The Participatory Mode

Nichols explains in a very simple way the difference of how the participatory mode works in documentary, explaining the role of the director as “ I speak with them for us (me and you).” This means that the director is also involved in the documentary, not as a passive entity, but as an active portion of the film. In this mode the audience can see the director making interviews, talking with the camera, or talking to the camera, etc.  Also, this means that the subject matter could be evaluated from one point of view, or showing the two sides, but usually standing for only one. From the documentaries that we have evaluated, this is for sure the one who have more influenced on a call of action on the audience.

The three first short films that we watched about the different sides of the health care system have interviews, and staged scenes with the characters. Doing certain stuff, like being still watching the camera. Even though, the staged images are not part of this reality that the observational style represents, this still works because of the interviews, and the level of emotionality on it. It’s hard to doubt about the topic that its being discussed. The staged images are only part of the story that its been told. Still, these are a stylized representation of the character, emotions, or personality of the people in the documentary.

Furthermore, the director’s participation also, makes a big difference with the other styles such us the observational or expository. In here, there is no voice of God that looks for certain impartiality. Although in the documentary Sick around the world, the journalist, and director wanted to prove, showing the both sides of the coin about the different health care system in different countries.  His face though, was an inevitable revelator who would show sympathy for one side of the coin. In Sicko by Moore, the director is completely bias, and he doesn’t intend not to be. His documentary is loaded with emotional stories and plenty of satires about the mediocre health system in the USA.

In short, this mode of documentary helps the audience through the director’s eyes and voice, or his persona,  and the people involved  the subject matter presented. They both evaluate the topic, and put you in a place in which is hard not to take sides or formulate a discussion after watching this kind of document.