Documentary formats

Expository
The conventions typically shown in the documentary format of expository. Use
voice overs that address to the audience directly. There are images illustrated
over the top of the audio, the pieces of video normally include things like
interviews, stills and achieve material to support something. Some of the
material comes across fairly persuasive to a certain point of view.
Observational
The observation conventions include vast about of location shooting with hand
held equipment with synchronous (direct) sound recording and the subjects
including in the video pretend as if they arent filmed at all. Unlike expository
filming this format does not include any interviews or voice overs.
Interactive
In Interactive documentaries the producer and crew interact with the subjects in
the documentary itself. Interview included tend to be informal and question are
not pre planned. Furthermore any location shooting will
Reflexive
Reflexive documentarys on a regular basis they include a voice overs that
question things that are uncertain to the audience leaving them wanting to know
the unknown. Therefore nothing seems to be factual in these sorts of
documentary. Furth more the camera work featured is emphasises the expressive
nature (therefore it includes Anti-realist techniques, expressive lighting and
dramatic music)
Performative
With performative documentary the documentary maker and crew interact with
the subject in the film work and the documentary often comments on the overall
process of the documentary making. Often, the audience is addressed as in an
emotional and a direct way as they are almost part of the narrative of the
investigation/ search with the documentary maker. The subjects talked about are
often concerns of identity (gender and sexuality instead of more factual topics).
Realism
Included in realism documentaries there are footage are real people,no actors
are included. In these type of documentaries hand held cameras are used for an
added effect to the reality side and how someone would actually see the location
.However media can often be manipulated. Although the audience connect with
what they see as the information given is aimed to be a true as possible. An
example of a documentary of this type would be Ross Kemp on Gangs a
documentary where Ross Kemp the narrator explores the under world on real
gang members in society. It focuses on the most willing gang members.
Dramatization
Dramatization is the process to reconstruct an event/novel/story in a form
suitable for a dramatic presentation. Sometimes too much exaggeration makes

things narrated to be completely manipulated and the audience educated false

fact However when used correctly it can be very engaging to the audience.
Typically they react a story in a dramatic form. This will be seen all he time in
factual crime shows such as crime watch.
Narrativisation
The process of putting a narrative on a real experiences or events. In order to
show a story to engage the audience further. One of the conventions in this
process is giving animals names for example. For example in wildlife
documentaries sometimes you see Whales with names. Therefore naming the
animals is a typical example of Narrativisation.
Bibliography
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-of-documentary-conventions
(Accessed: 19 April 2016).
Citations, Quotes & Annotations
(amythechooch, 2010)
93, guest 798 C. (2008) Girishgk11. Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation (Accessed: 25 April
2016).

http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation