Infotainment: Presenting facts about a subject in an entertaining form.

Mode of address: Direct will give a personal connection, with the filmmaker speaking or looking directly at the audience. Indirect will disconnect the audience with the filmmaker.

Polemic approach: Carefully selected footage to give a specific point of view on the story.

Stylistic Approach

Infotainment – the reporting of news and facts in an entertaining and humorous way rather than providing real information

Investigative Journalism – in-depth research, pursuing inquiries, dealing with documents, finding people, and writing about various topics like social issues, crime, corruption, and government investigations

Polemic approach – One sided view – presenting shots that support only this. The producers perspective shown clearly.

Exposition –  occurs at the beginning and introduces the important themes of the film. It is important because it creates the viewer’s first impression and introduces the viewer to the content.

Mockumentary – often used to analyse or comment on current events and issues in a satirical way by using a fictional setting, or to parody the documentary form itself

Infotainment – Information provided to entertain audiences with facts. (E.G. Songs, cartoon, comedy sketches).

polemic approach – Carefully chosen shots to express a one-sided view on a subject.

Mockumentary – A television programme or film which takes the form of a serious documentary in order to satirize its subject.

Stylistic approaches

infotainment : Entertaining the audience with the use of facts

mode of address: Direct address is when the subject is looking straight down the camera lens whereas indirect is when the subject is not looking down the lens

Mood : Informal address is when the use of language is used in an informal way whereas formal address is when formal langue is used

investigative journalism:

mockumentary : A made up plot in documentary style

polemic approach: carefully selected shots to give a very specific point of view

exposition: Background information the audience need to know for the plot to make sense

Infotainment – Providing facts through entertainment modes (e.g. Bowling for Columbine animated segment about second amendment)

Polemic Approach – Carefully selected shots to give a specific point of view.

eyewitness account – a first-hand narrative or description of an event or experience, provided by someone who directly witnessed it

expert opinion – opinions and insights from individuals with expertise in a particular product or market to make predictions about future demand

actuality footage – raw film footage of real life events, places and people, shot by an eye-witness, as opposed to fictional films which use actors, scripts and artificial sets

reconstructions – events/scenes that have happened that are reconstructed with actors

process footage/ reflexivity – when you film the making of your documentary, combining the behind the scenes footage with the documentary itself

archive/ library footage – footage that was shot for an earlier production to explain the story, like old news footage

noddy shots – a type of camera reaction shot used in recorded news or current affairs interviews, consisting of nods and similar ‘listening gestures’

infographics/ superimpositions – the placement of an image or video or text on top of an already-existing image or video, essentially visual guides to explain things to the audience

chill footage/ observational footage (fly on the wall) – forces the viewer to ‘lean-in’ to see what is happening in the scene, essentially letting the camera run to establish the scene

montage – several different items that are put together in a picture, film, or piece of music, often in an unusual combination or sequence

film making techniques

Film Making Techniques

Actuality footage – footage from eye witnesses of the event happening in real time.

Chill footage – neutral shot of location/ setting, to establish whats happening before an event.

Reconstructions – a creative production decision which involves reconstructing a reality or event rather than filming it as it occurs spontaneously.

Process footage/ Reflexivity – focuses on the relationship between the filmmaker and the audience, pushing viewers to reflect on their perceptions and re-analyse their notions of truth – shows the process of the film making (BTS)

Noddy shots – a type of camera reaction shot used in recorded news or current affairs interviews. They consist of nods and other similar “listening gestures” made by the interviewer.

Infographics – graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. e.g graphs

Superimpositions – Text/ visual guides on screen used to explain thing on screen. e.g name of location/ person.

Noddy shots – Camera shot typically used in recorded news or current affairs interviews. To show reactions within a conversation with interviewer and interviewee.

Infographics/Superimpositions – An editing technique and special effect that blends 2 ore more shots to present images or information simultaneously. Guides to tell the audience something.

Actuality Footage – Footage filmed by eyewitnesses e.g. Cameras, Phones of an event occurring.

Noddy Shots – Reaction shots of the interviewer while in conversation with an interviewee.

Superimpositions – Visual guides e.g. charts, graphs, names.

Actuality Footage – Footage filmed by eyewitnesses at the time of the event (e.g. phone camera footage).