Expository documentary - This is when the documentary speaks directly to the viewer, usually to inform them about a particular subject or to persuade them to do something. These are mainly fact based and informative so the audience knows about a subject.
.An example of expository documentary is one of David Attenborough many documentary's about wild life. For example Frozen Planet. This is about the frozen landscape and the life that lives there .This is a expository documentary because it tells the viewer about global warming and the effects it has of the planet.
Observational documentary - This is when the documentary just follows everyday life natural things with the target of just showing people a way of life or how something is. They are often known for what they don't consist of like no voice over, no interviews and no intertitles. This is because they just show everyday things with no interference of a film maker.
One example of this would be Hoop Dreams. This is about 2 gifted black teenagers from poor families in Chicago. The documentary follows their life over 3 years as they try and escape the ghetto and make it into the national basketball league. It is a Observational documentary because it shows the struggle for these 2 boys trying to play pro basketball.
Another example is Armadillo. This is about the story of a few young Danish soldiers when their platoon is deployed on a tour of Afghanistan. This is an observational documentary because it shows the platoon and shows how brutal war can be with out commentary so the images get this across.
Interactive documentary - This is when the documentary film makers presents in known and everything is shown through their prospective. A film that is made well will show a definite lean towards on side of the story but will show both sides.
An example of this is when Louis Met Chris Eubank. This is about when Louis Theroux met the ex-boxer Chris Eubank. This is an interactive documentary because we see Louis interviewing Chris and we see his answers.
Another example is Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. This is about whether President Bush used the 9/11 attacks to justify a war in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is an interactive documentary because we see Michael Moore and we see him interviewing people.
In a reflexive documentary the film maker is know and can be seen on screen. The way the documentary is made and how it comes together is just as important and what the documentary is about. Reflexive documentaries are more about the link between film maker and audience rather than film maker and subject.
An example is more Louis Theroux documentaries. This is because we see him in front of the camera and also takes place in the activities on screen but still staying detached and casual.
Another example of a great reflective documentary film maker is Nick Broomfield. He is know for documentaries like Kurt & Courtney and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer.
A performative documentary is strongly personal, unconventional and poetic. They involve reconstructions and performances of what is being explained. These are added in the get the audience involved and try to get them to understand what the people are going through.
An example of this is supersize me. A normal health guy only eat MacDonald's food a 30 days to prove to people that it is incredibly unhealthy. He has to see a doctor most days and is warned it is extremely dangerous.
I like performative documentaries the most because not you get to see reconstructions of whats happened and get a better understanding of what happened. I also think that observational documentaries are the most honest because they just follow their subjects around without any interference by editing and film makers.
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