"A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to 'document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record'."
Documentary production involves creating non-fiction films that aim to educate, inform or raise awareness about a particular topic. It covers topics such as storyboarding, filming techniques, and post-production.
Research: The process of gathering information necessary to create an informative and engaging documentary.
Storytelling Techniques: The art of conveying complex messages to the viewers in a manner that connects with them emotionally and intellectually.
Filmmaking Equipment: The technical equipment used for capturing and producing high-quality images and sounds such as cameras, microphones, lenses, and lighting equipment.
Interviews: The primary technique used in documentary production to gather information from expert sources, eyewitnesses, and other key players in the story.
Pre-Production: The planning process that includes developing ideas, researching subjects, preparing budgets, and scheduling production activities.
Post-Production: The process that occurs after shooting and includes activities like video and audio editing, color correction, and final outputs.
Ethics and Accuracy: The principles and values that documentary filmmakers must follow to ensure that their work is accurate and ethically produced.
Funding and Distribution: The process of funding, marketing, and distributing the documentary content once it is completed.
Legal considerations: The legal rules and regulations that filmmakers must have awareness of during production and distribution of their piece.
Cinematography: The skills and techniques used in filming, including camera movements, framing, and shot composition.
Sound Design: The process of using audio in post-production accessible for the viewers, which includes mixing, mastering, foley sounds, and sound effect designing.
Editing and Post-production: The process of transforming raw footage into a finished masterpiece by choosing the right shots, arranging sequences, matching audio, and applying visual effects.
Storytelling Structure: How to construct narratives that follow classic storytelling structures, including 3- and 5-act structures, and budgeting and planning.
Scriptwriting: The task of outlining, scripting, and taking precise notes that will lead to a stellar finished product.
Research Methods: The strategies and tools for finding and qualifying original sources, academic sources, visual references, and related legal and ethical concerns.
Observational: This style of documentary is unscripted and focuses on capturing real-life situations as they unfold.
Participatory: This documentary involves the filmmaker becoming part of the subject matter and participating in the events being filmed.
Expository: This style of documentary is typically narrated and presents a particular point of view or argument.
Reflexive: This type of documentary acknowledges the filmmaker's presence and the impact it has on the subject matter.
Poetic: A poetic documentary is more abstract and evocative, focusing on mood and tone rather than presenting facts.
Performative: This type of documentary is focused on the personal experience and perspective of the filmmaker.
Interactive: Interactive documentaries allow the viewer to actively engage with the subject matter and interact with the content.
Mockumentary: These documentaries parody the style and presentation of traditional documentaries to make satirical points.
Historical: This type of documentary explores historical events or figures, often using archival footage and interviews with experts.
Biographical: Biographical documentaries focus on the life and achievements of a particular person or group.
True Crime: These documentaries explore real-life crimes and often try to shed light on unsolved mysteries or miscarriages of justice.
Political: Political documentaries focus on current events and issues of political significance.
Social: Social documentaries explore social issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination.
Environmental: Environmental documentaries focus on the impact humans have on the environment and highlight the need for conservation and sustainability.
Artistic: Artistic documentaries can take many forms, but they all explore the intersection of art and society.
Travel: Travel documentaries showcase different locations and cultures around the world.
"Over time, documentaries have evolved to become longer in length."
"Some examples are educational, observational, and docufiction."
"They are often used within schools as a resource to teach various principles."
"Documentary filmmakers have a responsibility to be truthful to their vision of the world without intentionally misrepresenting a topic."
"Social-media platforms (such as YouTube) have provided an avenue for the growth of the documentary-film genre."
"These platforms have increased the distribution area and ease-of-accessibility [of documentaries]."
"Early documentary films, originally called 'actuality films', lasted one minute or less."
"Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in terms of 'a filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception [that remains] a practice without clear boundaries'."
"[Documentaries are] intended to 'document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record'."
"Documentaries are very informative."
"Social-media platforms (such as YouTube) have provided an avenue for the growth of the documentary-film genre."
"Over time, documentaries have evolved to become longer in length, and to include more categories."
"They are often used within schools as a resource to teach various principles."
"Documentary filmmakers have a responsibility to be truthful to their vision of the world without intentionally misrepresenting a topic."
"Some examples are educational, observational, and docufiction."
"Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in terms of 'a filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception [that remains] a practice without clear boundaries'."
"Early documentary films, originally called 'actuality films', lasted one minute or less."
"These platforms have increased the distribution area and ease-of-accessibility [of documentaries]."
"They are often used within schools as a resource to teach various principles."