Types of Documentaries.

What is a Documentary? 



Expository Documentary:

An expository documentary film includes an disembodied and authoritative voice over (a running commentary). This form of documentary also includes various images and clips which are used to be descriptive and informative.
Example Below:



The Life documentary series produced by David Attenborough, (the clip above is episode 7 of his 2009 series 'Life'; the episode is called Hunters and Hunted). David Attenborough is most know for his animal and nature related documentary's, for example the clip above is an example of his work with filming and giving interesting facts about nature and its wildlife. A David Attenborough documentary's such as the one above, is a good example of an expository documentary. This is because Attenborough uses his well known professional voice to directly tell the audience what is happening on the screen. This also means that he will talk over images that are related to what he is saying. Also Attenborough uses full proof facts about what he is talking about, which makes it more interesting and relevant to what the documentary is about; his own opinions and those of others are also sometimes used to get the people point of view. As a result this makes the documentary seem more real and truthful.

Observational Documentary:

An observational documentary is used to try and get a 'slice of life' and to be a natural and direct representation of what is being filmed. The film maker themselves becoming invisible and nothing more that a fly on the wall.
Example Below:

Children Underground documentary, Directed by Edet Belzberg. This is a documentary about homeless Romanian children who were born as victims of  the nations reckless population growth policy during the communist era. It is mad to simply stand by and watch as the homeless children struggle to survive on the streets and in the subways of Bucharest, Romania. This is a good example of an observational documentary as the film maker themselves aren't on camera and are simply recording the events of the children as they happen naturally; making the audience get a 'fly on the wall' look at the lives of these children, but in some cases it makes the audience want to interfere and do something to help the poor children. Also it gets the audience to think for themselves about what is happening withing the film and they can then interpret their own meaning and theories of what they see.

Interactive Documentary:

An interactive documentary is where the film makers presence is clearly know. It also involves them (the film maker) interacting with the people or events; for example in things like interviews. This gives a specific response and real comments from those being filmed.
Example Below:



Inside Death Row, documented by Trevor McDonald is about what life is relay like for the inmates inside death row. This is a good example of an interactive documentary. This is because the filmmakers presents is known on camera and they have regular interviews and interactions with the people he is interviewing and he also poses questions to the audience, making them engaged and involved with what is happening on screen. He also expressed his own questions and opinions and uses manipulation to get the truth out of who he is interviewing.


Reflexive Documentary:

A reflexive documentary is used to focus the audiences attention on the conventions of the documentary's representation. Rather than have the audience focus on the events and people that are being filmed. This type of documentary focuses more on how they are filmed. Its is used to challenge a documentary's ability to expose the truth.
Example Below:



The day Banksy came to Folkestone documentary, shows the aftermath of the amazing artwork of Banksy after, during the night, he painted the town with his always intriguing art. The talking used in this documentary is simply the surrounding people who are slowly gathering around the artwork on the wall and discussing it and giving their own natural/genuine opinions. This documentary focuses more on the way in which it is filmed, it uses slow motion to capture the audiences and the news reactions and a variety of shots simply showing the artwork from all different/possible angles. This makes the audience watching the documentary think and focus only on what the documentary is about, which is Banksy's artwork. It makes them really think about what it means to them personally.


Performative Documentary:

A peformative documentary converts the attention away from the world and towards the expressive dimension of film.
Example Below:

This documentary made me incredibly emotional; thoughtful and speechless. It is a documentary about a true story of what happened in Auschwitz to a Holocaust survivor. She wants the world to know her story and to know the hard, disturbing truth of what really happened to those held captive, tortured and murdered in concentration camps such as Auschwitz.

I prefer Expository and Interactive Documentary's because they are more interesting and because there is always something happening so I find it more engaging, informative and just more enjoyable to watch. Also I find these forms involve the audience allot more and therefor help the audience become involved with the topic that is being talked about. However, that being said. I actually believe Observatory documentary's to be the most realistic and truthful/ honest form of documentary as it just happens in the moment, the scene will set itself and there will be no outside involvement. It will be true and natural, not staged as other documentary's are.