1. Types of Documentaries

2. 1) Docusoaps
Beginning in the 1990’s, docusoaps are a hugely popular hybrid genre.
They are often long running documentary series, usually following
certain people/ preparations to events. There is usually a central
protagonist that the show follows and by watching them on a
journey the audience begin to like/dislike them.
Examples
Big fat gypsy wedding, Driving school, Airport

3. 2) Reality TV
Factual television, sometimes known as infotainment. This emerged between
1989-1999. People can use factual TV to show useful information and
entertain the audience. Can sometimes contain a mixture of authentic
material with commercial content
Examples
Castaway, The bachelor, shipwrecked

4. 3) Fly on the wall
Camera is ignored/unseen by participants and they record
real life events that unfold.
Examples
The family, Big brother

5. 4) ‘Mixed’ documentary
This combines interviews, observation, actuality footage, archive material
and narration to help move the narrative and story on. All the different
aspects are linked together smoothly through the use of a voice over.
Examples
‘One Direction – ‘A year in the making’

6. 5) Self-reflexive
In this type of documentary, the participants know they are being followed
and often speak directly to the camera
Examples
Britain's hidden homeless

7. 6) Docu-drama
Re-enactments and re-constructions. They show events that happened at the
time in a dramatic way
Examples
Bowling for columbine, who bombed Birmingham?

8. 7) Fully narrated
This is when a voiceover is used to either convey an argument
or, in some cases, to explain whatever image is on the screen
at the time to further explain it to the reader
Examples
Human planet

9. Current affairs
‘Current affairs’ refers to thing that are affecting society right now. They are
usually journalist lead programmes and they aim to address news/ political
agendas in more depth than the news bulletins. They are often organised and
presented as a journalistic report and usually argue a case. The reporter
frequently appears in front of the camera.
They are half way between a documentary and news.
Current affairs must work quickly to get there stories together. Whilst a
documentary could take months to create and put together, a current affairs
programme must deal with issues that are happening now so have very little
time to get stories together
Examples
Dispatchers, news night, ‘tonight’
with sir Trevor McDonald