Documentary Formats

Introduction:

What is a documentary?
Using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a particular subject - Google's definition. 
I would define a documentary as something where somebody does interviews and collects information from interviews and pictures, and puts them into a film, known as a documentary - my definition.

Expository Documentary:
An expository documentary is when the documentary speaks directly to viewer, providing information through a voice and subtitle. These films usually have a rich male voice. An example of an expository would be Planet Earth with David Attenborough presenting it, with a rich male voice.



Observational Documentary:
Observational documentaries are where the people film an event and have minimal interference with this event. They try to make it seem like the camera isn't even there, and if people are being filmed. Then for them to just completely ignore the camera. An example of an observational documentary is D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back (1967).



Interactive Documentary:
An interactive documentary moves away from traditional documentaries and uses all media tools, such as: photos, film and audio. The director or interviewer is able to mold there journey through documentary, mostly showing what they want, and showing what the people being filmed, may not want to be shown, which might make them look bad, even it is the truth. An example of an interactive documentary would be Louis Theroux's "Weird Weekends". If you don't have access to a certain place, it may be hard to actually film for the documentary. Louis Theroux in his "Scientology" documentary, isn't allowed entry to the studios so tries to deliver a letter there, and is instantly denied access and is told to go away. He combats not being allowed access by interviewing people who used to be Scientologists. This gives him an insight into what Scientology is like. This interviewing people who used to be part of something. is a way of getting access to information, when you've been denied access to get into somewhere. However, with privacy, some things can't be filmed and you have to respect this, even if it would make your documentary worse or shorter as you can't legally do it.


Reflexive Documentary:
A reflexive documentary is where it shows the "behind the scenes" where they show you the truths behind the film making and and all the editing. The filmmaker is a part of the film, and performs a narrative for the film.  An example of a reflexive documentary would be "Stories We Tell", directed by Sarah Polley.



Performative Documentary:
A performative documentary links in with the emotional side of documentaries and subjective sides of a documentary, to present ideas in different ways for different people. An example of a performative documentary would be Jenny Livingston’s "Paris Is Burning (1991). Re-enactments are used because they didn't have the original clip at the time, but also the clip could be bad quality. This is why performative documentaries use re-enactments. Using these gives people an insight of what it was like to be there, but also gives people a video to go along with the a voice over.



Conclusion:
My documentary philosophy would be to always show and report back the truth, with no spin on ayhting, no hatred or any biased views towards something, i would like to show things how they are as if not, there could be things taken from the documentary in a bad way or could end up creating false information or new stereotypes, or even bring back old stereotypes. So if i were to make a documentary, I would report and show the truth as i believe thats what documentaries should be, and not create any false information.