documentaries
Real-life cinema pieces
Documentaries are nonfiction films or television programs that document real events, people, or subjects.
The genre ranges from observational footage to heavily narrated investigations, from nature films to true crime.
A documentary typically presents factual material, though the filmmaker's perspective shapes what's shown: The documentary exposed corruption in the industry.
We watched a documentary about deep-sea creatures.
Motion picture theater
- footageRecorded video material
- narrationVerbal account delivery
- directorOne who leads
- screeningEvaluative selection process
premiere · festival · cinematography · montage · soundtrack · voiceover · subtitle · interview
Investigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- journalismNews gathering and dissemination
scandal · watchdog · truth-seeking · inquiry · revelation · leak · accountability · evidence
Based on direct perception
- fly-on-the-wallUndetected observer status
- unscriptedNot pre-written
- ethnographicDescribing cultures systematically
- unstagedNot theatrically presented
raw · immersive · participatory · poetic · expository · performative · reflexive · handheld
Stored historical records
- chronicleOrdered historical record
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- civilizationAdvanced organized human society
- empireDomain under unified control
dynasty · artifacts · timeline · epoch · era · ancient · medieval · revolution
Undomesticated natural organisms
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
habitat · migration · predator · prey · safari · ocean · rainforest · climate
Side-facing outline
- portraitArtistic depiction of someone
- tributeOffering of respect
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
visionary · subject · legacy · origins · roots · luminary · celebrity · influencer
cinema
Motion picture theater
screening · premiere · festival · cinematography · montage · soundtrack · voiceover · subtitle · interview · editing
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
journalism · scandal · watchdog · truth-seeking · inquiry · revelation · leak · accountability · evidence · testimony
observational
Based on direct perception
- fly-on-the-wallUndetected observer status
- unscriptedNot pre-written
- ethnographicDescribing cultures systematically
unstaged · raw · immersive · participatory · poetic · expository · performative · reflexive · handheld · intimate
archive
Stored historical records
- chronicleOrdered historical record
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- civilizationAdvanced organized human society
empire · dynasty · artifacts · timeline · epoch · era · ancient · medieval · revolution · warfare
wildlife
Undomesticated natural organisms
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
species · habitat · migration · predator · prey · safari · ocean · rainforest · climate · endangered
profile
Side-facing outline
pioneer · visionary · subject · legacy · origins · roots · luminary · celebrity · influencer · memoir
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- povertySevere lack of resources
- activismDirect effort for reform
- communityCollective of connected people
justice · reform · grassroots · protest · marginalized · advocacy · systemic · awareness · voices · struggle
- entertainmentmovie, movies, films, band, television
- filmmovies, film, filmmaking, cinematography, film editing
- filmsfeature films, action films, horror films, comedies, dramas
- digital mediawebsites, films, ebook, content creation, movies
- cultural eventscultural festivals, heritage festivals, folk festival, folk festivals, heritage festival
- educational mediaeducational videos, educational films, educational games, educational podcasts, educational toys
documentariesfeature films
Standard-length theatrical movies
science fiction · fictional narratives · fairy tales · fabrications · make-believe
documentariesscreenplays
Written works for films
studio productions · dramatizations · theatrical films · teleplays · reenactments
documentariespopcorn movies
Entertaining, undemanding cinema
diversions · fluff · guilty pleasures · blockbusters · comedies
- nature documentariesFilms about the natural world
- wildlife documentariesFilms about wild animals
- travel documentariesFilms showcasing global destinations
- crime documentariesNonfiction films about lawbreaking
- sports documentariesNonfiction films about athletics
- science documentariesFilms explaining natural phenomena