The term web documentary (or documentary web 2.0) represents documentaries that are made for dissemination on the web through the internet. Its distinctive characteristic is the use of heterogenous forms of media. (photographs, videos, texts, sounds…) and its non linearity of scenarios. The spectator creates his own viewing path based on his interests and desires. Here is a small list of web documentaries about different aspects of society.

Gaza/Sderot, la vie malgré tout

http://gaza-sderot.arte.tv/fr/ Interlinked narratives of the daily lives of Palestinians and Israelis. (Received the Prix Révélation de la Nuit des Médias in 2009 and the Prix Europa in 2008 for best project in new media technologies)

Voyage au bout du charbon

http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/visuel/2008/11/17/voyage-au-bout-du-charbon_1118477_3216.html Investigation in Chinese coal mines. You are the journalist.

Thanatorama

http://www.thanatorama.com/ A world of mortuaries…«An adventure where you are the dead hero». (Lauréat du Web Flash Festival 2007)

La Cité des mortes

http://www.lacitedesmortes.net/Investigation into the assassination of women in la Ciuad Juarez.

Web reportage par Géo

http://reportage-video.geo.fr/ This web report provides in-depth information (on different aspects of society the world over) with the help of numerous functions (main video, extra information, making of…).

Narrative (http://www.narrative.info/#/home) is a producer and distrubutor for «documentaries for new media technologies». Its productions include:

L’enfant de Verdun

http://www.lemonde.fr/1914-1918-90-ans-apres-l-armistice/video/2008/11/07/l-enfant-de-verdun-qui-n-a-jamais-joue-a-la-guerre_1116261_736535.htmlThe itinerary of a photographer in search of traces of war on the playing fields of his childhood, Verdun.

Chinafrique

http://www.narrative.info/#/video/?id=chinafrique (extraits) The exodus of the Chinese to Africa.

Le journal d’une concubine

http://www.narrative.info/#/video/?id=concubine (extrait) A young Chinese woman shares her private life though confidences on her blog.

Génération Tiananmen : avoir vingt ans en Chine

http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/visuel/2009/05/25/generation-tian-anmen-avoir-vingt-ans-en-chine_1195170_3216.html A survey of the generation born in the year of the massacre at Tiananmen.

Other documentaries that are in preparation, will be available soon on the Narratives site (namely one on humanoid robots, and another on a parisian « squat »…)

Le Corps incarcéré

http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/visuel/2009/06/22/le-corps-incarcere_1209087_3224.html Four ex prisoners, who spent from a few months to twenty nine years behind bars, tell us about the body in prison.

Sur les coulisses de la série « Braquo »

http://braquo.canalplus.fr/coulisses A behind the scenes survey of the serial « Braquo » by Canal+, directed by Olivier Marchal.

Vues migratoires

http://www.vues-migratoires.com/ Pupils of the lycée Seine-Saint-Denis share their points of view on migration. They draw, film, capture their stories, or those of their near and dear ones.

Les réfugiés climatiques

http://www.blogtrotters.fr/2008/04/16/webdoc-pedagogique-sur-les-refugies-climatiques/ Educational web documentary on climatic refugees.

To keep oneself in the know…

http://www.digital-storytelling.org/ Digital-storytelling.org locates and analyses all good ideas on audio visual creation on an international level.

Latest web documentaires :

Portraits d’un nouveau monde A series of 24 episodes on environment. On line this Autumn, France 5.

Cuba Miami Interlinked portraits of young generations in Cuba and Miami. On line this Autumn, Arte

Le challenge An NGO gives you the responsibility of investigating, in Ecuador, the environment scandal involving Texaco in the Eighties. On line this Autumn, Canal+.

Canon City A survey of American prisoners.

L’I-Rock Festival Backstage during the Féstival des Eurockéennes in Belfort. On line this Autumn.