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Documentary Elements

Exposition - introduction of the documentary

Archival Footage - old images, video, newspaper clippings, other texts from the past

Montage - a group of shots, images, video clips held together usually by a piece of music

Voice-over - often the narrator, but sometimes a Talking Head speaks over what is seen on film 

Reenactment - a scene from the past is acted out to help the audience understand the event under consideration

Talking Heads (direct and indirect interviews) interviews with 'experts,' some real some self- presumed

Man on the Street - quick interviews with people who are literally on the street, the common view 

Black Screen (w subtitles) - the sound is everything, subtitles when necessary to enhance the audience's understanding of what is heard.

Animation - a short animated piece concerning the topic, intended to inform or amuse the audience 

Graphics  (graphs/ charts/ maps) - used to enhance understanding 

Some of these bleed into each other; for instance the exposition of a documentary may be a montage which includes archival footage and graphics as part of a montage. Talking Heads may include archival footage of other 'experts' responding to a raised issue or question.

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