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Documentary films are first and foremost, one of several creative modes. It is either an experimental avant-garde or a narrative fiction. Other characteristics of a documentary film are: scripted or spontaneous, being limited to reality, having a purpose and a special viewpoint.

What makes documentary films special is the fact that there are no sets and no actors.

Throughout history, documentaries have been credited with having a large impact on cultural meanings. Good thing that the art of documentary filmmaking is taught in several film schools worldwide. The schools and classes teach understanding the basic aesthetic tools of documentary filmmaking like camera operation, sound, structure, and also the interview.

So the students can learn directing and producing, classes are geared towards having exercises that lead to the real production of a film project.

In documentary filmmaking, both teacher and students discuss issues that have to do with the development of ideas, preproduction and actual production.

As practice, the students in documentary film classes view segments of films and videos that characterize important trends in the history of documentary film making. In some cases, celebrity film makers are present.

Documentary films usually cause controversies. The very first known documentaries are the actuality films of the Lumire brothers while the latest works are the postmodern explorations of film truth. The classics in this genre are the works of Flaherty, Grierson, Riefenstahl, Rouch, Vertov, and Wiseman. Documentary filmmaking classes also assess the effect of shifts in social and political realities, changing technology and personalities of influential individuals into the term "documentary." Ethical and aesthetic issues are also considered.

For cinematographers who work alone or in small crews, documentaries are truly a challenge. This is because beautifully-framed and meaningful footage need to be captured at low budget and chaotic circumstances. There's typically an emphasis on shooting cinema verit and lighting with a very limited crew. Of course, the technicalities in documentary filmmaking are also tackled in the courses - as such, students are provided with the opportunity to operate cameras and a crew.

Documentary films are also a very prevalent art form. Awards shows have a place for documentaries and many are covered often by movie critics, as seen in as early as 1942, when there were 4 awardees including: The Battle of Midway; Kokoda Front Line; Moscow Strikes Back; and Prelude to War. This 2009, Fighting for Life, a documentary on military medicine, is expected to reap loads of awards.