Bill Nichols describes six modes of documentary: expository, participatory, observational, performative, poetic, and reflexive mode (Nichols, 1991). My film ‘10 kilos heavier’ mainly features observational filming combined with some expository filming.
Observational filming aims to adopt a ‘fly on the wall’ approach by capturing realistic everyday life. The filmmaker will capture what’s happening in real life and not interfere, allowing real-life events to unfold, without the audience ever hearing or seeing them. Despite giving Indie direction at times I utilised this approach for the majority of my film, to capture my subject Indie in candid moments such as putting on make-up, playing with her dogs, laughing with friends and scrolling on her laptop. I believe this style really suits my documentary as audiences feel as though they are really getting a glimpse into Indies life without it feeling staged or put on.
Footage that either supports or strengthens the argument of the film can be seen as elements of expository mode of documentary. This includes “stock footage, b-roll or reenactments of historical events” (Wilkes 2022). This can be seen within my film through the use of archival footage of Indie, this is paired with narration of her speaking of herself when she was younger and gives perspective to the audience of how happy she once was before food controlled her life. I also use other images of Indie within the piece to depict her at her lowest time. I also included a reenactment within the work as my friend dressed up as a nurse and acted out a scene calling indie into an appointment. Expository documentaries often feature a “voice of god” style voice over which mine does not however these other elements allow it to fall into the category.
Observational filming is a style I have really enjoyed learning about and I hope to use it in future projects. I think this will shine through more on projects where the subject is a “thing” or place or idea rather than a personal story as you can take more creative liberties in my opinion.
Nichols B (1991) Representing Reality: Issues and Concepts in Documentary, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Wilkes A (2022) library.SCOTCH: Analysing Documentaries: Modes, library.scotch.wa.edu.au, https://library.scotch.wa.edu.au/english/year12/analysingdocumentaries/modes#:~:text=Expository%20Mode&text=For%20expository%20documentaries%2C%20the%20cinematographer, accessed 4 December 2023.