A documentary by definition on google is "using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a particular subject". It is an informative media text used to educate and entertain viewers on the desired topic. It is non-fiction and designed to highlight certain parts of reality as opposed to the escapist aspect of standard film entertainment.
What is an Expository Documentary?
These types of documentary speak directly to us as a viewer with a typically authoritative tone. This voiceover proposes a strong argument in favour of one way and tries to persuade us to join in this point of view. The images shown are used to compliment to voiceover and not go against their opinion, but to sway ours. Often depicted as a 'voice of God' the voice over is assertive and omniscient. For Example In 1942 the US Government released a series of propaganda films called "Why we fight" to educate the population on their involvement in WW2, these were in an expository style. Other films include nature documentaries like the 2019 Our Planet, showing footage of our planet's decay with David Attenborough's voiceover educating us.
What is an Observational Documentary?
This form of documentary presents life as it happens, the filmmaker simply shows us what is happening and doesn't get involved. They are a bystander a viewer of the film like us. They are hidden from the audience and don't provide commentary or interviews. it provides a complete non-judgemental or neutral viewpoint and allows us to build our own opinions of the text. For example. Theatre 1 the first in a three-part observational documentary series following one of Japan's leading playwriter and director. it shows how he works and what he and his theatre company do, it imposes questions to the audience upon watching "the film leads the audience to revisit fundamental but timely questions: What is theatre? Why do human beings act?" this documentary follows all the key points of an observational piece. and is a great display of filmmaking overseas too.
What is an Interactive Documentary?
The filmmaker is present and apart of this film style. The filmmaker or presenter typically interviews and we are somewhat included. Manipulation of texts is more evident through the editing in this style and it is sometimes criticised for misrepresentation and manipulation of the arguments and agendas. When discussing personal topics privacy and access is important, consent is a human right so you must fill out releases and permissions before making any sort of film.
What is a Reflexive Documentary?
These styles focus on the filmmaker making the documentary, exposing the conventions of documentaries themselves, similar to interactive ones the filmmaker is apart of it. They expose the construction of the documentary and less on the subject within the documentary. They will show clips of real life but utilise those as bricks to make a more experimental film. For example, in the early days of film "Man With a Movie Camera" shows people entering the theatre to watch the film and then proceeds to use footage from everyday life in a compilation or montage.
What is a Performative Documentary?
This form indirectly represents the world and it is focused more on the presentation aspect rather than the comment in the film these forms utilise re-enactments to give the viewer visual aids, it also uses exaggerated cinematography and music to immerse the viewer into the world of the film (diegesis). It typically presents the content as gritty and visceral. For example 1986's "The Thin Blue Line" a documentary on a Dallas police officer's murder showing it through gritty re-enactments of the night of his death along with crime movie like cinematography to keep the viewer interested in this 'who did it?' film. Dramatizations create an immersion in the topic with visual aids instead of just interviews and conversations, it gives the more visual learner an insight to how things happened.
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