A reflexive documentary is very much like an interactive documentary but instead of the filmmaker remaining their focus on the events and people such as interviewees, this format is created to reveal the truth of a chosen topic. This is done by the filmmakers main focus on how these people and events are filmed, in a subjective manner. An example of a reflective documentary is Driving Me Crazy, by Nick Broomfield. This documentary presents elements of a reflexive documentary as Nick Broomfield acts as a participant. Also, this content focuses on the making of the film rather than focusing on the content of the documentary.

Performative Documentaries:

This format of documentary is known for the use of re-enacting events which the filmmaker is trying to convey which allows the audience to have a clearer understanding of the filmmakers message or subject by presenting these real-life situations to the audience. Performative documentaries also focuses on the way the subject is presented rather than the subject itself, which is seen by the indirect effect of representing the world. An example of performative documentaries is Tongues Untied. This documentary is based upon race and sexuality, consisting of previous footage, using real-life situations and therefore presenting elements of a performative documentary. 

Conclusion:

My documentary film making philosophy is going to use elements of an interactive documentary as well as an observational and expository documentary. This is be on cystic fibrosis including interviews with the patient itself as well as from the mother and sibling on how they cope as a family. I think that a documentarist does not have a contract with the viewer to present them with truth and authentic information because even with a contract, it does not necessarily mean that that is the exact truth. This therefore shows that any documentary that a viewer watches, they're not guaranteed complete truth and authenticity. Many documentary's are filmed to explore a certain topic therefore many of the people they come across to give the viewer information may not be telling the complete truth and may exaggerate some of the information they give to the documentarist. 

References:

Teach Yourself Film Studies (Buckland, W, 2009)

SBS, (2014) [online] available at: http://www.sbs.com.au/blog/125959/t/Top-ten-observational-documentaries?cid=23255 [date accessed: 26/02/14]

Studying Documentary Forms, BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production, (2014)