Scope Note:

Nonfiction work defined by documentary pioneer John Grierson as the creative treatment of actuality. Grounded in some aspect of real life, documentaries may vary from a very deliberate account of facts to an extremely interpretive rendering of a subject, advocating a particular viewpoint on a political, social, or historical issue. In Documentary, actuality should still be dominant over the creative treatment, which, while often staged for the camera, should not go so far as to be dramatized for emotional impact and belong to such genres as Historical fiction or Propaganda. Documentaries may include re-enactments, such as showing the movements of armies, or brief scenes of individuals and dialogue, but do not include films that merely use a realistic technique in telling a fictional story. Note: For other, more specific nonfiction terms, see also Actuality, Adventure (Nonfiction), Art, Biographical (Nonfiction), Dance, Educational, Ethnic (Nonfiction), Ethnographic, Home shopping, Industrial, Instructional, Interview, Magazine, Medical (Nonfiction), Music, Nature, News, Propaganda, Public access, Public affairs, Reality-based, Religion, Social guidance, Speculation, Sponsored, Sports (Nonfiction), Talk, Training, Travelogue, War (Nonfiction). For uncut footage recording an event, such as a scientific experiment, a congressional hearing, or funeral of a famous individual, use Unedited. Examples: BERKELEY IN THE SIXTIES; BEST BOY; CITY OUT OF WILDERNESS; COSAS DE MI VIDA (with Experimental); F FOR FAKE (with Parody); FOR ALL MANKIND; HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A.; THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD; MAN OF ARAN; THE MURDER OF FRED HAMPTON (with Experimental); NANOOK OF THE NORTH (with Ethnic (Nonfiction)); NIGHT MAIL; NUIT ET BROUILLARD / NIGHT AND FOG; ON COMPANY BUSINESS (with Experimental); THE PANAMA DECEPTION; THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS (with Sponsored); POINT OF ORDER; PRIMARY; ROGER & ME; A THIN BLUE LINE; THE TIES THAT BIND (1984) (with Experimental). TV examples: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE; THE CIVIL WAR (1991); FRONTLINE; HARVEST OF SHAME; NOVA; THE SELLING OF THE PENTAGON; WIDE WIDE WORLD.

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