The British Documentary

Movement and different types

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Activity

» Notions of real» Notions of real

Types of documentary

form

The expository mode» Most commonly used form uses a ‘voice of god’

narration to shape the subject and the audience in relation to it

» Narrator has a power granted by the fact that they cannot be seen. Words take on an authority by the style and tone of delivery.

» This film will often utilise the techniques of the fiction film - such as use of filters, tracking, craning, dissolves. Images will do little more than to support the voiceover

» Has views are always mediated by voiceover, this form has strict control over meanings and response

» Mostly adopted for propaganda purposes

» Most commonly used form uses a ‘voice of god’ narration to shape the subject and the audience in relation to it

» Narrator has a power granted by the fact that they cannot be seen. Words take on an authority by the style and tone of delivery.

» This film will often utilise the techniques of the fiction film - such as use of filters, tracking, craning, dissolves. Images will do little more than to support the voiceover

» Has views are always mediated by voiceover, this form has strict control over meanings and response

» Mostly adopted for propaganda purposes

Observational mode

» Seems the most authentic in dealing with the real as it presents itself as simply recording what happens in front of the camera

» Long takes, lack of editing, not polished soundtracks, absence of narrator (sounds like events are being overheard), continuity editing.

» Popularised by new wave in late 50s in UK, France in late 50s through cinema verite, in America with direct cinema in 1960s.

» Seems the most authentic in dealing with the real as it presents itself as simply recording what happens in front of the camera

» Long takes, lack of editing, not polished soundtracks, absence of narrator (sounds like events are being overheard), continuity editing.

» Popularised by new wave in late 50s in UK, France in late 50s through cinema verite, in America with direct cinema in 1960s.

Reflexive mode

» Most difficult to apply - as it not only looks at its subject but draws on how it constructs the documentary.

» Less about the filmmaker and the subject and more about the documentary techniques and the audience. Like Chris Marker.

» In Wim Wenders Notebook on Clothes and Cities, the designing and cutting of the cloth is likened to the editing of the film and the audience can see the footage in a small monitor being played.

» Most difficult to apply - as it not only looks at its subject but draws on how it constructs the documentary.

» Less about the filmmaker and the subject and more about the documentary techniques and the audience. Like Chris Marker.

» In Wim Wenders Notebook on Clothes and Cities, the designing and cutting of the cloth is likened to the editing of the film and the audience can see the footage in a small monitor being played.

Interactive mode» Often considered the purest as dies not try to hide its

medium (the filmmaker or the process)» Interact with subject, effects with there being a camera» Interviews very popular to shape the doc (important to

note that interviewers can that shape the questions with what they ask or more importantly what they don’t ask!)

» Nick Broomfield encourages subjects to interact with him and his camera through his personality based documentaries in the late 1990’s.

» Presents himself as bumbling, almost amateurish deliberately to get more results

» Owes much to his personality - direct approach, willingness to ask awkward questions.

» Often considered the purest as dies not try to hide its medium (the filmmaker or the process)

» Interact with subject, effects with there being a camera» Interviews very popular to shape the doc (important to

note that interviewers can that shape the questions with what they ask or more importantly what they don’t ask!)

» Nick Broomfield encourages subjects to interact with him and his camera through his personality based documentaries in the late 1990’s.

» Presents himself as bumbling, almost amateurish deliberately to get more results

» Owes much to his personality - direct approach, willingness to ask awkward questions.

FIND ME AN EXAMPLE OF EACH

Nick Broomfield

» What type of films does Nick Broomfield make?

» What type of films does Nick Broomfield make?