Nichols' Modes of Documentary

Nichols’ Modes of Documentary

Bill Nicholls identified different modes, which are required in Factual television that consisted of the following:

·     
     Expository

·      Observational

·      Interactive

·      Reflexive

·      Performative
     Realism
     Dramatisation
     Narrativastion
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Expository modes refer to a mode, which focuses on speaking directly to the viewer in an authoritative mode of address, which may be accompanied by influential or persuasive techniques as well as relevant images.

A very familiar example of the Expository mode in action may be often shown through David Attenborough for instance in the example shown below of The Blue Planet which in itself is quite cliché due to the fact that the expository mode is most commonly used in Nature and Wildlife documentaries other than anything else.

This Documentary by David Attenborough is about the ‘Amazing and creatures exhibit bio-luminescence’ is where his voice is used to discuss the fascinating animals, which inhabit in the big wide ocean. In terms of this particular element of Nicholls theory, in the sense that Expository modes which is also known as ‘the voice of God’ builds a relationship between the images and the narrator or what is being said is correct due to the fact that the voice over enables us to further understand the pictures. When it comes to nature and wildlife, they are not able to communicate in the way which we do in the sense that they cannot speak so through having these voice overs, it enables us to be able to build a connection with what we see and be able to put two and two together, its almost like the picture comes to life.

In this sense, I would say that one of the purposes of the Expository mode is to educate above all as well as to inform especially where it is most common in scientific or nature orientated documentaries such a The Blue Planet which therefore enables documentaries like this to enable the audiences understanding to be more complex as well as enlightening them

Observational modes are when the Camera takes on the role of the audience, so it is essentially hand-held camera work so there are usually no voice overs, no supplementary behaviour, no interviews, nothing done for the camera however everything is one and the group who are being filmed act as ‘native’ as possible as if no film makers are there.

An example of Observational modes in action are most reality shows such as The Real Beckhams, Keeping up with the Kardashians etc, in the clip shown below which has been taken from the episodes show everything from what they do in their everyday lives to how they work and what they get up to as a family also the camera has no participation with any of the events going on but the camera can be a bit shaky at times because nothing is staged therefore the clips or scenes shown are often much more raw than usual.

 Interactive Mode:

Interactive mode is when the documentary maker and crew interact with the subject and it makes it more realistic to the audience as the documentary presents the audience with thoughts expressed and personal opinions from other people so this may be through interviews which therefore offers the audience reliability.

Nick Broomfield's documentary is a very great example of the use of the Interactive mode where a connection exists between documentary-maker and subject takes part, as the Nick actively engages with the situation they are documenting, asking questions of their subjects through interviews and sharing experiences with them, this therefore allows the documentary make to become part of the events being recorded.


Reflexive mode:
This mode acknowledges how a documentary is made and that it is impossible for it to be an untouched truth so to speak because it gets affected by so many different processes e.g. camera and editing and so it accepts it and will even make these things known to the audience by actually having and showing them in the film itself. It admits to the audience this is not the truth but a reconstructed version of it. They(Filmmakers) are often get involved with what is going on and the people they are talking to so they can can get an in depth view into the way other people act and think. 

      Performative Mode: 

e    This mode essentially emphasises the subjective or expressive aspect of the filmmaker's own engagement with the subject and an audience's responsiveness to this engagement therefore meaning that this mode often generates different meanings for different people in terms of the types of emotions and feelings gained from it. Performative documentary is often seen as very honest and usually involves the film maker themselves being the subject of the documentary,

      An example of this is the film 'Waltz with Bashir' where by a Doctor, from Israel, makes himself the  an animated film following the life of an Israeli 1982 invasion which although is a real story is entirely animated however the fact that the final scene consists of  real footage makes the audience realise just how serious the subject of the documentary is and the gravity of the situation which essentially makes it a performative film. This was an effective way to bring out the emotion in the audience as up until that point it almost doesn’t seem real due to the fact that it is animated.

     Realism:

    Dramatisation:

    Narrativisation: