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A Guide to Documentary Film

Using film in the classroom

This tutorial is a general guide to the different types of non-fiction film. It studies the variety of styles filmmakers use to present factual texts: fly-on-the-wall, observational, interpretive and abstract. We look at how storytelling and point-of-view influence the content of documentary film and how elements such as sound can play an important role in communicating a subject. We also look at some of the classroom exercises you can do to help your pupils uncover the truth and meaning of a non fiction text.