Learning Media Documentary Film
b. The function of Documentary Film
The following are some of the functions of a documentary film: 1
Documentary and time. Usually a documentary film featuring the past or the present. But it
can also be used to forecast the future. As in the film The War Game 1965 by Peter Watkins, knowledge of the bombing of
Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to raised allegations of nuclear attack to London.
2 Documentary as a creative treatment of reality
Covers all forms of non-fiction, nature, science, stories about the trip, industry, education, and even the film for promotional
purposes. 3
Documentation for addressing social problems. Attention to quality and fairness of community life, usually bring a
documentary film beyond mere facts, leads to moral and ethical dimension, which will reevaluate arrangement of community life
and further the human consciousness. 4
The Documentary as an organized story. Successful documentary films, like a fiction film, requires a good
story with interesting characters, emphases through narration, and complete perspective.
5 Accuracy to see the situation the real face a fact.
The documentary does not have limits, but a documentary film always reflect the fascination and respect for the actuality.
Actuality is something objective, visible, measurable, and agreed. c.
Elements That Used In Documentary Film 1
Visual elements Visual elements that can be used in a documentary is as follows:
a Observasionalisme reactive, which is making a documentary
film with the material as much as possible is taken directly from the subject being filmed. This is related to the accuracy of
the observations by referring camera or director. This is related to the accuracy of the observations by referring camera or
director. b
Observasionalisme proactive, namely by selecting the documentary film material specifically in connection with
earlier observations by referring camera or director. c
Illustrative mode, the approach to documentation that trying to depict directly of what was said by the narrator the recorded
voice as a voice over. d
Associative mode, the approach in a documentary film which seeks to use pieces of the image in various ways.
2 Verbal elements
Verbal elements that can be used in a documentary is as follows: a
Overheard exchange, namely the recorded conversations between two or more sources that impressed recorded
inadvertently and directly. b
Testimony, namely the recording observations, opinions or information, which is expressed honestly by the witnesses,
experts, and other sources related to the subject of the documentary. This is the main purpose of the interview.
c The exposition, namely the the use of voice over or directly
facing the camera, in particular direct viewers who receive the information and arguments.