Documentary typesLeah Douglas

Expository This is a style of documentary which uses a voiceover to literally explain what is going on in the documentary. This style of documentary is usually associated with wildlife and historic documentaries. The audience is not particularly empowered by this kind of approach, finding themselves listening to the version of events that the filmmakers choose to prioritise. This type can either make the audience engaged with what is presented to them, or in fact disengaged with what's going on as they would rather make their own judgement with what's going on. However in saying this, the associated documentaries of this sort are well suited to a voice over as the subject matter is usually factual and would be unfair to the audience to not say what is going on- in which the viewer might feel in need of information about what they are seeing. This type of documentary is more the traditional type as its been about for a long time and its probably the most effective way of portraying information. I like the way the voice over is used when saying what is happening as it makes it easier to communicate with the audience what is happening and the certain emotions and feelings involved- this inevitably helps to achieve the story line.

Observational This type of documentary is usually referred to as the ‘fly on the wall’ type. This may be because the audience are mostly viewing peoples life's as its been filmed in real life and we make our own judgements as there is no voice overs to explain anything to us as its usually pretty self explanatory. This documentary an sometimes give a overwhelming effect as it’s mostly filmed as if it were to be in real life and enthralling footage can be captured which would make their target audience more excited about what is going to happen next. I think this type can have more of an effect than say for example expository types of documentaries. I think that this can create a greater impact upon the audience as anything can happen in that moment that the footage is being filmed. This type of documentary would be suited to the psychographic associated people of mainstreamers and explorers as these types of documentaries are usually targeted to the younger age range of people as they involve documentaries of celebrity lifestyles such as keeping up with the Kardashian which are the role models for many young girls.

Interactive This type of documentary uses an interactive approach in order to create its effect. This creates a more personal effect as the camera man/woman would be asking questions which the audience would be drawing from the topicality of the documentary. 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. These questions are asked throughout the use of direct address. 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. I feel that this type of documentary helps the audience gather their own opinions through the use of interactivity of the camera man/woman which can intimidate the views of the audience. However this is not used all the time because their questions are sometimes edited out. Therefore we just see someone answering questions which we gather there is someone asking them.

Reflective This type of documentary is useful to more visual people as the interviewer is interacting with the subject matter that he is working with. This helps the audience to engage with what is happening in the documentary and to see how matters are dealt with through the actions of the interviewer. The use of partaking in the events of the subject matter can engage the audience and draw a more detailed and in-depth study of what is being explored. I don’t exactly think that this type of documentary is the most effective as we are just watching someone partake in the events, this doesn't exactly have a great impact in my opinion. I think that this type of documentary would be well suited to the style of documentary which is crime. This would be effective as whilst the investigation is going on, the people who are investigating could get involved and help lead the story line/ criminal case.