Documentaries are non-fiction movies that are produced with the intent of documenting reality,creating social awareness, instilling empathy or enlightening viewers on foreign topics.
With suchwide horizons, it’s not surprising that these kinds of productions have been around right from theinfancy of film-making.6 Genres of documentary filmsDocumentaries can be categorized into 6 genres.Poetic documentaries focus on the visuals to set a certain tone or mood and elicit an emotionthrough the experience itself.Expository documentaries are more factual supported by footage and that ‘Voice of God’ narration.It’s often meant to bring awareness and sometimes persuade viewers into action.Observational documentaries often uncover deep truths about the subject, by observing themunobtrusively in their most private moments.Participatory documentaries see the filmmaker being as much a participant in the film, as hissubject/s, either simply by asking the questions from behind the camera or actually being on screenwith them.Reflexive documentaries focus on the filmmaker’s connection with his audience by showcasing theactual production, editing, and interviewing of the subject.Performative documentaries tend to focus on a filmmaker’s interactions with the subject oftenjuxtaposing these to historical or political issues.
It uses personal experiences to share emotionalresponses.How to get your subjects comfortableFor your subjects to open up, it’s really important that they feel comfortable with you to talk freely.Try and retain the element of surprise, by initially telling them only enough to get their interestpiqued.
Sometimes even theawkward silences speak a lot.How do you actually shoot a documentary?Once the subjects are at ease, you want to begin shooting the documentary.
Writing, shooting,editing, and producing – you could do it all, but it’d be best to befriend talented people who canassist you.
Find an engaging subject that you yourself are passionate about so that the hours ofexhaustive research don’t leave you bored.