The Documentary

FILM TECHNIQUES

Exposition

• In a documentary, the exposition occurs at the beginning and introduces the important themes of the film. It is important because it creates the viewer's first impression and introduces the viewer to the content.
• The exposition often uses a non-diegetic voice over narration.
• It is common for the documentary to challenge an established ‘orthodox’ view of an event or present a case based on 'newly uncovered' evidence.
• Dramatic segments of the documentary are specially chosen in order to catch the viewer’s attention at the very beginning.
• The exposition can use voice-over narration or direct narration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZxA_Zi71k

Jump-cuts

• Any cut in film editing that gives the impression of the subject “jumping” forwards in time.
• This is done by showing almost the exact same shot in successive frames, with only a slight variation in the subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4cNrUB4ss&ab_channel=DeltonaHSWolfTV-Official

Cross-cuts

• Used to establish action occurring at the same time, cross-cutting involves the camera cutting away from one action to another to give the impression of the action occurring simultaneously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmptU7vEkNU

Inter-cuts

• To interrupt the narrative with shots from other scenes, or flashbacks.
• Modern documentary filmmakers will often use a montage instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWp1mFJtx6Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IDBZ5AsUuk

Montage

• An edited sequence that elicits a strong emotional reaction on the part of the viewer; often used as transitional or climactic sequences; static shots.
• A montage requires careful and selective editing of the selected pieces to form a continuous whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF1Da6MCUC4

Establishing Shot

• Used to set up the context for a scene by allowing the audience to see where it is taking place, and the relationship that the characters have within it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmF-PBPLlcA&ab_channel=VideoStudent

Point of View Shot

• By using the camera in a specific way, usually after a shot of a character or person, the camera is able to film a short scene that is exactly what that character or person would be looking at – it shows their point of view.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mQlj3P3xp8

Reaction Shot

• A primary means of conveying meaning within the context of narrative is through the use of a reaction shot--a medium shot or close-up of a character/person just after significant action occurs within the scene.

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https://vimeo.com/64772466

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ob5nvpfiek&ab_channel=HannahPhillips

Close Up Shot

• One way filmmakers break down narrative scenes is by inserting a close-up in an unexpected context; when this is done the shot is often a close-up in order to draw our attention to the image/object and facilitate our judgment of the action.

https://vimeo.com/64772466

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ob5nvpfiek&ab_channel=HannahPhillips

Sound

• Diegetic sound: It is sound that the characters can hear as well as the audience, and usually implies a reaction from the character. Also called "literal sound" or "actual sound“
• Examples: voices of characters or sounds within the story

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MafUzGmUgYc

Sound

• Non-diegetic sound: It is sound which is represented as coming from a source outside the story space, i.e. its source is neither visible on the screen, nor has been implied to be present in the action. Also called "non-literal sound" or "commentary sound":
• Examples: Narrator’s commentary, voice-over and music

Music

• Music is increasingly important in popular documentaries.
• Soundtracks can provide a musical context for the history and can also provide incidental music to help fix the emotional tone of the message being conveyed.
• Incidental music is often ‘background’ music, and adds atmosphere to the action. As a result, music can play a significant role in the emotive impact of a documentary.
• It may take the form of something as simple as a low, ominous tone suggesting an impending startling event or to enhance the depiction of a story-advancing sequence.

Music

• Music is increasingly important in popular documentaries.
• Soundtracks can provide a musical context for the history and can also provide incidental music to help fix the emotional tone of the message being conveyed.
• Incidental music is often ‘background’ music, and adds atmosphere to the action. As a result, music can play a significant role in the emotive impact of a documentary.
• It may take the form of something as simple as a low, ominous tone suggesting an impending startling event or to enhance the depiction of a story-advancing sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSq7LW3qu1k

Direct Narration

• We see and hear the narrator of the film as the narration is presented; suggests an intimacy between narrator and audience
• This type of narration is seldom objective‑‑its biases reflect the speaker's background, conflicts, values

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9__23-zjhM

Voice Over Narration

• The use of a non-diegetic (not part of the narrative) voice that assists in explaining information, primarily in a documentary or news feature.
• The ‘voice of God’ narration applies here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQgl3RAiYHs

Interviews

• The interview is a common documentary technique. It allows people being filmed to speak directly about events, prompted by the questions asked by the filmmaker.
• An interview may take place on screen, or off screen, on a different set. Interviews in a documentary give the viewer a sense of realism, that the documentary maker’s views are mutually shared by another person or source, and thus more valid.
• Interviews can be both direct and indirect. A direct interview involves asking questions in a way that the responder understands the purpose of the question, and the intended response. Indirect interviews involves asking questions when the responder is unaware of the purpose, or the intended response.

Indirect & Direct Interview Technique

• Indirect: We see subject talking on camera, but we don't see or hear the interviewer asking questions in the same shot; this gives the impression of the character speaking directly to the viewer.
• Direct: We see subject talking on camera, and we see and hear the interviewer asking questions in the same shot or in part B of a two‑part parallel track; suggests journalistic basis of reporting).

Archetypal Characters

• A typical character who is used to represent a wider range of people, their views and opinions. Also known as a ‘stock character’

Contrasting Characters

• Characters who a fundamentally different to one another. Used by producers to create tension and differing points of view for an audience.

Archival Footage

• Archival, or stock footage, is material obtained from a film library or archive and inserted into a documentary to show historical events or to add detail without the need for additional filming. This can include still images as well as archive film. Archival footage is particularly important to historical documentary film making. The concept can also be extended to include the photography of historical material from archives which are used to illustrate a documentary film.
• Archive footage can also refer to news footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8dxCqZOzA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UbssTtTLpU

Reconstructions

• Reconstructions are a relatively recent addition to documentary film. They are artificial scenes of an event which has been reconstructed and acted out on film based on information of the event.
• Reconstructions have become an almost essential element of documentary film and can even make up the entire filmed footage of the documentary. (e.g. Days that Shook the World, BBC, 2003)
• Reconstructions generally provide factual information and give the viewer a sense of realism, as if the event really happened in front of them live. This can be very powerful and/or entertaining.
• Film makers often (but not always) indicate that the footage is not real by using techniques such as blurring, distortion, lighting effects, changes in camera level, and colour enhancement within the footage.
• Reconstructions are one of the most expensive aspects of modern documentary film making.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqjzCAQyWbI

CGI, Graphics and animation

• For obvious reasons of technological development, graphical images and special effects are increasingly important in documentary film.
• Traditionally this might have been in the form of a map illustrating geographical context or a hand built model. Today viewers have come to expect sophisticated CGI reconstruction.
• Animation can also be used to lighten the mood and parody or re-enact and describe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjFfpbFtU9g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGYFRzf2Xww