Debates of the factual program format

Documentary is a factual program that presents facts and information. There are few different types of documentaries such as expository, observational, fly on the wall, interactive, reflective, poetic and dramatised.

There are debates within the documentaries. Are they telling the truth? Is it just the filmmakers’ opinion? Does the film represent the argument fairly? While making a documentary we should think about issues like balance, impartiality, accuracy and representation.

Genres and modes of address

Expository documentary is considered as a classic form of documentary in which an unseen presenter gives a voice-over commentary that explains the images that we are seeing. Interviews in this mode of address tend to be subordinated to the argument within the film. Witnesses are made to contribute to the argument. Usually, the solution would be suggested to the problem. This is the most common type of documentary. One of the examples is a documentary I watched recently about the islands completely made by human in Dubai. The project is called The World. The documentary had a narrator, who never appeared in the film, and the only people who were shown were he interviewees- architects, scientists and builders.

Observational documentary is a fly on the wall type of documentary. They watch or follow events rather than construct narratives for the events to follow. There are no interviews and we cannot see the filmmakers or reporters. There is no voice-over telling us what to think. In this mode commentary or external music are avoided.

One of the examples of fly on the wall documentary is Soldier Girls (1981) directed and produced by Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill. They follow the girls around during their basic training in Fort Gordon in Georgia. Some of the girls were forced to join the army. The film shows how they become harder and colder through the course of basic training. The audience see their everyday life, the relationships between the girls, how they struggle to survive and help each other.

‘Scene after scene in ‘Soldier Girls’ shows the truth to be much much stranger than fiction.’ Janet Maslin, The New York Times.

’’Soldier Girls’ is not just a feminist triumph; it is also a human triumph’ Amanda Spake, Editor, Mother Jones.  

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In interactive documentary a filmmaker is in the shot or his/her voice asks questions. The questions of the filmmaker may be left in or edited out.

‘This may be a way that individuals in a film can make their own case, but it is also a mode that can act to undermine the interviewees, making them look foolish or deluded. Their interpretation of events or personal account may be rendered to seem trustworthy or untrustworthy depending on the context of surrounding shots or the nature of the statements being made in their own right.’ [http://www.filmeducation.org/secondary/documentary2004/style.html, 10.11.08]

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Overall, this essay provides an informative overview of the main different documentary modes. It also offers debate on issues of truth, impartiality and balance affecting the contemporary documentary. However, it could be greatly improved by closer references to the various texts and case studies to give it more context and by the use of media terminology. There are some lapses in expression and grammar which at times affect the smooth flow of the essay.