Documentary: Analysing different Factual conventions

In order for me to create a good factual programme I must know what is needed to make factual programmes and what is included to create the "factual" genre. 

There are a variety of different types of programmes such as chat shows,talk shows like “Jeremy Kyle” magazine shows, reality tv such as ‘Big Brother’, TV news such as BBC news and Documentaries. Not only is there a wide variety of shows, they are also broadcasted and consumed in a number of different ways for example, the most obvious, television, and then there is cinema release, DVDs and internet streaming with websites such as 4oD, Youtube and BBC iPlayer. The focus here will be on TV documentaries and on TV news programmes and the conventions of each of these sub genres.  All factual TV programmes have conventions that they must include into their programmes in order to make it a specific genre.

An important factual issue is also REPRESENTATION, the filmmaker (of news or documentaries), can choose to represent a topic/subject however they wish - either negatively or positively or both (if you are trying to be BALANCED). 
The way you control representation of your subject is through the Media language and Media CODES:

• soundtrack
• editing
• mise-en-scene
• camerawork

You usually have 3 main different categories: 

first you have “Expository”. 
- Usually has a voice over which addresses the audience directly. The voice over may be a voice of god commentator( heard but not seen) or "voice authority" (seen and heard, usually an expert) 
-  Images are used to illustrate the voice over
- Editing is used to link together images which support the voiceover's argument.
- variety of footage, interviews, stills, archive material to support the argument
- Attempts to persuade the audience of view or opinion

An example of this would be Bowling For Columbine, an expository documentary which was created to tackle America's gun laws. The tone and style of the documentary is immediately shown in the opening sequence. First image is from a film promoting the National Rifle Association.  A man dressed in full dress Army uniform says, “The National Rifle Association has produced a film which you are sure to find of great interest.  Let’s look at it." Then Michael Moore voice-over, against images of people at work in America.  It sounds like a typical “morning in America” spiel, but one of the images shows bombed out buildings as Michael Moore says, “and the President ordered the bombing of another country we couldn’t pronounce,” and then he refers to “the little town in Colorado two boys went bowling at six in the morning.” - Michael Moore is direct in his approach. He is providing relevant images of the points that he is making.

 The sequence then cuts to the bowling and then to a cute “chick” in a bikini—as she holds up an M-16.  It then dissolves to the Statue of Liberty where Moore’s voice-over covers it:" It was a typical day in the United States of America." - So here, he is already ridiculing the idea of America's policies and what they sensationalise. He puts juxtaposing images with an almost sarcastic tone to get his points across. It is expository because of his direct approach. 

You then have “observational”
- Usually consists of location shooting 
- Long takes usually dominates footage
- Diegetic sound
- There are minimal to no interviews or voice overs just a series of clips collated together in order to seem more ‘real’
-Documentary maker's presence is usually hidden
- subjects may "pretend" or "forget" they are being filmed.
- usually referred to as "fly on the wall" (an over looker feel).


An example of this would be Tattooed tears & Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer. Both these documentaries are from Nick Bloomfield and carry similar "fly on the wall" styles. One of which tackled the harsh reality of life inside a California Youth Authority prison, focusing on four young inmates. The other tackled a variety of aspects into one person's life but had an underlying question about America's death penalty.  During these documentaries the host follows the subjects in their "natural surroundings", they let them speak but you rarely hear the host ask the question. In Aileen, there were several scenes where the camera was left on the main subject, we got to see her reactions, her responses and facial expressions all in one take and it really lets the viewer form their own opinions and connect with her more. I think this technique is quite a sly one because the creator can be selective with the amount of time you get to connect with a character. and because it is displayed in an "innocent", un forceful way, it could be considered as an easier, more subtle way of getting your point across and swaying the viewer in a certain direction.

In tattooed tears, there is a scene where an inmate asks the camera man to follow him, the inmate then prompts another inmate to act irrational as he asks him about why he's in prison. Now although the irrational behaviour is hard hitting, its nature is still questionable because without the cameras there, it may not have happened. It is clear that there is a grey area between how honest the actions of individuals being followed is. However it is still probably the most accurate way of portrayal as not everyone acts up for camera's but you can never be too sure.

And finally, “Interactive”.
- This is where the filmmaker is in the documentary “interacting” with the participants whilst he also narrates the documentary in a voiceover.
- Interviews dominate but tend to be informal
- use of archive material: stills news, footage etc
-Location shooting with the use of handheld camera action
- Long takes usually domanate
- Diegetic sound recording
- Voiceover, usually the documentary maker
- Documentary maker is visible to the audience and they interact, almost taking part in the action

Bowling for columbine is also a prime example of this as Michael Moore fully submerges himself within the documentary to get his points across. There is one scene where he wants to illustrate and challenge how easy it is to get a gun in america, so he goes into the bank which advertises a free gun when you sign up for a specific account and tries to apply for one.

After the lady smiles and says"sure, all you have to do is sign here and the gun is all yours", Moore plays along and seems enthusiastic then responds with "do you really think its a god idea advertising guns inside a bank?" Moore is later escorted out. This scene in itself is very powerful as you single handedly get how easy it is to get guns but you really get to see how absurd the laws are over there as well. He is great at producing the facts and getting his point across.

Accuracy is the key to factual issues which is paramount for audience belief and trust AND also for legal issues - if you are found to be inaccurate in your News or Documentary then your audience will be less likely to believe anything you make and you will get sued or fined by OFCOM (in the UK) - you cannot broadcast to a large audience things which may not be true. A prime example of this was an investigation that was broadcasted on Newsnight (november 2012). They broadcasted a report claiming an ex-politician was a paedophile, when in fact he was not, as a result the brand and reputation of Newsnight had suffered (the audience do not trust it as much as they once might have) and legally the BBC paid the person they accused with compensation and the Director- General (the boss) of the BBC resigned, as well as 2-3 other important members of staff. So it is important that all information broadcasted is correct at all times.