Documentary Genres

Documentary Genres

1. Docudrama

   • Docudramas use recreation to give information in an entertaining way.
   • Examples
     • BBC Two's Frankenstein and the Vampyre: A dark and Stormy Night (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nvq7q)
       • Uses actos in the role of a historical event.
       • The documentary have been dramatistised to fit the genre of Gothic literature.
     • BBC One's Damilola, Our Loved Boy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082m41h)
       • This documentary recreates a recent event but uses actors as the subject may be difficult to discuss through interviews only
   • Docudrama are useful as all footage can be created therefore controled.
   • Beaches the footage is re-created it can at times be inaccurate as they are mostly done for entertainment therefore can sometimes misrepresent people.
   • My documentary will include some form of recreation as I wish to show historical events which do not have any footage.

2. Special Interest

   • Special interest documentaries often focous on one topic with a specific audience
   • Examples
     • Jamie's School Dinners (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNgo6P_HTcE)
       • This documentary follows a presenter an focus on a specific topic, which is school dinners.
       • The documentary like most has an 'experts', in this case a proffeinal chef talking about food provided for children in school
       • In Channel fours documentary Jamie's school dinner the creators hd to keep a target audience in mind when choosing the style and tone. For this documentary they were aiming for a younger audaicne and partially young people with families. Jamie Oliver being the presenter the audience can expect a more relaxed and casual approach to both the language and the presentation can be shown. The presentation of the documentary takes on the from of an exploration or investigation. documentary the audience learns things with the presenter.
     • Antiques Roadshow (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vjb3b)
       • The antiques roadshow also follows the conventions with an expert giving advise on the topic. This is done in special interest documentaries sometimes explore a hobby and be giving advice on this hobby more people may be encouraged to watch the show or take up the interest themselves.
       • Antiques Roadshow also aims to entertainer's target audiancwhich is perhaps a slightly older generation. This older generation will perhaps look for a older presenter and expect them to act a certain way, using clear and formal language. Antiques Roadshow uses all of these to create it's special interest documentary.
   • My documentary will look at stop-motion animation and how it has developed. This make it a special interest documentary similar to The Antiques Roadshow and Jamie's school dinner. It will be looking at entertain a younger audieance of 17-35 year olds as this is the audience that watches BBC Three. I will also explore the topic more as a enthusiast rather than an expert. This will allow me to explore the history of stop-motion with the audience hopefully engaging them with the my research and finding.
   • Special interest documntarties will also use 'experts' or people with a profound interest in the topic to present. This is clearly to engage the audience either by having a reialble and trusted figure exploring the topic or by having a presenter that asks the questions that the audience wants to ask.
   • Special interest documentaries often have one particular audience in mind. They can be a specific age or gender or just a group of people with an interest in a certain topic. The documentary will be made to entertain them and will cater to what the specific audience may enjoy.

3. Education

   • Examples
     • The Story of Maths
       • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJO-rEIjP0U
       • This documentary was not just made for education so will be very particular with facts as it aims to give facts.
     • The World at War
       • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olYUrlIfWg0
       • Looking at the second world war it is evident and creating a documentary not just to entertain but to educate.
   • Education documentaries are made with less focus on entertainment and more on instruction and teaching
   • My documentary will use elements of this as it aims to provide facts and information as well as entertainment.