Documentary Genre

The style you select to tell your story could be based on one of the following documentary genres...

1. Personal

- A ‘first person’ account of personal experiences. The narrative relates to you, the

storyteller and focuses on a significant event, issue, premise or memory.

2. Biographical

- An account of a significant person’s life, or focusing on particular aspects, occasions, occurrences or highlights in a person’s life.

3. Historical

- An account of a significant event that happened in the past. Archive materials such as

video, photos and documents can be used.

4. Analytical

- An account of a specific event or investigation or issue that is analysed and clarified.

5. Compare and Contrast

- Where the narrator compares the similarities or contrasts the differences between two subjects.

6. Cause and Effect

- Where the narrator gives an opinion on the reasons for something significant happening and reflects on the resulting changes.

7. Persuasive / Advocacy

- An account of a specific investigation or issue where the narrator tries to

influence the viewer by taking a particular stance or position by using supporting facts, or by considering an opposing point of view.

8. Eye-witness (as a participant)

- An account of a specific investigation or event where the storyteller is an actual participant. Often referred to as Cinema Vérité when the film-maker becomes involved in the story

9. Observational (fly on the wall)

- An account of a specific investigation or event where the storyteller is an observer. This is other referred to as ‘direct cinema’ and is an unbiased approach. The audience draws their own conclusions.

10. Doco-drama (re-enactment)

 – The re-enactment of a particular even where actors play various dramatic parts.