Introduction
When adapting a story for film, filmmakers have a variety of creative choices to make, one of which is the approach to storytelling. Two common approaches are documentary-style adaptations and narrative adaptations. Each of these styles offers distinct ways to engage the audience, convey information, and tell a story. Here’s an exploration of the differences between the two, and how each style shapes the way a story is told:
1. Storytelling Approach
Documentary-Style Adaptation:
A documentary-style adaptation focuses on presenting real events, people, or situations with an emphasis on authenticity and factual representation. These films often rely on interviews, archival footage, and real-world events to tell the story. The goal is to offer a truthful, informative, and sometimes raw look at the subject matter. In these adaptations, the filmmaker’s presence may be minimal, allowing the subjects to speak for themselves and guiding the narrative through real-world perspectives.
Example: A documentary-style adaptation of a historical event may incorporate real interviews with survivors, experts, or witnesses, alongside archival footage or photos to give an accurate and poignant portrayal of the event.
Narrative Adaptation:
A narrative adaptation, on the other hand, is a more fictionalized retelling of a story, often based on real events but incorporating fictionalized characters, dialogue, and scenarios to serve the narrative’s thematic purpose. This type of adaptation is concerned with crafting an engaging story arc and emotional journey, which may involve dramatization, character development, and heightened scenarios for cinematic impact. Filmmakers have more creative freedom to experiment with structure and characterization.
Example: A narrative adaptation of the same historical event might create composite characters or fictional scenes to explore personal stories or emotional journeys that give the audience a deeper connection to the event.
2. Use of Characters
Documentary-Style Adaptation:
In a documentary-style adaptation, the characters are often real people. These individuals may be interviewed directly on-screen or appear in archival footage, with their voices and stories taking center stage. The filmmakers do not fictionalize these characters or their actions; they are presented as they are, allowing the audience to form their own judgments.
Example: In a documentary-style adaptation of a political scandal, the real politicians, whistleblowers, or journalists involved would appear in the film, and the narrative would revolve around their accounts.
Narrative Adaptation:
A narrative adaptation typically features actors portraying fictionalized or dramatized versions of real people. The focus is on constructing characters with specific motivations, desires, and arcs, which might not align strictly with historical accuracy. Filmmakers may fictionalize relationships or behaviors to explore deeper themes or to fit the desired narrative structure.
Example: A narrative adaptation of the same political scandal might portray fictionalized characters based on real-life figures, perhaps altering some of their personal details or interactions for dramatic effect.
3. Tone & Style
Documentary-Style Adaptation:
Documentaries generally have a more observational tone. Filmmakers may use techniques like voiceover narration, talking-head interviews, or vérité-style shooting (where the camera follows people in real-life situations) to maintain a sense of realism. The style is often more restrained, aiming to present the subject matter in an unbiased, neutral light, or offering perspectives through the subjects’ eyes.
Example: A documentary on climate change might include interviews with scientists, activists, and people directly impacted by environmental changes, interspersed with raw, unfiltered footage of these situations.
Narrative Adaptation:
Narrative adaptations often employ a more dramatic, stylized tone. The pacing, framing, and visual elements of the story are more likely to be manipulated for emotional impact. The use of music, lighting, and dramatic pauses can make the narrative feel more cinematic and emotionally charged. Filmmakers use these techniques to guide the audience’s emotional experience and to craft a story that is visually compelling.
Example: A narrative adaptation of the climate change story might create a fictionalized family dealing with the effects of a natural disaster, using dramatic visuals and emotional storytelling to engage viewers on a personal level.
4. Factual Accuracy vs. Creative Freedom
Documentary-Style Adaptation:
Accuracy is paramount in a documentary-style adaptation. Filmmakers focus on adhering closely to the facts, aiming to capture the essence of the real-world subject matter without distorting it for dramatic effect. Creative liberties are typically limited, as the film seeks to honor the truth of what happened.
Example: A documentary about a famous musician’s rise to fame would focus on interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and real-life moments to provide an honest portrayal of their life and career.
Narrative Adaptation:
While a narrative adaptation may be inspired by real events, it allows filmmakers to take creative liberties with the story. There may be invented dialogue, altered timelines, and scenes that did not occur in real life. This flexibility gives filmmakers the freedom to emphasize certain themes, characters, or emotions that may not have been present in the real event but serve the story they want to tell.
Example: A narrative adaptation of the same musician’s story might create dramatic musical numbers, reimagine the artist’s personal struggles, or invent scenes that serve the emotional arc, even if they did not happen in real life.
5. Purpose & Audience Engagement
Documentary-Style Adaptation:
The primary purpose of a documentary-style adaptation is often to educate, inform, or raise awareness about an issue or event. It provides an opportunity for the audience to understand complex subjects from a variety of angles. Because it relies heavily on real people and events, it often feels more grounded in reality, which can lead to a powerful emotional connection to the story.
Example: A documentary about a social justice movement might aim to inspire change by giving a voice to those involved and offering viewers a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Narrative Adaptation:
Narrative adaptations, while they may still inform or inspire, are more focused on entertainment and emotional engagement. Their purpose is to provide an immersive, storytelling experience that appeals to the emotions, inviting the audience to get lost in the narrative. These films often emphasize universal themes like love, loss, redemption, and transformation, allowing the audience to see themselves in the characters’ journeys.
Example: A narrative adaptation of the social justice movement might focus on one person’s emotional journey, dramatizing their involvement in the cause and their personal struggles, thereby making the story more relatable to individual viewers.
Conclusion
Both documentary-style and narrative adaptations offer unique ways to tell stories, but they approach the material from fundamentally different angles. Documentary-style adaptations prioritize authenticity, real people, and factual accuracy, while narrative adaptations use creativity and dramatization to craft a compelling and emotional story. Understanding the differences between the two can help filmmakers choose the right approach based on the story they want to tell, the emotional response they want to evoke, and the message they wish to communicate.