The History of Documentaries.

Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record. A ‘documentary film’ was originally shot on film stock – the only medium available – but now includes video and digital productions that can be either direct-to-video, made as a television programme or released for screening in cinemas.

Documentary has been described as ‘creative treatment of actuality’ by John Grierson, the Scottish documentarian who, in popular myth, has been said to have coined the word ‘documentary’. Soviet film-maker Dziga Vertov’s way of describing is ‘life as it is’ – documentaries are ultimately the capturing of what is actually happening by using the original, rather than a reconstruction or actors.

John Grierson.

Due to technical limitations pre-1900, many of the first films made were actually a minute or less in length, and these short films were then called ‘actuality’ films as the word ‘documentary’ wasn’t coined until 1926.

During the 1900 – 1920 period, travelogue films were very popular, often referred to by distributors as ‘scenic’s’.  An important early film to move beyond the concept of the scenic was In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914) which embraced primitivism and exoticism as a truthful re-enactment of the life of Native Americans.

Dziga Vertov was central to the cinematic truth newsreel series of the 1920’s. Vertov believed the camera – with it’s varied lenses, shot-counter shot editing, time-lapse, ability to slow motion, stop motion and fast-motion – could render reality more accurately than the human eye, and made a film philosophy out of it.

Dziga Vertov.

What Should Be Included.

There should be music played underneath every interview (and any music played should have been given permission by whoever produced and owns it to comply with copyright laws), and this music should not have any lyrics in it.
The framing should be done appropriately and follows the codes and conventions of the making of a documentary. The person who is making the documentary needs to have a wide knowledge of the subject of argument in order to provide enough information. Each and every interview that is included should follow interview techniques - this means including cut aways and always use a narrator within every documentary.

Narrative.

Every documentary needs a narrative, although they need to come across in a way spontaneous. This means that they all need to have a beginning, a middle and an end.
The beginning needs to set up what it's about, meaning that it has to point out the centeral argument.
The middle needs to involve conflict which then makes it more complicated. This is so that it has an unbiased view.
The end needs to make the exposition apparent and the point of argument has to be closed.

Types.

Fully Narrated - These include a direct mode of address and have a voice over the whole way through the documentary which is often referred to as 'the voice of God'. These were very popular in early documentary making. (Animal documentaries)

Fly on the Wall - These rely on observations which means that cameras are left to record, which allows the audience to make their own minds up on the conclusion as the control is given to the subjects more. (Caught on Camera - Police)

Mixed - These are a combination of interviews, observation and narration to create an argument. This is the most modern style of reporting as they have everything included.
Self Reflective - This is when the documentary is make for the creator, meaning that they may be on camera and included in it themselves. This is confusing for the audience as it draws attention differently. (Ross Kemp)

Docu Drama - These are reenactments of events that should have actually happened. They are exposition combined with fictional narrative. Critics say that they claim to represent truth, but actually only ever represent fiction. (Hillsborough 1996)

Docu Soap - Are these really documentaries? This is questioned because they don't investigate anything, they are cheap but popular with audiences, and are said to no explore anything, only eaves drop on conversations. (Airport - EasyJet)

 

Disneyfication - This is how TV is being dummed down to appeal for rates. Stephen Barnets say that it makes them 'glossier and safe'. He says that the 'quality of TV has had a dramatic decline' and that 'subjects such as political are given away to domestic relatied subjects'.

The Realities.

"It is critical that film makers bend of fantasy that dicumentary can be inproblematic representations of reality that 'truth' can be conveniently dispensed and recieved like valium."

- Dennis O'Rourke.
(Documentary Film Maker)

Reality is here and now and the truth is capturing it. This makes Truth and Reality an argument.
"To stop the argument between truth and reality, evidence should be used." - John Corner.

Documentaries show a transformed world to make things seem more interesting, however they are not rating boosters - this is what current affairs are which means that it is documentaries that are difficult to schedule.
Research also shows that the general public enjoy documentaries about Sex, Violence and Law & Order.
Controversy is not popular with TV Networks due to them going against the Government, which means that Public Service channels have more documentaries scheduled than commercial cannels.

The complex relationship between the documentaries, the people that are in them and the audience is called Triangulisation.

Documentaries are usually about societies victims (this could be a rape victim, someone who is murdered, someone convicted, etc...). This means that human beings are used as evidnece in their exposition and they can expose and exploit peoples lives.
Although this is true, documentary makers also see the right of the public to know and be aware of things that they would not otherwise be aware of - this is what makes them controversial. The makers believe that as a society, if we see something wrong, we will try and right it.
A perfect example of this was Ken Loache's 'Cathy Come Home' (1966) which lead to a change in the law about homeless people.

Features of Documentaries by John Corner.

John Corner suggests that there are five central elements -
Observation / Mise en Scene / Dramatisation / Exposition / Interview.

Observation - Most documentaries will contain an observation sequence. During this time, the camera is usually represented as being unseen. The effect of this is to put the camera in the place of an eyewitness to cause an argument point for the documentary itself. The downfall of this is that it turns the person into an object rather than a subject.
Interview - Documentaries have to reply on interviews - a range of interviews in order to get different points of view. The structure of an interview can be done in two ways. The first can be supported with observation (this means that it can use cut aways), the other doesn't cut away because the subject is too intense (eg, the Diana interview).
No questions should be heard on record - in order to make the interveiw flow, the person who is being interviewed should answer with the question being read back.
Dramatisation - All documentaries use and element of dramatisation, it comes because it looks like the event is coming naturally. It is used to conflict the audiences involvement.
Mise en Scene - Every shot in a documentary is carefully composed, this includes the shot. This then means that it doesn't become realistic anymore due to it being set up.
Exposition - This is the line of argument that the documentary is taking.
"It can be plain and direct or hidden and indirect." - John Corner.

Creative Development and Current Affairs.

Creative development over the years has meant the term 'Documentary' now covers a huge range of different production methods. It has become increasingly harder to define a documentary. Despite disagreements, it has been agreed that all documentaries should include recorded sound of actual reality or through lived experience. Documentaries are not just about facts, though facts are used to create socially critical arguments inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions. Documentaries should be about facts using real subjects.
John Grierson is the man who is said to have first coined the word 'Documentary' in 1926, and this is his description:
"Creative treatment of actuality." - John Grierson.

Current Affairs - This is midway between documentary and news. They offer a more in depth probing of news. Current affairs programmes are always 30 minutes long - anything longer than this and then begin to be classed as documentaries.
Current affairs are important in exploring weightly issues. There is growing concern that these 'types' of programmes are ratings driven. Therefore making them 'popular' programmes. It sensationalised the programme on the murder of Stephen Lawrance on Trevor McDonald's Tonight. This programme couldn't offer a solution to the problem but was bound to cause sensation.