Documentary Tip - Finding an Approach

I am still on the series Documentary Tips, the next most important decision is the approach and if you ask me there are several approach if we are going by the books but Director are becoming very creative and beyond all the approaches i will discuss below, the industry is evolving, i would encourage you view several other peoples job and try to create your own approach this will give it a flavor you will forever cherish.

There are a number of ways you can approach a single subject, and each approach will give your documentary a different feel. Taking a look at documentary genres and sub-genres, such as observational and participatory, can help you in determining how you want to approach your topic.

Observational documentaries follow a "fly-on-the-wall" approach. This technique focuses on observing the subjects in typical, everyday situations. As an observational documentarian, you're strictly there to capture what happens, without influencing the outcome in any way. Winged Migration is a great example of this approach.

A participatory approach is the exact opposite of an observational one. If you choose a participatory approach you are choosing to step out from behind the camera and actively participate in the documentary you're making. This approach can be found in documentaries like Bowling for Columbine and Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? The topic is explored through the director's experience and point-of-view, and focuses on persuading the viewer.

As a documentarian, you determine the viewer's experience. Your approach will significantly affect how your viewer perceives your documentary and the information presented to them. Finding an approach that best suits your storytelling goal and style will increase the impact that your documentary will have.

One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing which genre style to shoot your documentary in.