For A2 Film students

1. FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF DOCUMENTARY
FILMMAKING

2. USE OF VERBAL LANGUAGE IN DOCUMENTARY
Overheard Exchange: Recording of seemingly spontaneous dialogue
between two or more participants engaged in conversation.
Testimony: The recording of information or opinion by witnesses, experts or
other participants. May involve direct address to the camera, or a voiceover.
Exposition: Use of a voiceover or direct address to provide essential
information and argument.

3. ‘MODES’ OF DOCUMENTARY
Bill Nichols (2001)defines six modes of documentary:
1. Poetic: representing reality in a way designed to manipulate the audience towards an
emotional response e.g. through then use of non diegetic music or montage editing.
2. Expository: Information presented in a direct form, audience acknowledged
sometimes with a ‘voice-of-god’ narration and/or ‘testimony’
3. Observational (fly-on-the-wall): Developed with handheld cameras and long takes in
the 1950s/60s. Audience should not be aware of the filmmaker; an attempt to capture
reality as it unfolds.
4. Participatory or Interactive: Film-maker interviews/interacts with participants.
5. Reflexive: Represents awareness that the film is constructing its own reality.
6. Performative: Represents reality in a stylised way that evokes the mood of fiction films
to encourage audience engagement. Often autobiographical, may involve
reconstruction of events.

4. REPRESENTATION OF THE ‘REAL’
Reality Mediation Representation
The real world The process of producing the The text itself.
film. A ‘representation’ of the
real world.
The way someone or something is represented is not necessarily reality. For example you may feel the
representation of your academic performance In your last report does not reflect reality. Although I
would beg to differ!! Representations can often be subjective rather than objective.