Documentaries

Reality vs. Documentary 

http://www.pbs.org/pov/56up/lesson_plan.php

Documentary 101:

http://documentaries.about.com/od/introtodocumentaries/u/Documentaries101.htm#s1 

A Primer for Getting the Most Out of Documentary Films

By Jennifer Merin

Welcome to the wonderful and fascinating world of documentary films! Nonfiction films provide you with unlimited access to the whole wide world around you. No subject is too obscure, no mountain too high to deter a determined documentary film director from exploring it and presenting it to you. Here, you'll discover the basics about the production elements, aesthetics and history of documentary film.

1. Must-Know Basics
2. Documentary Terminology
3. Popular Subjects
4. Filmmakers and Visionaries
5. Where To Find The Films You Want To Watch

Must-Know Basics

Hundreds of documentaries made and released each year cover every imaginable subject, providing in-depth investigations of ubiquitous nightly news items and examining obscure factoids that they expand into engaging and enlightening full-length features. Having a basic knowledge of documentary styles and filmmakers will help you find and focus on the movies that will meet and satisfy your interests. Use this primer to enhance your understanding of the genre, and learn how to assess the artistry and accuracy of any documentary film. 

• Documentaries 101
• Documentary Styles - An Overview
• Documentary Genre Offshoots
• Top Documentary Filmmakers and Visionaries

Documentary Terminology

A glossary of the words and terminology used to define and describe the techniques and styles used in documentary filmmaking and documentary films.

• Anthropomorphism
• Authenticity
• Cinema Verite
• Commentary
• Compilation Film
• Demonstrative Proof
• Editing
• Ethnographic
• Expository Documentary
• Interrotron

• Intertitle
• Long Take
• Masked Interview
• Observational Mode
• Participatory Mode
• Performative Mode
• Perspective
• Voice of Authority
• Voice Over
• Additional Terminology