Initial task - preparation
Gather, research and prepare background material; review published scripts; research plans and sources in preparation for your own documentary script. Review literature on different script layouts and on script writing techniques; then collect and prepare excellent background material for your script writing project to near-professional standards.
6 Modes of DOCUMENTARY:
What Are Modes?
In documentaries, modes help to determine concepts and themes found from different styles of documentary's. The modes progress chronologically in orders of appearance in practice and they often return to their themes and devises found before. The six different types of documentary modes are:
- Poetic
- Expository
- Observational
- Participatory
- Reflexive
- Performative
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Poetic DocumentaryA 'Poetic Documentary' is known to be one of the most bias types of documentaries which is why its considered an 'subjective interpretation of the subject'.
Usually, the mode and tone is set to help the viewers intake more information however, they usually leave out key information. An example of this would be key events or even the description of characters making the video overall quite a bias view point. |
Good Points: Audience members who favor the subjects are more likely to instantly agreeing with your point of view if you use poetic documentary methods rather than other methods creating an auto-acceptance.
Bad Points: If the audience members are already not in favor of the subject in the first place, they would not be interested in how bias the documentary actually is as there isn't any counter arguments or knowledge added to it meaning it doesn't represent the full views of everyone.
Bad Points: If the audience members are already not in favor of the subject in the first place, they would not be interested in how bias the documentary actually is as there isn't any counter arguments or knowledge added to it meaning it doesn't represent the full views of everyone.
EXPOSITORY dOCUMENTARYA 'Expository Documentary' is when there is direct communication from a documenter such as voice overs or subtitles in order to create a powerful argument. Usually, documenters would also like to include images in order to emphasize their points while adding pictorial evidence to support their facts. This creates a direct message towards the audience who will end up thinking about what they visually saw.
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Good Points: If the narrator of the video is well spoken and knows their 'facts' while still including elements such as charisma when presenting, people will most likely react positively towards your Expository Documentation.
Bad Points: Some people might classify these type of documentaries as boring due to the amount of talking taking place in these videos while there is a lack of visual elements which means unless you don't mind hearing someone talk for some time, you would not be interested.
Bad Points: Some people might classify these type of documentaries as boring due to the amount of talking taking place in these videos while there is a lack of visual elements which means unless you don't mind hearing someone talk for some time, you would not be interested.
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oBSERVATIONAL dOCUMENTARYA 'Observational Documentary' is an unbiased method of filming day-to-day lifestyles without directly interfering with them. This means they are usually captured during the event or scenarios around it that were witnessed. This generally creates a connection from the audience to the visuals as they are witnessing real life events which makes this a passive way of obtaining any form of facts.
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Good Points: These type of videos generally are more emotional. As a result, this means the more sensitive your audience is, the bigger impact it will have towards them. Also, to the less connected audience, if there is a realism effect such as real footage, this might impact them as well.
Bad Points: There might be a sense of weakness found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
Bad Points: There might be a sense of weakness found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
ParticipatorY DocumentaryA 'Participatory Documentary' is believed to have quite some level of influence on different types of facts and the same goes for the footage. As a result, they can only use a specific amount of footage which show what is effective in the specific event the documenter is trying to capture. This means that these documentaries are completely bias as those events might be artificial to make a strong argument.
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Good Points: There is a high chance that the audience of the video would make a lot of renown or expectations from what they expect to see next in the video.
Bad Points: Similar to observational documentaries, there are senses of lack of control found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
Bad Points: Similar to observational documentaries, there are senses of lack of control found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
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Reflexive documentaryA 'Reflexive Documentary' is when specific footage or information is used in a bias way to get the viewers to side with their opinion of what event they are trying to capture. It usually is used to highlight different types of scenarios whilst removing the sense of realism only to emphasis the point of the video in the first place. It is usually used in extreme events and work for unaware users due to the specific viewpoint.
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Good Points: Unlike what we usually see in videos, these videos show the full extents of truths making it stand out as it doesn't match the general normality however, this automatically creates stronger sensitive emotions towards different events increasing its severity.
Bad Points: Factual points are not portrayed as strongly here which means that audience members who watch this video makes informed decisions out of the matter.
Bad Points: Factual points are not portrayed as strongly here which means that audience members who watch this video makes informed decisions out of the matter.
PERFORMATIVE DOCUMENTARYA 'Performative Documentary' is often very similar to participatory documentaries however instead of only telling the story, it also brings out factual points during the entire process. It usually focuses on different types of experiences film makers went though which makes it quite personal. These type of videos are best suited for people who would like to tell the stories of some event that occurred in their life.
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Good Points: The documenters are free to experiment as much with different shots, camera angles and movements as much as they would like in order to match what was originally set in their mindset which would be directly showcased to the audience without much difficulty.
Bad Points: Not everyone would like this sort of 'self view' found in the video as this means its more focused on the wanting of the documenter. By this I mean, not everyone would be interested in his point of view and would prefer to see the video from a different angle or point of view etc.
Bad Points: Not everyone would like this sort of 'self view' found in the video as this means its more focused on the wanting of the documenter. By this I mean, not everyone would be interested in his point of view and would prefer to see the video from a different angle or point of view etc.
Screenplay title page requirements:
ExAMPLE OF SCRIPT FORMAT:
Lets break down screenplay elements:
For this breakdown, I will use this picture:
Scene Heading
In other words, the 'slugline' is one line which indicates a short description of the location and time which should always be written in capital letters. Its indent is:
In other words, the 'slugline' is one line which indicates a short description of the location and time which should always be written in capital letters. Its indent is:
- (Left: 0.0)
- (Right: 0.0)
- (Width: 6.0)
Action
In other words, the 'description' is used to help justify the narration we will see during the events played on the screen. In some cases its also known as direction, visual exposition, blackstuff or scene directions. Its indent is:
In other words, the 'description' is used to help justify the narration we will see during the events played on the screen. In some cases its also known as direction, visual exposition, blackstuff or scene directions. Its indent is:
- (Left: 0.0)
- (Right 0.0)
- (Width 0.6)
Character
The character name should always be written in capital letters and it should be placed within the actions. For example, ''JACK.'' For smaller characters, they can be called by their role for example: ''CUSTOMER.'' Its indent is:
The character name should always be written in capital letters and it should be placed within the actions. For example, ''JACK.'' For smaller characters, they can be called by their role for example: ''CUSTOMER.'' Its indent is:
- (Left: 2.0)
- (Right: 0.0)
- (Width: 4.0)
Dialogue:
You cannot write a dialogue without a character being metioned. It is used everytime they speak even if it is offscreen or even during voice-overs. Its indent is:
You cannot write a dialogue without a character being metioned. It is used everytime they speak even if it is offscreen or even during voice-overs. Its indent is:
- (Left: 1.0)
- (Right: 1.5)
- (Width: 3.5)
Parenthetical:
These are used to determine where or what the character is doing or helps to convey what's going to happen in the dialogue or how the director should instruct the actor or actress in how they need to showcase their lines. Its indent is:
These are used to determine where or what the character is doing or helps to convey what's going to happen in the dialogue or how the director should instruct the actor or actress in how they need to showcase their lines. Its indent is:
- (Left: 1.5)
- (Right: 2.0)
- (Width: 2.5)
Transition: These are used in order for the film editors to instruct them either to cut to, fade to, dissolve to or use a smash cut or quick cut. Its indent is:
- (Left: 4.0)
- (Right: 0.0)
- (Width: 2.0)
Lets get into an actual famous script
The script helps to show you that what you visually see doesn't nessisarilyhave to correlate with the actual script
MAIN SITES USED FOR RESEARCH:
https://www.slideshare.net/callumjg/6-modes-of-documentaries
https://www.lynda.com/Video-tutorials/Writing-documentary-proposal/471913/611799-4.html
https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/
https://www.slideshare.net/JessWhiteMEDIA/script-format
http://slugline.co/basics/
https://www.lynda.com/Video-tutorials/Writing-documentary-proposal/471913/611799-4.html
https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/
https://www.slideshare.net/JessWhiteMEDIA/script-format
http://slugline.co/basics/