Documentary modes & approaches · Core

Documentary

Also called: documentary film, doc

ELI5

A nonfiction film or series that uses real people, events, evidence or observation to make an authored account.

“Can we verify the documentary before we present it as fact?”

Use this in nonfiction pitches to separate what is known, accessible, ethical and structurally repeatable.

Why it matters: Distinguishes story, access, evidence, format mechanics and participant-care responsibilities.

DocuseriesA documentary can be a single film or broad form; a docuseries is documentary storytelling organised across episodes.
Access documentaryAccess documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Archive-led documentaryArchive-led documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Arts documentaryArts documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Authored documentaryAuthored documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Biographical documentaryBiographical documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Character-led documentaryCharacter-led documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Essay documentaryEssay documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Event documentaryEvent documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Expository documentaryExpository documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Fixed-rig documentaryFixed-rig documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Follow documentaryFollow documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Hybrid documentaryHybrid documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.
Investigative documentaryInvestigative documentary is a narrower kind of Documentary.

Sources & evidence · 8

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.