Introduction

= Expository: This style is characterised by ‘voice of god’ narration which addresses the viewer directly. The voice over anchors the meaning of the images. Images are used to illustrate what the narrator is saying and can appear to make the voice-over have a point, they make what the ‘voice of god’ is saying more honest. This style of documentary is usually based around a problem that needs solving.

= Observational: This style began with the ‘direct cinema’ techniques first used in America in the 1960’s, lightweight camera equipment allowed crews to film right where the action is happening, creating dramatic excitement.

= Docusoaps: a development of the observational genre, docusoaps are hugely popular hybrid; a long-running documentary series that, like a fictional soap opera, follows a group of characters chosen for their quirkiness and entertainment value. What sets docusoaps apart from their predecessors is their proiritisation of enterntainment over social commentary. Docusoaps were made possible by lightweight camera equipment which means that the intrusion is minimal and the film-maker becomes part of the story. However they inevitably have a higher than average shooting ratio therefore would have been far too expensive to make. Digital cameras and editing suites made filming and cutting material a lot cheaper. Docusoaps have an episodic, soap like structure, with several interweaving plot line (example; The Hills).

=Reality TV ( Real people in an unreal situation e.g.// Big Brother): factual television is now characterised by a high degree of hybridisation between different programme types. The term ‘reality TV’ has become used to describe the most high-impact of the new factual television. Reality television is a mix of ‘raw’, ‘authentic’ material with the seriousness of an information programme and the commercial success of tabloid content. Reality TV is characterised by: Camcorder, surveillance or observational camera work; First person or eye-witness testimony; Studio or to-camera links and commentary from presenters.

=Interactive; this style of documentary acknowledges the presence of the camera and crew. As with observational, easily portable equipment meant that post-dubbing was no longer required and allowed the film-maker to speak directly to her/his subjects, generally in the form of an interview. This interaction means that the focus is on the exchange of information rather than the creation of an objective view. ( example Peter Andre; The next chapter, he speaks to the camera crew).

=Drama-documentary; reconstruction and re-enactments are as old as documentary itself. The reconstruction method was partly due to the technology available at the time- there was no way of filming natural dialogue as it occurred on location until technological innovations in the 1960’s.
The following distinction may prove useful in discussing this genre:
‘docudrama’- a fictional story that uses the techniques of documentary to reinforce its claim to realism;
‘dramadoc’- a documentary reconstruction of actual events using techniques taken from fiction cinema.
=Current affairs (news night); the aim is to address the news and the political agenda in greater depth than news bulletins allow.

=Documentary dilemmas; documentary footage is rarely broadcast unedited and once they have given permission to film, documentary subjects are in the film-makers hands. The relationship between programme makers and their subjects varies: they can be reporting on their subjects, investigating them, or observing them; they could be interpreting what they do and have to say, or arguing their subjects cause.