Please copy into the Class Notes
section of your notebook.
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Definition: An informational documentary is a nonfiction film without actors. Typically, it is a journalistic
record of an event, person, place or phenomenon. Its
purpose is to convey factual data.
An effective documentary should be…
Compelling ‰
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Entertaining ‰
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Based on facts.
Has a point of view, but does not try to persuade… or does it?
Engages the audience with a variety of media, such as
narration, text, interviews, photographs, dramatizations, or
music. ‰
Holds audience interest.
Based on facts ‰
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Uses and cites data from reliable sources. ‰
Does not rely on rumors or unsupported opinions.
What makes a documentary
a documentary???
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Putting the audience in a role of eyewitness
where the camera appears to be unseen.
Indirect address to the audiences, i.e. speech
overheard is a common factor of this en-scene
observation.
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Use interviews to make a contrast between
observation sequences.
Structured in two ways:
Intercut fragments of observations
 Completely uninterrupted sequence
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Even though all documentaries use a sense of
drama, it is specifically used to portray people
and events the filmmaker cannot gain access to
in real life (this is not so much the case with
Making a Murderer).
These sequences are said to be based on fact.
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Literally what the director(s) and producer(s)
put into the frame.
For example, lighting and props in an
interview.
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The line of argument which is what the film is
saying.
Sequences that lead the audience to make their
own conclusions.
Documentary
vs.
“Mockumentary”