Documentary techniques

Below is about what you can HEAR
Voice-over Narration: A voice-over
providing context or commentary
throughout the film.
Interviews: Audio from interviews
with subjects or experts.
Ambient Sound: Background noise
that enhances the sense of place.
Music Score: Instrumental or lyrical
music that sets the tone or mood.
Sound Effects: Specific sounds
added to enhance storytelling.
Direct Address: When subjects talk
directly to the camera/audience.
Natural Sound (nat sound): Real
sound recorded at the scene.
Diegetic Sound: Sound that
originates from the scene or
environment (e.g., people talking,
traffic noise).
Non-Diegetic Sound: Sound that
does not come from the cinematic
environment (e.g., narrator's
commentary, background music).
Archival Audio: Historical or
previously recorded audio material.
Below is about what you can SEE
Archival Footage: Historical footage
to provide background or context.
Talking Heads: Interviewees
speaking on camera.
B-roll: Supplementary footage that
adds depth to the story.
Re-enactments: Staged actions to
recreate past events.
Still Photographs: Use of
photographs for visual context.
Text and Graphics: On-screen text
or graphics to provide information.
Direct Cinema: The fly-on-the-wall
approach; observing without
interfering.
Animation: Animated sequences to
illustrate concepts or events.
Point of View (POV): Footage that
shows what a subject is seeing.

Below is HOW the documentary styles it's information.

Exposition: Setting up the background or context of the documentary.
Personal Journey: Following a subject's personal story or development.
Investigative: A journalistic approach to uncover a truth or expose facts.
Observational: Presenting events as they happen without commentary.
Participatory: The filmmaker becomes a part of the story being told.
Reflective: The filmmaker’s personal thoughts and feelings are part of the
narrative.
Poetic: Emphasizes mood, tone, and affect rather than a linear narrative.
Thematic Montage: Sequences that convey a theme or emotion through a
series of shots.
Chronological Sequence: The events are presented in the order they
occurred.
Non-chronological Sequence: Events are presented out of order to create a
specific narrative effect.
Documentary techniques