1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
DOCUMENTARIES
Emma Riddiough

2. Narrative Structure
 Nearly all the documentaries are
single stranded
 There are themes that run
through the documentary
 Voice over holds narrative
together but also creates
meaning for the audience

3. Camerawork
 Establishing shots are used to
anchor the meaning of the
documentary
 Interviews are filmed in close up,
medium close up or sometimes in big
close ups; and are framed to the left
or right of the screen
 Handheld camera is used to show
actuality footage, adding to the
atmosphere of what they’re talking
about
 Interviews follow the rule of thirds
 A variety of camera shots and angles
are used
 Creative camerawork
 Zooms and panning shots used to
show still images

4. Voice Over
 Anchors meaning
 Offers various facts and figures
allowing the audience to form
opinions
 Voice over – gender /age is
relevant to the topic; e.g. it has to
appeal to the target audience
 Holds the narrative together
 Standard English is used; e.g.
normally calm and clear

5. Mise-en-scene
 Use of chromakey makes the
background of the interviews
relevant
 Interviews – backgrounds are
relevant to either the subject or the
person who’s being interviewed
 Lighting is creative
 Background – needs to be
relevant and has to fit in with the
subject; e.g. location
 The clothing that the interviewee
/person who’s being filmed has to
have relevance to the topic

6. Sound
 Music has to have relevance to
the topic
 Music is used to highten the
emotion or to build the narrative
 Music/Background noise helps to
set the scene
 Voice over or Narrator is used
 Special effects are used in
reconstruction
 Questions edited out of
interviews

7. Graphics
 White text is often used as it
stands out
 Title stands out (bold) and is
unique, as it helps reflects the topic/
subject
 Credits scroll up the screen; e.g.
pays tribute to the archive footage and
material that's been used
 Titles used in interviews anchors
who they are and the relevance they
have to a documentary; e.g. usually
shown on the opposite side of the screen
 Anchor's time

8. Archive Material
 Can be accompanied by music;
e.g. sound bed, under visuals
 Always relevant to the topic
 Good variety can be used; e.g.
films, videos, tv clips, newspapers, photos
 Can zoom/pan over archive
materials
 Voice over anchors the meaning
of the documentary together,
whilst explaining what it is

9. Editing
 Cuts are most commonly used
 Dissolves
 Slow and Fast motion aids in
emphasising the atmosphere
 Interviews are normally one to
two minutes at a time
 Montage editing
 Effect are used; e.g. fade to black/
elliptical editing