Documentary

The purpose of a documentary is to document for example to report with evidence something that has actually happened, this can be fufiled with actuality footage or reconstructions of the subject being documented.

The features of a documentary;

1. Observation - Camera observe what is happening.
2. Interview - Documents rely on interviews.
3. Dramatisation - Sense of drama through the observational element.
4. Mise-en-scene - Careful consumption of shots, that the documentary makers want them to see.
5. Exposition - Line of argument in a documentary. What the documentary is portraying developing the narrative.

Types Of Documentary

1. Fully Narrated - Voice over is used to make sense of the visuals and dominates there meaning.
2. Fly on the wall - Offers a true picture of events, participants are aware.
3. Mixed - Using a combination of interview, observation and narration.
4. Self Reflective - Participants acknowledge presence of the camera and usually speak directly to the document maker.
5. Docudrama - re-enactment of events (usually history documents)
6. Docusoaps - Following the lives of particular individuals.

Theories
1. Open vs Closed - Open ended narrative means that the audience is left with questions unanswered. Closed ended narrative means the audience's questions are asnwered and nothing else has to be questioned.
2. Linear vs Non Linear - Linear is when the topic follows in chronological order where as  non linear is when the narrative jumps back to different times.
3. Single Strand vs Multi Strand Narrative - Single strand narrative is when therer is only one narative focused on where as multi strand is where there is more than one story followed throughout the documentary