Participatory and Observational Documentary's

Participatory Documentary:

A participatory documentary is a form of participatory media in which a group or a single directro creates their own film. The idea behind this is that making a video is easy and accessible, and is a great way of bringing people together to explore issues, voice concerns or simply to be creative and tell stories.

It is therefore primarily about process, though high quality and accessible films (products) can be created using these methods if that is a desired outcome. This process can be very empowering, enabling a group or community to take their own action to solve their own problems, and also to communicate their needs and ideas to decision-makers and/or other groups and communities. As such, PV can be a highly effective tool to engage and mobilise marginalised people, and to help them to implement their own forms of sustainable development based on local needs.

Example:

Louis and the Nazis
Louis and the Nazis' is about an English man with Jewish heritage traveling around America interviewing racists, finding out there beliefs and views. He interviews people such as the former leader of the KKK and nazi skinheads.

Observational:

A observational documentary follows a person around to observe and film events that has happened in their life.

Example:

Hoop Dreams (1994)
This 3 hour epic shot over 5 years in Chicago follows the trials and tribulations of two talented and athletic black teens from poor families, trying to bust out of ghetto life and make it in the National Basketball League. Aside from the rich personal journey ensured by filming these young men throughout their formative years as they mature exponentially, the struggle of their families and the backdrops of their decaying neighbourhoods provides an incisive insight into underprivileged black urban existence.