Unit 27 - Nichols modes of documentary

Nichols modes of documentary

Documentaries there are three different types of conventions shown: 

Realism is real footage that is usually shot with handheld cameras and they usually give interviews to the people that were involved in the situation or topic etc. This makes the audience feel like they are there with them and gives them and understanding of real life events happening around them. 

Dramatisation are re-enactments on a situation and documentary makers make dramas out of this, this may include things like cliffhangers, graphics, music etc. 

Narrativisation is making a story which is created by complete facts. Its an effective way of telling a story and this is always seen or heard in documentaries. 

Expository are real life documentaries that have not been changed to make better for example the documentary Animal Planet you get to see different things that you usually wouldn't get to see in our day to day lives, also seeing things that wild animals do may make things feel so surreal because you wouldn't have seen it happen before. Also the presenter of the documentary may verbally commentate on what that animal is doing for example eating, hunting etc. However people might not be interested in animals and what they do and they would find this boring and they wouldn't have any interest in it what so ever. 

Observational also known as a fly on the wall documentary is a documentary when the camera takes the role of the audience. For example in Keeping Up With The Kardashian's the audience can see what the Kardashian family does during their day to day lives which gives the audience some escapism in seeing what people that are completely different to them live like on a daily basis for example the Kardashian family are extremely wealthy and famous which is different to someone who isn't wealthy and isn't famous so they may get some joy out of watching someone else's luxurious life. However watching this could get boring after a while because it gets quite repetitive. 

Interactive is an interaction between the person being documented and the documentary maker the most common way of interacting which is done by an on camera interview. For example Stacy Dooley is a documentary maker that actually interviews someone and interacts with the people that they are documenting so therefore she is seen in the documentary which is what makes it more interesting. Nichols explains "What happens in front of the camera becomes an index of the nature of interaction between filmmaker and subject". 


Reflexive is when the filmmaker acknowledges their presence which gives the documentary a narrative. Louis Theroux makes many reflexive documentaries. In  his documentaries he likes to get involved in the activities but still be detached from the people being documented.  Reflexive are usually always truthful so they keep the realism in the documentary they also address the audience quiet often to get their opinions which engages by making them feel involved the audience to keep them watching.  

Performative is when the storyteller or filmmaker is the narrative of the story so they would need some personal experience which would give them a better understanding that way it is more effective to the audience. For example the film catfish is about a personal experience and he is the main character in the film and he shows the story. The audience may be engaged in this because it's actually something that happens in real life so they might find it useful and it keeps people aware that not everyone you meet online is who they say they are. This show acts as an awareness show since it informs people that not everyone online is who they say are.