Documentary Category Definition


n. pl. do-cu-men-ta-ry
A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting of actual news films or interviews accompanied by narration.
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines documentary:
A motion picture dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects. It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial re-enactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction.
In general, documentary films educate their audiences. They share one or more of these goals:
  • To document a subject in order to preserve knowledge
  • To reveal something about the subject
  • To allow the viewer to experience what it's like to be the subject (whether it's someone diving out of an airplane or a homeless person)
  • To advocate on behalf of the subject

If you have further questions about a documentary submission, please contact Heidi Schlageter.

 
Examples of Documentaries
A historical documentary may cover a variety of non-fiction stories in a factual and objective manner. The documentary may:
  • document the lives of historical or contemporary persons
  • depict a historical or political event
  • portray an important or interesting place in history
  • utilize a reality style may allowing the viewer to see a behind-the scenes perspective of a persons life, an event, or political process.
Tools Used in Documentaries
  • Archival Footage and/or photographs
  • Voiceover narration
  • Real people
  • Interviews
  • On site sound recording
  • Re-enactments

Students may use any of the tools above. The judges will not give points for the number of tools used, rather, they will judge how skillfully the tool is used to enhance the story being told in the documentary.

Questions about the differences between student created video and teacher created video or how much to expect from students during the video creation process? Click here for more information.

Documentary Resources
Documentary Entry Example

picture

Click image to see video

 "Laura Simon: Making Her Mark" 2007 iVIE Nominee
Point Loma Senior High School - San Diego Unified School District - Teacher: Larry Zeiger

Purpose: To Inform
Audience: General Audeince
Educational Objective:This film is intended to give the viewer a look into the life of an individual who has been alive for over a century, thus giving them a perspective that is often lost in society.

California State Content Standards for grade eleven:

United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century

11.11 Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society.

3.Describe the changing roles of women in society as reflected in the entry of more women into the labor force and the changing family structure.

English-Language Arts Content Standards.

1.0 Writing Strategies Research and Technology

1.6 Develop presentations by using clear research questions and creative and critical research strategies (e.g., field studies, oral histories, interviews, experiments, electronic sources).

2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

2.1 Write fictional, autobiographical, or biographical narratives

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