Introduction to Documentary & Bill Nichols Modes of Documentary

This pack can be used to introduce any DOCUMENATRY module for both Film and Media studies A Level courses.

This pack contains a 40-slide PowerPoint AND an accompanying YouTube video that covers the following topics/content

PART I -

• What is a documentary - Student starter task: define ‘documentary’
• Discussion of how uses of key elements may differ from narrative film
• Student experiences with documentary
• Types of Documenaty (task)
• Technical conventions of Documentary (task)
• True/false / discussion task
• Introduction to Bill Nichols and ‘Documentary Modes’
• Short research task - students given one ‘mode’ each and then asked to research for 10 mins - feedback to the class
• Discussion for each of Nichols’ Modes
  • Polemic
  • Expository
  • Observational
  • Participatory
  • Reflexive
  • Performative

PART II -

• John Grieson on what a documentary is
• ‘Edge of Reality’ - dealing with actuality; the real
• Task - comparing the represenation of WWI in narrative film (Paths of Glory) with documentary film (They Shall Never Grow Old)
• Slides are included that go through each clip and consolidate the key points
• Fictional Actors / Social Actors

PLenary: this is to be added but suggest task is:

Research the documentary that you and your students will be studying for your course - note down:

Documentary mode
Conventions used etc