There are five Nicholls modes. Expository documentary (voice of god), Observational documentary (window on the world), Participatory mode (interactive) Reflexive documentary (Awareness of the process) and Performative documentary (Filmmaker as participant)
Realism- is when the documentary will portray something which will show the audience that it is true, it will show the situation as it really is, so people will not be acting but it will be real as to what they speak, most documentaries which show realism will have actuality footage is a convention which will be shown to portray realism in the documentary.
Dramatisation- Its acting, re-enactment, so the documentary will portray over exaggeration, and the characters within the documentary will over exaggerate and will have a script to follow, dramatisation will also include music, a lot of suspense and overall manipulating the situation.
Narrativisation- is constructing a version of reality often using narrative technique, presentation of facts is used in narrativisation in order to create a story, and also these documentaries including narrativisation will be in chronological order.
The Expository mode (Voice of god)
This mode is identified within the documentary- it "emphasizes verbal commentary and argumentative logic" often used by a narrator.
Assumes a logical argument and a "right" and "proper" answer using direct address and offering preferred meaning most associated with television news programming.
The Example which i have used for Expository documentary is a nature documentary. The video below includes the expository mode through the use of having voice over, and talking to you directly. The conventions which are included within this documentary are firstly the editing montage, the editing pace is very slow in order for the audience to capture the reactions of the animals. You can see that the editing pace is slow as at 4.07 we see the camera moving slowly as they follow the dears. This engages the audience as they do not miss any reaction of the dears and also feel as though they are in the forest. A main convention which shown throughout the whole documentary is the use of voice over, throughout we hear a formal voice over stating the facts, about the animals which are shown on screen. This engages the audience as the voice over directly addresses to the audience. "right" and "proper" is shown as what the voice over is mentioning is what we see on screen. The voice over plays a huge role in this documentary at without it the audience will not be able to understand what is happening and will not engage the audience. Another convention which i have noticed in this documentary is the use of Archive footage, this make it more interesting for the audience as they believe to what is shown to them as it is actual footage of the dears, archive footage is clearly shown 6:47 where you see the dears walking around and one dear lying down. The documentary maker is trying to achieve, what the audience may portray this nature documentary and how interested they were at watching this documentary, by using the expository mode. This documentary shows realism as the documentary includes actual footage of the animals, this shows realism as the audience will believe and trust what is shown to them. The audience interpret this mode overall as very detailed and engaging as through the authoritative figures, and effective tone used in this documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRAHnO_Tr70
The Observational mode (Window on the world)
The mode is best exemplified by the Cinema Verite or Direct Cinema movement which emerged in the late 1950's. It is attempted to capture as accurately as possible. Objective reality with the film maker as neutral observer.
The filmmaker remains hidden behind the camera, ignored by the surrounding environment, the person neither changes nor influences the actions/ events being captured. Since nothing is staged for the camera, the camera rushes about to keep up with the action resulting in rough, shaky, and often amateur-looking footage. The video below shows observational mode as firstly the whole,video consists of having real footage, as the camera is very rough and shaky, the video is also impartial as it does not favour either sides of the argument. The video also uses expository mode as it is objective, shown in reality. The conventions which are shown within this documentary, are firstly the use of having a presenter, this makes it interesting for the audience as it gives us more detail, and shows that the what is being said by people is real and they have not scripted or rehearsed it beforehand this is shown in the video at 0:08 where you see the presenter asking questions to the person. Another convention which is noticed is the use of hand held camera, this creates suspense for the audience as they want to find out what will happen by following the camera, and having it very shaky the producer wants the audience to feel that we are not missing out on anything and also importantly feeling part of what is being shown to them. In the video we can tell that the camera is hand held as at 0:53 we see clearly that when entering the kitchen the camera is rough and shaky. Another convention which is shown throughout this video is the use of poor lighting and sound, the lighting is very bad as it is in black and white so not everything is clear in the video, also the sound is not as clear as it could be, it leaves the audience to figure out what the people are saying in the video. Poor lighting and sound does not show professionalism but on the other hand creates suspense and engagement for the audience, in the video we see it at 1:44 where the lighting is very poor and also the sound is not clear. Lastly another convention which is noticed through the end of the video is framing to create meaning, many close ups are used to show the real emotions of the character it is actual footage being portrayed to the viewers, in the video we see the close ups from 4:28 where we see the man very happy and smiling whilst on the phone. Realism is shown in this video as through the actual footage being portrayed to the audience, we can tell that this video is actual footage and is not misunderstanding the audience as the camera throughout is very rough and shaky trying to include everything as possible for the audience to see. We clearly see this at 0:27 were we see the camera moves from one person to another to capture their expressions. The audience interpret the mode as objective, the mode is portrayed through the hand held camera work, and the camera rushing to capture the reactions of people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plaE2qT_gA
The Participatory mode (Interactive)
The mode welcomes direct engagement between filmmaker and subjects- The filmmaker becomes part of the events being recorded.
The filmmakers impact on the events being recorded is acknowledged, indeed, it is often celebrated.
The participatory mode is shown in vice documentaries as the filmmaker (presenter) is included within the subject/ event that is being filmed. The example which i have used for participatory mode is a vice documentary this is because in vice documentaries, the presenter interacts with the real situation being presented to the audience. Most of the time the presenter is in front of the camera, this is why vice documentaries fit well into participatory mode as its all about the presenter interacting with the subject and the situation. The conventions which are shown within vice documentaries is the use of having a presenter throughout, the presenter in this case helps the audience to understand what is going on and the facts which are talked through within the situation of the subject, without having the presenter it will not engage or interests the readers as the presenter plays the main role of giving information to the audience, the presenter is clearly shown in front of the camera in this video at 7:14 when the presenter is following the camera in the sewers. Another convention which is clearly shown in this video is the use of having interviews, the presenter interviews people in order to find out their point of view and how they feel about the situation, this engages the audience as it shows a sense of realism as the audience will believe what is shown to them because it is people that are living in the sewers in Colombia. The interviews also makes the audience understand and feel how people are feeling in Colombia and feel part of what is happening. In the video an interview is shown with the presenter and a man who is living in the sewers at 13:06, where the presenter questions the man as to why he had to do this and how he is feeling. Lastly another convention is shown is framing to create meaning, as there is many use of close ups within the video to show the dejection they are feeling and how hard it is for them to live in Colombia, they do not feel safe in their own country that they are forced to live in the sewers, in the video you see a close up of a man who is shown dejected at 15:29. Realism in shown within this documentary as archive footage is portrayed throughout, the real interviews taking place between people living in the sewers with the presenter and the use of the camera shaking and showing how people are living in the sewers, the use of realism within this documentary engages the audience as they believe what is shown to them but also the fact that they feel part of their grief and hardship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4koXeZvAfg
The Reflexive mode (Awareness of the process)
The reflexive mode acknowledges the constructed nature of documentary and flaunts it conveying to people that this is not necessarily "truth" but a reconstruction of it- "a" truth, not "the" truth.
The artifice of the documentary is exposed- the audience are made aware of the editing, sound, recording etc. The video below shows the reflexive mode as the fact which is being exposed shows it in a biased way within the documentary. The video shows the making of how the documentary is made by exposing the facts of editing, sound, and recording. The documentary is fully opinionated as it portrays what the presenters think. Although there is subjectivity within the idea of making the documentary. The conventions which are portrayed within the video is firstly the use of having a presenter, the presenter is shown throughout this video, without them this video cannot be made as they are the people giving their opinions about the making of the documentary, the presenter engages the audience through their opinions and trying to show what is actually going to be shown within the documentary or the effects which are shown in the documentary. The presenter and the interviewee is shown at 13:53 where we see the interviewee talking about the making of the documentary and the if it was successful or not.Another convention which is portrayed in this video is the use of having use of experts, as the video interviews a person who has knowledge on the making of the documentary and whether it was successful or not which engages the audience as they know that the person being interviewed has great knowledge and detail of the pre and post production making of the documentary, they also know whether the documentary was successful or not in the video we see the man clearly talking about the making of the documentary at 10:13. Lastly another convention portrayed in this video is presentation of facts, reflexive mode uses this very closely especially as shown in this video, it portrays how the presenter and interviewee communicates as to whether they are being biased or fair through their opinions which they mention to the audience. In this video we clearly see the use of realism as it is the real person being interviewed on the making of the documentary and whether the documentary was successful or not you can see clearly in the video at 19:05 where the camera focuses closely on to the man being interviewed, as they have been part of or seen the documentary being made, so the audience is interested in what they are saying because they will believe what is told to them even though it is opinionated.
The Performative mode (filmmaker as participant)
The performative mode of documentary emphasizes the subjective nature of the documentarian as well as acknowledging the subjective reading of the audience- Notions of objectivity are replaced by "evocation and effect".
The mode emphasizes the emotional and social impact on the audience. This documentary supersize me shows the use of performative mode as it is clearly based on a persons experience being portrayed to the audience and the emotional responses and experience shown within the documentary. Performative mode is all about the persons experience which is exactly shown in supersize me as the man eats only Mc'donalds for 30 days straight, and shows the experience and consequences he faces for taking up this challenge. The convention which is portrayed firstly within this video is the use of having the presenter, the presenter in this case is the one which is experiencing eating the Mc'Donalds for 30 days, this engages the audience as they feel connected to the presenter and also believe what is shown to them as the presenter is actually showing what he is experiencing. You see the presenter clearly in the video at 1:19 when he has eaten Mc'Donalds and how he is feeling 10 minutes later. Another convention which portrayed in supersize me is the use of hand held camera, this engages the audience as it shows a sense of realism and shows actual footage which will make the audience to believe it and understand it clearly, and will not mislead them as it is actuality footage being portrayed to them, in the video we see the camera shaking when the man is in the car at 1:23. Lastly another convention being portrayed in the video is the use of having archive footage throughout the documentary, this firstly shows a sense of realism because it is actual footage being portrayed to the audience but also makes it interesting for the audience as they feel part of what is happening and will believe what is shown t them, they will not be mislead as it is actuality footage being shown, Narrativisation is clearly shown in this documentary as it is like a story from the start of him eating Mc'Donalds and then till the end of the 30 days, he also shows how his body deteriorates as the days go by. You can see clearly it is narrativisation as it explains who would want to go and die either you or Mc'Donalds, so it makes the audience really think that Mc'Donalds is not all good for you, and the risks it has to your life if you eat too much of it.
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