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.
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