What is factual programming?

A factual programme aims to give information to the viewer. It makes them learn something new. Famous examples include: Supersize me (2004), Bowling for Colombine (2002), Sicko (2007) and Exit through the gift shop (2010).

These films can be found on the internet:
Supersize me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCWBeuiMdPI

Bowling for Colombine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-yio27C7Y8

Sicko:
http://veehd.com/video/2855306_Sicko-2007

Exit through the gift shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfdjQ3bZjYk
 

Documentary types

Poetic documentary- This type of documentary is, as the name implies, poetical in nature. It will often be made up of montages of images, sometimes with prosy narration. (Example: Man of Aran (1934))

Expository documentary- This type of documentary argues two or more viewpoints, often about a controversial subject. They are often quite interview driven, with the narrator being the icing on the cake. (Example: Sicko (2007) Sicko reveals the state of the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S.A. It is driven by narration and interviews).

Partcipatory documentary- This is when the presenter or filmmaker takes part in the events of the documentary. This type of documentary is often driven forward by the narration. (Example: Supersize me (2004) Supersize me focuses on its presenter as he eats McDonalds for a month to see what effects it has on his health. Where he couldn't interview certain people, there have been shots inserted into the film of him trying to phone those people.)

Observational documentary- This type of documentary simply observes an event with a minimum of intervention. There is usually narration to guide the viewer. (Example: Big brother (2000-present) Big Brother has celebrities put in a house together to see what happens between them. The footage is narrated all the way through.)

Reflexive documentary- This type of documentary is usually aware of the constructed nature of the documentary and is the subject of the documentary. (Example: Man with a movie camera (1929))

John Grierson was especially important in the movement of the documentary. He wanted to observe ordinary everyday life. His most well-known film is Nightmail (1936). The first scene of the film was actually filmed on a set with actors, a first at the time for documentaries.

My own documentary is an expository documentary and poetic documentary. The interviews are separated by chunks of narration. There are also cutaways and music along with this narration. I think this kind of documentary is fairly comtemporary. Supersize me intercuts narration and interviews together in this way.