Dramatization in Documentary

In John Corner's article, Drama Documentary, he discusses the use of dramatization in documentaries and documentary elements in fiction films. The documentary elements of fiction films help to authenticate their main points and the dramatization in documentaries mostly help to engage the viewer. For the purposes of this essay, it will be discussed why dramatization in documentary is a necessity, but also how it can inhibit the main points of the documentary film.

On the second column of page 32, Corner writes, "questions of reference concern how a particular programme [sic] relates itself to the real world, with what degree of specificity as to people, places, times, events and actions." In the case of the documentary, the authentic footage available is often un-cinematic. The point of the footage is not to be 'pretty' or engaging, but to highlight or simply display the factual elements. Because of this, it is often not the most interesting to view, at least not necessarily in large doses. Dramatizing scenes allows the filmmaker to create an aesthetic for appreciation by the audience and a visual cue for potentially uncaptured reported events. When the audience is allowed a visual memory of something, even if the footage is false, then the idea put across is taken as being more real, or factual. Film goers are also used to seeing cinema that is, well, cinematic. The stylistic elements of a film, i.e. choreographed shots, well placed edits, etc. are what draw the viewer into a fiction film and allow the movie to be viewed as it's own world, it's own reality, for the period of time during which the viewer is engaged. Using the same tricks in a documentary can capture an audience members attention and allow them to fall into that riveted and accepting state of being.

However, the conventions of fiction film in documentary can also be distracting and take away from the reality of what is being viewed. When an audience member understands that the re-enactments are indeed full of tricky cinematic conventions, they may feel further distanced and become questioning about the validity in regards to the entirety of what is being viewed.

There is no 'right way' to do it. There will always be a multitude of concerns when it comes to the creation of any film, documentary or otherwise. While potential issues should definitely be taken into consideration, in the end it is the mind of the filmmaker that will be the ultimate decision maker when it comes to the final composition. As personal opinion, I find that dramatized elements in a documentary give necessary visual cues and allow the filmmaker a greater control of the stylistic feel of the film, also giving the documentary a personal voice that high lights the reality of the impossibility of personal objectivity.