Documentary Film Features

This feature occurs at the beginning of a film, establishes the theme, and gets the viewer invested in the topic.

• Exposition

• Archival Footage

• Interviews

• Acuality

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

This is recorded footage that can be taken from film library and used in a film to show historical events.

• Actuality

• Archival Footage

• Reenactment

• Interviews

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

This feature uses reconstructed scenes that show historical events in a realistic way. This can be done if historical footage is not available.

• Actuality

• Archival Fotoage

• Reeanctment

• Wallpaper Technique

This feature is a very common documentary technique that involves filmmakers speaking to people directly about an event. This can add a sense of realism to the film.

• Interviews

• Exposition

• Reenactment

• Voice-over

This feature is the use of a narrator who speaks during filming or whose narration is added after filming is complete.

• Voice-over

• Non-diegetic Sound

• Montage

• Actuality

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

Observation is a technique where the program makers...

• hide to observe reality

• pretend the camera is unseen, the audience is positioned as “eye witness”

• record through a special camera lens

• follow the subject as they go about their day

Carefully composed shots that contain images the producers want the audience to see is called...

• Miss-on-screen

• Mize-a-scene

• Miss-a-scene

• Mise-en-scene