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Documentary Genres
Definition of a documentary:A documentary is a film,
television or radio programme that provides a factual report
on a particular subject
Purpose of a documentary:
A documentary film is a nonfictional motion picture intended to document some
aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or
maintaining a historical record.
History of Documentaries - John GriersonJohn Grierson was a pioneering
Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of
British and Canadian documentary film.
In 1926, Grierson coined the term “documentary” and this has been the name ever since.
The main purpose of documentaries was to inform
and educate but also entertain.
In 1995 John Corner wrote documentaries and said the
purpose is to record sound and images of actuality.
John Grierson won the best historical documentary and
won best drama documentary.
He produced 38 films and was a consultant to the Prime Minister during
WW2
Within documentaries there is always a levels of construction
and editing which has and this has been the case since the easily
stages of documentaries
A documentary is when you report with evidence
something that has actually happened.
Elements of a Documentary - John Corner
John Corner said that the purpose of a documentary was to record “sound and images of actuality” in
1995.
He said a documentary was a report with evidence, something
that has actually happened.
Corner created the 5 key elements of a documentary:
observation, interviews, exposition, mise-en-scene and
dramatization.
Still constructed – using editing, voice overs (voice
of God), cutting bits of footage out etc ….
5 Key Elements
Observation
- Observational footage- Unacknowledged camera- Capturing visuals of actuality- Camera taking the roll of the eye
witness
Interviews
- Recording people answering questions
- Addressed and questioned
Dramatisation
- Re-enactment of events- Entertaining- Witnessing dramatic events
Exposition
- Line of argument – what the documentary is saying
- Either direct and obvious or indirect and subtle
- Either way it is always present
Mise-en-scene
- Carefully composed to include relevant mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, background/location, costume and make up)
- Provides meaning and a sense of reality
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