A documentary is a nonfictional film that intends to document some aspects of reality. I am going to talk about 5 different types of documentaries which are expository, observational, interactive, reflexive and per formative.

Expository documentaries are documentaries that expose a person or a topic , in these you have a narrator who talks over the images or videos that explain what is going on and it also gives you facts and opinions. If the documentary is about a person then it is most likely they are to talk over the career they have had and all the ups and downs that have gone on in their life where as if its focused on a topic it’s then the opinion from certain people and what they think should or should not happen. I have found an example of this sort of documentary and it is about the life story of Ronnie O’Sullivan who is a professional snooker player and in this he discusses all they key moments that made him the success he is today. https://youtu.be/7Rr8ClKdHCs  3:31-5:38

In observational documentaries the maker of the documentary follows a person around to observe what is going on in their life or follows a certain event. They tend to use hand held cameras so they can get around easier and shoot it more easily as well. Unlike some other documentaries there isn't any voiceovers or interviews, it’s just showing somebody’s day to day life we see this in MTV’s programme Teen Cribs. They use longer shots in these documentaries so you can see everything that there is instead of lots of short shots which you may not be able to see as much but in this they seem a lot shorter as the shots are sped up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMH9X6INm4o 3:30-3:42

In reflexive documentaries they tend to tell the truth as they focus on realism and they show everything that goes on.  In these they use voiceovers, they do lots of interviews and they also show peoples day to day life. They don’t use any special effects or cut a lot out of the editing as they are filming real life. An example of this is again Ronnie O’Sullivan’s life story. Throughout most of the documentary it is basically a big interview asking about Ronnie’s life and what has happened in his life. A voiceover is also used on the selected clips to let the audience know what is going on in the clip. Different events in his life appear in a short sentence or paragraph on the screen.  https://youtu.be/7Rr8ClKdHCs 13:28-14:00

A interactive documentary is a documentary where the events and situations presented are influenced and altered by the presence of the filmmaker. An example of this is Supersize Me in this we see Morgan Spurlock eating Mcdonalds for a month. He is the producer and director of this film as most of it is from his point of view and he takes you on his everyday regime so we know his presence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0mQhpPC4U  40:50-41:00

A performative documentary shows an opinion upon a certain event or an issue, it uses voiceovers (frequently) to add more information to the viewers and uses interviews as well. Throughout the documentary I chose for the (Biggie and Tupac) they use sound effects also that fits in with what is going on and also the soundtracks they made as well as a use of diegetic sound. The camera follows the interviewer to gain information and opinions of the interviewees.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSW5NCfZvXQ 6:50-7:15


 The expository documentary definitely exposes the person (Ronnie O'Sullivan) by telling us about his whole life and what challenges he has faced, I find this as an honest documentary with out changing anything for the audiences entertainment. In the observational documentary they also meet the definition of it by following a person round showing off the house they live in, I find that this is an honest one as well but it be changed to look better to the audience. Reflexive documentary tells the truth and shows what goes on in the persons life (Ronnie O'Sullivan) and in this documentary it shows us this I think this is like expository because it is showing and telling you the truth. Through out the whole of the interactive documentary (Supersize me) all of what happens is to do with the filmmaker (Morgan Spurlock) I find honest as well because it shows you what he gets up to during the challenge he does. Performative documentary shows the opinion of people on the certain event (Tupac and Biggie) this is also honest I find as they are giving there own opinion on the matter. I think that all the documentaries are are honest but in a couple they add things on to get the audience.