Research: Techniques of Documentary Realism

Techniques of realism:

Present - conventions of film language that enhance the audiences sense of 'being there'

•Location shooting

•Hand, held camera 

•Natural lighting - not harsh artificial lighting 

•Synchronous sound recording

•Film makers visible presence 

Distant - conventions that allow the audience to feel objective about the subject

•Voiceover narrative

•Use of archive material e.g. expert footage

•Material shaped into a narrative

•Expert testimony

Modes of a documentary:

Expository Conventions

•Voiceover, which may be the 'voice of god' (heard not seen) or 'voice of authority' (seen and heard) and the voiceover addresses the audience directly.

•Images are used to illustrate and continuity editing is used to link images that support the argument. 

•A variety of footage, stills, interviews and archive material used to support the argument.

•There is an attempt to persuade the audience of a certain point of view by using logic and the idea of common-sense response.

Observational Conventions

•No voiceovers or interviews, documentary maker's presence is hidden

•Synchronous sound recording

•Location shooting, hand-held cameras often used

•Subjects pretend that they are not being filmed

Participatory or interactive conventions

•Documentary maker and the crew interact with subjects. The documentary maker is visible to the audience, participates and intervenes in the action.

•Voiceovers are usually by the documentary maker

•Interviews dominate the documentary but tend to be informal

•Location shooting, hand-held cameras often used

•Synchronous sound recording

•Long takes dominate