2. 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.
3. History of Documentaries - John Grierson
John 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.
4. 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. 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
