Documentary
A documentary is a non-fiction film that documents factual reports on a particular subject. Documentary filmmakers use documentaries to reveal information unknown to the audience by telling the story from different viewpoints. Filmmakers can often create documentaries because they feel other mainstream media do not adequately cover a particular story. Documentaries can create awareness about important social issues. Through it, audiences gain access to information and subjects that are otherwise unknown or inaccessible.
Video, film scenes, photographs and sound recordings of real people and events are all used in the documentary genre. When edited together, it will create a story/viewpoint. In recent decades, documentaries have become one of the most popular forms of cinematic storytelling, journalism, advocacy, and personal experience, primarily due to popular streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
Objective
An objective documentary should document the story as it truly happened, untainted by the filmmaker's beliefs or personal opinions. It should share unbiased and neutral facts with its audience and allow them to come to their own conclusions.
It should not require persuasion to make a point.
Subjective
A subjective documentary is created when the filmmaker selects the information they wish to include and document what they know rather than what is accurate and true. They can be based on personal opinions and not tell all sides of the story.
Types of Documentaries
Mockumentary
The term mockumentary refers to a satirical television show or film that attempts to disguise itself as a serious documentary. It is a film made in such a way that it looks genuine.
Satirical is an adjective used to describe satire, a work meant to ridicule the shortcomings and antics of a person or group. As such, satire often looks like the real thing to make fun of it.
Here are some examples of Mockumentaries:
- The Office
- Borat
- Derek
- Spinal Tap
- People just do nothing
- What we do in the shadows
- American Vandal
Poetic
Unlike traditional linear narrative structures, the poetic documentary uses avant-garde techniques to evoke a mood or emotion rather than prove a point. Unusually, the film has no dialogue or narration but focuses on imagery (often timelapse) with the music on top.
At its core, a poetic documentary attempts to create an atmosphere rather than provide information.
The documentary 'Koyaanisqatsi' is an excellent example of a poetic documentary.
Expository
During an expository documentary, a narrator presents a specific viewpoint or argument about the subject, describing the relationship between the images on screen and providing verbal commentary.
Archive footage, animations, B-Roll, and reconstructions are commonly used in this kind. Nature documentaries such as Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II are great examples of expository documentaries.
Social Action
Documentaries are able to capture unscripted insights into humanity, contextualise situations and show us our world, raw and unfiltered. These human stories can create understanding, empathy and action where straight facts often fail.
The stock market price of SeaWorld dropped by 33% after the release of the Blackfish documentary. In 2017, the company launched a new orca show focused on educating the public about the plight of orcas in an effort to restore its image following the documentary.
Observational
These documentaries show rather than tell and invite audiences to draw their own conclusions. Instead of using interviews, voice-over narration, and a soundtrack, they rely on real-life footage as it unfolds. Observational documentary mode exists between poetic documentary and expository documentary. It is also called cinema vérité, direct cinema, or fly-on-the-wall filmmaking.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (2019-)
Our Yorkshire Farm (2018-2022)
'Fly on the wall'
Filming a music artist on tour would be an excellent example of a 'fly on the wall' documentary. The film crew gets quite a bit of access to this person while they are on tour. It provides the audience with a glimpse behind-the-scenes of the tour and helps them understand the artist better in a more personal, real-life setting.
Biographical
In a biographical documentary, the filmmaker documents their own life experiences as in an autobiography. Often it will look back on their career and show what made them the way they are.It is a type of motion picture that tells the life story of a non-fictional person. These films/documentaries are typically based on historical/famous people as long as the person really existed, and the story is true.
Historical dramas are not always considered biographical because they are 'based on a true story'. Therefore, these documentaries must be true and factual.
Amy (2015)
Tina (2021)
Participatory
Participatory documentaries include the filmmaker within the narrative. With this documentary form, the filmmaker may appear on camera as part of an interview or be heard as a voiceover behind the camera, or they may appear alone on camera.
In contrast to observational documentary films, where the director observes without interacting with the world around them, participatory documentaries engage the viewer.
Titles
Titles are visuals that are linked to the content of TV shows or films. They can be used to introduce the show to returning viewers or new viewers. If done correctly, titles can introduce new viewers to the story and cast at once. You can also use them to credit actors or anyone else involved in the filming or television production.
Commonly a film or tv show makes use of a piece of music that accompanies the titles. The piece of music will then become familiar to the audience as the theme tune for the show. 'The Simpsons' is an excellent example of a show whose theme tune and titles have become iconic.
Titles in modern films and TV shows often reflect the context of a program. An example of this is 'Stranger Things'. Stranger Things is a Netflix TV show first released on 15th July 2016. It is based in the 1980s, and the titles respect that by mimicking standard titles from previous old films back in that decade.
Archive Footage
Archive footage refers to footage shot previously, such as a newsreel, a home movie, or outtakes. File footage, library pictures, and stock footage are film or video clips that can be reused in other films. Stock footage saves filmmakers the time and money of shooting new material.
Vide0
An example of a stock video. I downloaded this clip from Pexels.com and uploaded it to YouTube.
Photos
An example of a free stock photo from Upsplash.com
Photo by eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on Unsplash.com.
Illustrations
An example of a free stock illustration image from mixkit.co
Websites like Pexels.com offer artists the ability to give the user instructions to prevent copyright. A good example would be the video of the Pigeon linked above. After you download the free clip a message comes up asking you to add the following sentence to the description "Video by Dimitri Baret from Pexels". This protects the user from being accused of stealing or claiming ownership of the clip.
Types of Research
Research is the base level of any project. It's a foundation you can go back to if you ever get stuck and it's a fundamental step that we will all do at some point in our lives. Without the research stage we could end up with inaccurate or incorrect work. We can also learn from other projects.
We should be educating ourselves on the potential topics we could end up choosing. There is no point attempting to teach someone how to do something if you, yourself, do not know.
Choosing a topic it worth researching due to the risk of it being unnecessary. This stage will define if it's worth doing. We should know how many have been done before and by who.
Primary
Primary research is research you've done yourself. This research should be completely original, therefore the results should display something that hasn't been seen before. Any person could publish their own primary research and could actually end up getting their work published in an academic journal or something of the like. For university students, it is the most common type of research.
One example could be a questionnaire or survey that you've planned and written up yourself. You could hand them out to your class, friends or family. You could also conduct interviews where you can ask another person, one to one, a list of preset questions. This would be a more personal and time-consuming way to gain information.
Things like focus groups also require a lot of work but you would get some pretty strong results. You could ask a total of 8 people or more if you really wanted to. It would be hard to 'rig the test' as you could make a recording of yourself asking the questions and then play it back. Focus groups are similar to personal interviews but they are very time-consuming. It would take you hours of work to organise and conduct each one of them. You could also get some pretty strong results with focus groups, especially if they consist of more than eight members.
Secondary
Secondary research is research that's pretty much second hand. It's research that's already been done before. Due to the ease of access to the internet, you can learn and gain information from articles and reviews. You can also search for previous studies, questionnaires, or surveys on your chosen topic and discover data that has already been collected.
The disadvantage of this method of research is that you have to find specific information which is likely to be buried amongst more captivating information.
Qualitative
This is information that comes from someone's personal viewpoint. It's like film reviews, where it is someone's personal opinion. The disadvantage of qualitative research is that it does not always provide accurate information.
By using this method, the person will be able to discuss the subject in-depth and choose their own works.
An example of this would be the 'BBC Culture' webpage. It is here you can gain access to articles written by writers on their chosen topic. They are allowed to go into as much depth as they like and speak freely about their thoughts and opinions.
Quantitative
In quantitative research, statistics or data are most commonly found. These types of statistics and data tend to produce factual results. This type of research is very accurate and produces numerical or measurable data.
For instance, surveys, interviews, online polls, and systematic observations would all be examples of this kind of research.
Rotten Tomatoes is a website that serves as a trusted source of quality entertainment. They provide film and TV fans with reviews and ratings.
They use a system called the 'TOMATOMETER®'. This is based on the opinions of hundreds of critics. However, it is trusted and used as a guide of what might be good to watch by millions of worldwide users.
These users can give an 'Audience Rating'. These ratings will be entered into some software and will be converted into a percentage.
Interviews
Documentaries use interviews to gather relevant information to inform their viewers. Viewers may see interviews from opposing sides of an issue to get a better understanding of the topic. The technique of interviewing characters also plays a significant role in character introduction. Various factors such as lighting, colour scheme, framing, and camera angle can impact how people perceive the speaker.
Commonly, interviewees in a sit-down interview look at the person asking the questions and not the camera. As a result, eye lines are slightly to the side of the lens. Sometimes, two different camera angles are used: a close-up and a medium or wide shot so that the editor will have options in the editing room.
To get a decent interview, one must plan in advance. For example, are you filming the interview in person, online or on the phone? If filming in person, where are you filming it? Indoors or outdoors? What equipment you take depends on asking these questions.
Interview questions are best written before the interview, and most interviewees will answer questions better if they've had a moment to read and think about what they are going to say and how they will respond. If the interviewee reads her answers on paper, it can sound unnatural.
Before the interview starts, tell the interview subject how you want them to answer the questions. I think interviews sound better if the interviewee answers questions in her own words. For example:
"How long have you been horse riding?"
A #1 - 10 Years
Or
A #2 - I have been riding for ten years.
Answer #2 sounds better than answer #1.
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb
Title of the documentary?
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb
Does the title of the documentary have a specific meaning?
Saqqara is an ancient burial ground in Egypt that served as the necropolis of Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital.
What platform is it available on?
This documentary is only currently available on Netflix.
Who directed this documentary?
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb was directed by James Tovell in 2020.
Has this filmmaker made any documentaries before? Do they have any notable previous pieces of work?
James Tovell is a director and actor known for Cradle to Grave (2017), The Lizard Boy (2010) and Macbeth (1997). In addition, he has directed seven documentaries, including Episodes 1 and 2 of Size Matters (2018). James Tovell had also directed several episodes of Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty (2014) and Web of Lies (2016).
How long did it take for the film to be made, and when was the film released?
On 13 April 2019, an expedition led by a member of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Mohamed Megahed, discovered the tomb near Egypt's Saqqara Necropolis. The film was released on 28 October 2020. However, there is no information available on the precise date production started.
Explain what the documentary is about.
Archaeologists in Egypt try to unravel the history of a tomb after being untouched for 4,400 years. Join a group of local archaeologists as they uncover unknown passageways, shafts, and burials, piecing together the secrets of Egypt's most remarkable tomb. With these findings, the archaeologists believe they will be able to transform how we understand the Old Kingdom period by discovering the possessions, grave goods, and mummies of a high priest and his family.
What is the purpose of the documentary?
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb is an objective documentary designed to tell the story of a massive discovery in the Saqqara desert. The discovery was covered in news stories all over the world. For those interested, this documentary covers the story of the archaeologists' process as they search for answers about a tomb. The tomb is in immaculate condition for something 4,400 years old, and it has everyone very excited. In addition, the documentary covers the history of animal cults in Ancient Egypt and the beliefs and legends surrounding the afterlife.
How is the story told?
The type of narrative used in the documentary is non-linear, in that the story is told out of chronological order. The documentary uses a variety of media to tell the story of the tomb discovery. This includes:
- Interviews with archaeologists
- Interviews with Egyptologists
- Interviews with hieroglyphic translators
- Animated graphics demonstrate what the Egyptians believed the afterlife was like.
- Interviews with various experts in archaeology
- Interview with the secondary general
- Animated pictures of Wahtye, who was a Priest in ancient Egypt.
- Animated graphic of Wahtye and his family.
- Cutaways
- Illustrated designs on the shape of the tombs and coffins.
State your prior knowledge of the subject: Did you know anything about the subject before you watched the documentary?
I did not know much about Ancient Egypt before I watched this documentary. We studied the Egyptians for a bit in Primary School, but I didn't remember much. I knew they mummified themselves and worshipped some animals. I also remembered a small amount about the mummification process.
How is the documentary structured?
The type of narrative used in the documentary is non-linear, in that the story is told out of chronological order. It starts with a reenactment of the discovery at the start before the title sequence. Then, after the title sequence, we watch some footage leading up to and before the discovery. Several expert interviews are held while we watch these sequences, and they explain what is happening.
There are several sections of this documentary where there were time jumps to different parts of the discovery. For example, there is a clip which is clearly shot on a phone camera. It then cuts to a scene where the tomb has been cleared of all the rubble.
Talk about how interviews are used in the documentary.
Interviews with various experts happen throughout the film. The experts narrate the story from start to finish. A multitude of camera angles are used to film the interviews and are usually shot so the expert isn't at the centre of the picture. The backdrop will often be relevant to the topic they are speaking about. A good example would be the hieroglyphics translator telling her part of the story in front of the wall of hieroglyphs. The interview audio runs over the top of the film taken from the worksite.
Is archive footage used? If so, how?
At the start of the documentary, the editor included various archive footage clips from news stations that talked about the discovery. Archive footage is used most to tell the story before the tomb discovery was made. Some of this footage was taken by archaeologists on-site using phones or lower quality cameras.
What impact did it have on you?
I found this documentary very intriguing, especially after seeing how rare such a discovery was and how many news stations broadcasted the information.
In terms of a wider impact, what kind of critical reception did this film receive and did it win any awards?
79% of viewers rated this documentary 3.5 stars or higher. Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb received a 4 out of 5 stars average rating. It has not been nominated or received any awards.
In critical terms, is there anything you didn't like about this documentary or felt could be improved?
At times I found the timeline a bit confusing as it kept jumping around. Also, the captions used to name the interviewees only used first names and weren't always used. I wasn't sure who was talking most of the time.
What did you like most about this documentary?
I found the short animations brilliant because they taught me what the ancient Egyptians thought the afterlife was like. I also think the animations gave some character to the film.
What did you learn most from watching this documentary?
Most of the Ancient Egyptian cities are now known as Animal Cults. This is where the people in those areas worshipped a cat or a dog like it was a reincarnation of a god.
Are there any techniques that you have seen in this documentary that you could use yourself? If so, please can you give details.
I liked that the title sequencer of the documentary was shown at around 6 minutes in. It gave the filmmaker time to capture the audience's curiosity and attention. I really like this technique, and I have considered attempting it for my own documentary. Also, they used some scene recreation, and it looked very professional.
From watching Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb, I learned what trials Egyptian archaeologists face while trying to uncover the history of Animal Cults. If I were a documentary maker, I would consider using some original animation in my film. It is a far more artistic way of explaining a story without resorting to archive footage or scene recreation.
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FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
Title of the documentary?
FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
Does the title of the documentary have a specific meaning?
The word Fyre originates from The Fyre app. This app will enable top musical acts to be booked, and it will be launched with a grand music event. Promo videos of supermodels promising tropical luxury have the internet buzzing, but the reality doesn't meet expectations.
What platform is it available on?
This documentary is only currently available on Netflix.
Who directed this documentary?
FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened was directed by Chris Smith in 2019.
Has this filmmaker made any documentaries before? Do they have any notable previous pieces of work?
Chris Smith is a director and producer known for Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020) and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017).
How long did it take for the film to be made, and when was the film released?
The film was released on January 18th 2019. However, the filming process started at the start of the festival planning. The cast wanted to document the progress of the festival planning.
Explain what the documentary is about?
An exclusive behind the scenes look at the infamous unravelling of the Fyre music festival. Despite being billed as a luxury music festival on a posh private island, the Fyre Festival failed spectacularly in the hands of a cocky entrepreneur. We watch the build-up and planning of the festival as well as the aftermath of it.
What is the purpose of the documentary?
This documentary is designed to show the behind the scenes footage and expose Billy McFarland for the fraud he is. This film is an objective expository documentary. This documentary tells the story of Billy's rise and fall and who he brought down with him.
How is the story told?
This documentary uses a linear timeline which means it is told in chronological order. The documentaryuses a variety of media, for example:
- Interviews with Billy's employees
- Interviews with Models
- Interviews with Celebrities
- Animated graphics
- Interviews with investigators
- Interview with the island residence
- Archive pictures of Ja Rule and other case members
- Archive footage of Billy's past and previous past
- Archive footage of news reports
- Illustrations and graphics of social media posts
- Cutaways
- Illustrations of the designs of the festival grounds
- Graphics of the website and app design
State your prior knowledge of the subject: Did you know anything about the subject before you watched the documentary?
I had briefly heard about the Fyre festival on social media, but I hadn't looked into it or cared about it before I watched this documentary.
How is the documentary structured?
This documentary uses a linear timeline which means it is told in chronological order. It starts with brief flashes of clips from the disaster festival, and then it cuts back to 5 months before the festival. From this point, we can watch the build-up and planning. Already people surrounding Billy are having doubts and getting confused about his direction.
We get introduced to Billy's company's employees, who narrate the story and explain their part in the festival planning. A couple of investigators and expert interviews were cut in throughout the documentary who insisted they knew something wasn't right.
There's a lot of foreshadowing happening, even though the audience knows it goes wrong. You start to feel sorry for the people involved in the situation.
Talk about how interviews are used in the documentary.
Interviews with various ex-employees happen throughout the film. The ex-employees narrate the story from start to finish. Many camera angles are used to film the interviews and are usually shot, so the expert isn't at the centre of the picture. The backdrop will often be relevant to the topic they are speaking about. A good example would be the man who runs the social media side of the company. His backdrop is an office space, very modern, clean and professional.
Is archive footage used? If so, how?
At the start of the documentary, the editor included various archive footage clips from news stations that talked about the festival. Also, several clips from guests attending the festival and the on-site production team have been used throughout the film. Some of this footage was taken by archaeologists on-site using phones or lower quality cameras.
What impact did it have on you?
I found this documentary very intriguing. It might be evident in hindsight, but I could see red flags popping up in every scene. It annoyed me that the employees didn't report Billy or speak out about their worries.
In terms of a wider impact, what kind of critical reception did this film receive and did it win any awards?
The film FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened received an 86% audience score and a 93% on the TOMATOMETER on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
In critical terms, is there anything you didn't like about this documentary or felt could be improved?
At times I found the build-up to the festival a bit long. The foreshadowing keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. In addition, I was annoyed that the employees were being spoken to and treated poorly.
What did you like most about this documentary?
I liked the fantastic quality of the interviews. The ex-employees were so professional all the way through the film. The short animated graphics and illustrations were also cleverly done.
What did you learn most from watching this documentary?
That America's Laws did not protect any of the guests or employees from the backfire of this disaster. The festival guests would've gotten a full refund in the UK, and Billy would still be in prison today.
Are there any techniques that you have seen in this documentary that you could use yourself? If so, please can you give details.
I liked the linear timeline. I found it easier to follow along. I also liked the vast range of interviews. It wasn't just one employee that was affected by this disaster of a festival. Making it like this shows the audience how big and crazy many people whose lives were ruined by Billy.
If I were a documentary maker, I would consider using some original animation in my film. It is a far more artistic way of explaining a story without resorting to archive footage or scene recreation.