1.1 Defining Documentary Film

Documentaries are powerful tools for storytelling, blending real-world footage, interviews, and narration to inform and educate. They come in various styles, from expository to poetic, each offering unique ways to engage audiences and present complex topics.

Ethics play a crucial role in documentary filmmaking. Filmmakers must balance the pursuit of truth with personal perspective, ensuring informed consent, accurate representation, and protection of vulnerable subjects. Objectivity and transparency are key to maintaining credibility and trust with viewers.

Characteristics and Styles of Documentary Films

Core characteristics of documentaries

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• Non-fiction content depicts real events, people, or issues without scripted dialogue or fictional elements (The Act of Killing, The Last Waltz)
• Informative and educational purpose enlightens audiences about specific topics presenting new perspectives or unknown information (An Inconvenient Truth, The Cove)
• Real-world footage utilizes archival materials and on-location shooting (The Civil War, Grizzly Man)
• Interviews with subjects or experts provide first-hand accounts and analysis (The Fog of War, The Last Dance)
• Voice-over narration guides viewers through the story and provides context (March of the Penguins, The Social Dilemma)
• Emphasis on authenticity and credibility builds trust with the audience (Citizenfour, The Cave)

Styles in documentary filmmaking

• Expository directly addresses the viewer often using voice-of-god narration (Bowling for Columbine, Planet Earth)
• Observational adopts fly-on-the-wall approach with minimal intervention from filmmaker (Salesman, Don't Look Back)
• Participatory actively engages filmmaker with subjects including on-screen interactions (Super Size Me, Sherman's March)
• Reflexive draws attention to filmmaking process questioning documentary conventions (Man with a Movie Camera, The Act of Killing)
• Performative emphasizes subjective experience and emotional impact incorporating artistic elements (Waltz with Bashir, The Gleaners and I)
• Poetic focuses on visual associations, tone, and rhythm with abstract approach to storytelling (Koyaanisqatsi, Baraka)

Ethics and Objectivity in Documentary Filmmaking

Ethics for documentary filmmakers

• Informed consent ensures participants understand implications of involvement (The Thin Blue Line, Capturing the Friedmans)
• Accurate representation avoids manipulation of facts or context (Nanook of the North, Catfish)
• Protection of vulnerable subjects considers potential consequences for participants (Born into Brothels, The Square)
• Transparency about filmmaking methods discloses re-enactments or staged scenes (The Thin Blue Line, Stories We Tell)
• Respect for cultural sensitivities demonstrates awareness of cultural differences (Cannibal Tours, The Act of Killing)
• Fair use of copyrighted material adheres to legal and ethical guidelines (The Corporation, RiP!: A Remix Manifesto)
• Maintaining journalistic integrity involves fact-checking and verifying information (Blackfish, The Social Dilemma)

Objectivity vs subjectivity in documentaries

• Pursuit of truth vs personal perspective balances factual accuracy with filmmaker's vision (The Fog of War, Fahrenheit 9/11)
• Impact of filmmaker's presence considers how filming affects subject behavior (The Act of Killing, Titicut Follies)
• Selection and editing of footage involves choices in what to include or exclude (The Editing of The Cove, The Thin Blue Line)
• Framing and context shapes how information is presented and contextualized (The Social Dilemma, Bowling for Columbine)
• Use of music and sound design can emotionally manipulate through audio elements (The Act of Killing, Koyaanisqatsi)
• Inclusion of multiple viewpoints presents diverse perspectives on a topic (The Fog of War, The Act of Killing)
• Acknowledgment of bias demonstrates transparency about filmmaker's position or agenda (Fahrenheit 9/11, An Inconvenient Truth)