DOCUMENTARY MODES - STUDENT CONTRIBUTED LIST
FLY-ON-THE-WALL-Presented in a “true to life manner”
-Supposed to be without flair
-Presentation is often very minimal
-May make use of voice over to clarify or expand
-Edit is often focused on presenting a “realistic” scene
Examples:
-Survivor
-Cops
-Jackass (maybe?)
INFORMATIONAL-Focused foremost on portraying information
-Not necessarily focused on capturing a moment, but an idea or concept
-Use of “documentarian” footage is not inherent
-Many different forms and styles of presentation
Examples:
-Inequality For All
-Saving Capitalism
-World War II in Color
CINEMA VERITEWhat is specific to this style of documentary?
Everything happens in the documentary is real.
The story and characters are not controlled by director.
Storytelling techniques (i.e.. usually voice over narration or conversational, etc)
No voice over narration.
Every dialogue and conversation are actual
Editing techniques
Sound recording is usually finished first, such as actual conversations, interviews and opinions
Selecting the best sound material
Film the visual material which match the sound best
EXAMPLES:
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963)
Project X (2012 film)
Children of Hiroshima (1952)
West 47th Street (2003)
The First 48(television shows)
REFLEXIVE / INTERACTIVEWhat is specific to this style of documentary?
The documentary would reflect what the film maker want people to notice in daily lives.
Storytelling techniques (i.e.. usually voice over narration or conversational, etc)
the film maker
Editing techniques
The documentary shows every scenes what the film maker sees, if any scene is cut the
documentary would not fit together.
The major purpose is to be as close as possible to the truth
EXAMPLES:
Jenny Livingston’s Paris Is Burning (1991)
Marlon Riggs’s Tongues Untied (1989)
Bear Grylls a survival expert
MOCKUMENTARY1:
- Mockumentaries, which are also known as docucomedies, is a style of filmmaking that depicts fictional settings and plots based on realistic or real world events and issues.
- Mockumentaries usually incorporate a satirical tone and often tend to mock the documentary style.
2:
- The topics or stories of the mockumentary are often not serious and the storytelling itself is not taken seriously.
- Storytelling is often not complex or elaborate. The story is simple and straightforward.
- Minimalistic sets and filming techniques, such as handheld cameras and natural lighting are used over elaborate staging, lighting, and filming techniques.
- Interviews and dialogue are used to explain the plot and introduce characters, and move the plot.
- Dialogue avoid dramatic techniques and do not build tension/suspense. Predictable dialogue.
- Improvisation in lines is common and scripts are often up for change and improvisation. Use of clichés is also common as a storytelling technique.
3:
- Dramatic editing and cutting is often not used. Cuts are used often only to reveal another character speaking or reveal the scene. Camera moves and zooms are used over cuts, though not dramatically.
- Cuts are predictable and only when necessary, not used for effect or to add tension.
- Natural and linear cuts. Scenes move logically from one to the other, no lost of time or space.
4: EXAMPLES
What We Do in the Shadows (Movie)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Movie)
Surf’s Up (Movie)
Seven Days in Hell (Movie)
This Is Spinal Tap (Movie)
Parks and Recreation (TV Series)
The Office (TV Series)
Sources:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/11-tips-making-mockumentary/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockumentary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mockumentaries
DOCUDRAMA
1:
- Docudramas are historic events or real-life contemporary events that are reenacted while also dramatized.
- Tells or follows the story of a real life event, while presented in a dramatized format.
- Follows storytelling and film techniques of classic drama, or even action and suspense genres of film.
2:
- Different in storytelling from docufiction or historical fiction, where the historic time frame, events, details and characters are used as a backdrop and the story is fictional. Docudramas follow a specific historic event or story and are closely tied to the actual events and tend to be closer to truth.
- Often defined by the description of “based on a true story” or “based on historic events.”
- Locations, names, characters (in all respects to detail) are not altered and closely recreated and reenacted to create the film. Actual documentary film footage is not necessary.
- Certain liberties are taken in favor of building tension or creating a more dramatic environment for the film, however slight liberties do not alter the truth. Dramatic license is not abused thus creating a unrealistic portrayal of the story.
- Same filming, scripting, and storytelling techniques as most films in the drama genre. Builds tension and atmosphere using lighting, sets, dramatic camera angles and movements.
3:
- Cuts and scenes are placed in order to create a cohesive story that follows the actual events of the historic event it is based on, yet in ways to build tension.
- Flashbacks and foreshadowing are common to introduce the characters, narrative, and plot.
4: EXAMPLES
Band of Brothers (Movie)
Zodiac (Movie)
Coach Carter (Movie)
Selma (Movie)
Imitation Game (Movie)
Captain Phillips (Movie)
Mars (TV Series)
Genius (TV Series)
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docudrama
https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-all-docudrama-movies/reference
https://entertainism.com/docudrama-meaning-characteristics-examples
FLY-ON-THE-WALL-Presented in a “true to life manner”
-Supposed to be without flair
-Presentation is often very minimal
-May make use of voice over to clarify or expand
-Edit is often focused on presenting a “realistic” scene
Examples:
-Survivor
-Cops
-Jackass (maybe?)
INFORMATIONAL-Focused foremost on portraying information
-Not necessarily focused on capturing a moment, but an idea or concept
-Use of “documentarian” footage is not inherent
-Many different forms and styles of presentation
Examples:
-Inequality For All
-Saving Capitalism
-World War II in Color
CINEMA VERITEWhat is specific to this style of documentary?
Everything happens in the documentary is real.
The story and characters are not controlled by director.
Storytelling techniques (i.e.. usually voice over narration or conversational, etc)
No voice over narration.
Every dialogue and conversation are actual
Editing techniques
Sound recording is usually finished first, such as actual conversations, interviews and opinions
Selecting the best sound material
Film the visual material which match the sound best
EXAMPLES:
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963)
Project X (2012 film)
Children of Hiroshima (1952)
West 47th Street (2003)
The First 48(television shows)
REFLEXIVE / INTERACTIVEWhat is specific to this style of documentary?
The documentary would reflect what the film maker want people to notice in daily lives.
Storytelling techniques (i.e.. usually voice over narration or conversational, etc)
the film maker
Editing techniques
The documentary shows every scenes what the film maker sees, if any scene is cut the
documentary would not fit together.
The major purpose is to be as close as possible to the truth
EXAMPLES:
Jenny Livingston’s Paris Is Burning (1991)
Marlon Riggs’s Tongues Untied (1989)
Bear Grylls a survival expert
MOCKUMENTARY1:
- Mockumentaries, which are also known as docucomedies, is a style of filmmaking that depicts fictional settings and plots based on realistic or real world events and issues.
- Mockumentaries usually incorporate a satirical tone and often tend to mock the documentary style.
2:
- The topics or stories of the mockumentary are often not serious and the storytelling itself is not taken seriously.
- Storytelling is often not complex or elaborate. The story is simple and straightforward.
- Minimalistic sets and filming techniques, such as handheld cameras and natural lighting are used over elaborate staging, lighting, and filming techniques.
- Interviews and dialogue are used to explain the plot and introduce characters, and move the plot.
- Dialogue avoid dramatic techniques and do not build tension/suspense. Predictable dialogue.
- Improvisation in lines is common and scripts are often up for change and improvisation. Use of clichés is also common as a storytelling technique.
3:
- Dramatic editing and cutting is often not used. Cuts are used often only to reveal another character speaking or reveal the scene. Camera moves and zooms are used over cuts, though not dramatically.
- Cuts are predictable and only when necessary, not used for effect or to add tension.
- Natural and linear cuts. Scenes move logically from one to the other, no lost of time or space.
4: EXAMPLES
What We Do in the Shadows (Movie)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Movie)
Surf’s Up (Movie)
Seven Days in Hell (Movie)
This Is Spinal Tap (Movie)
Parks and Recreation (TV Series)
The Office (TV Series)
Sources:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/11-tips-making-mockumentary/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockumentary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mockumentaries
DOCUDRAMA
1:
- Docudramas are historic events or real-life contemporary events that are reenacted while also dramatized.
- Tells or follows the story of a real life event, while presented in a dramatized format.
- Follows storytelling and film techniques of classic drama, or even action and suspense genres of film.
2:
- Different in storytelling from docufiction or historical fiction, where the historic time frame, events, details and characters are used as a backdrop and the story is fictional. Docudramas follow a specific historic event or story and are closely tied to the actual events and tend to be closer to truth.
- Often defined by the description of “based on a true story” or “based on historic events.”
- Locations, names, characters (in all respects to detail) are not altered and closely recreated and reenacted to create the film. Actual documentary film footage is not necessary.
- Certain liberties are taken in favor of building tension or creating a more dramatic environment for the film, however slight liberties do not alter the truth. Dramatic license is not abused thus creating a unrealistic portrayal of the story.
- Same filming, scripting, and storytelling techniques as most films in the drama genre. Builds tension and atmosphere using lighting, sets, dramatic camera angles and movements.
3:
- Cuts and scenes are placed in order to create a cohesive story that follows the actual events of the historic event it is based on, yet in ways to build tension.
- Flashbacks and foreshadowing are common to introduce the characters, narrative, and plot.
4: EXAMPLES
Band of Brothers (Movie)
Zodiac (Movie)
Coach Carter (Movie)
Selma (Movie)
Imitation Game (Movie)
Captain Phillips (Movie)
Mars (TV Series)
Genius (TV Series)
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docudrama
https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-all-docudrama-movies/reference
https://entertainism.com/docudrama-meaning-characteristics-examples
