Presenting Documentary Presenter Led vs. Voice Over

Presenter or Narrator? The key to selecting the right presentation technique is to know who your primary target audience are going to be and how they are going to be viewing it. You should also consider the content of your documentary. If your documentary is about war, it will have a very different style to one about puppies!

Presenter This is a style of presentation where you learn the story through a guide or a host. You see this person on camera and they take you through the story in their own words. The host could be you, it could be a celebrity, a professional or just a person who has some connection to the story.

Presenter

Narration This is a traditional style of storytelling using a narrator who is off-camera and never seen. This is referred to as “Voice of God” style of presentation. This style is often used in news type documentaries.

Being a Presenter There are key rules that you need to follow when being an on-screen presenter. Talk into camera – this is the only real time you should speak directly into the camera. You are addressing the audience and the best way to do that is by looking at them!

Presenting and Narration Always film / record your introduction, links and conclusion after you have completed your research and your interviews. This will make your scripting a lot more accurate and your documentary will flow better.

Record Multiple Takes You will deliver the lines much more confidently once you have recorded it a few times. Don’t just record it once and use that – you will be able to do better!