Presentation about the conventions seen in the documentary genre

1. Codes and Conventions
of documentaries
A documentary is a recording of an event, generally based on people’s
perspectives and/ or genuine facts.

2. GRAPHICS
 Are used in documentarians for a range of reasons, these being:
 They are normally two lines and in a simple font so it doesn’t distract the
audience.
 Sometimes graphics are used on the screen to note down an interviewees
name and relation to the subject.
 Graphics are also used at the end to credit people who are involved in the
production of documentary.
 It can help to communicate complicated information in a way for that the
average viewer can understand.

3. ARCHIVE FOOTAGE
 This is used to show a variety of views on a
particular topic. A sound track may also
accompany the visuals.
 It helps give the viewer the historical knowledge easier
and show past events which are important to subject
matter.

4. MISE-EN-SCENE
 An Establishing shot is used in most documentaries to set the scene.
 Mise-en-scene has to be consistent throughout the documentary and it
can also be portrayed through the interviews. E.g. a Documentary about a
band so a concert venue or studio may be the setting of the interview.
 Natural lighting is the most common source of lighting in a documentary.
 Camerawork- is mostly handheld, multi/single camera and long edits.

5. INTERVIEWS
 Interviews are a main element of documentaries as they bring the
story together.
 When an interview is taking place the camera remains mainly
static, this is so the audience aren’t distracted away from
the interview by any movement.
 Throughout the interview the interviewee looks at the
interviewer not the camera.
 Eye line of the interviewee is in line with the top 3rd of
frame.
 Interviews are filmed mostly close up or a medium close-up
on a left or right alignment,
 Cutaways are edited into an interview to illustrate to the
audience what the interviewee is talking about.

6. EDITING
 Documentaries use lots of cuts because there is such
a variation of interviews, archive footage etc.
 Convectional editing is also used, which means the
final production only answers and no questions will be
on screen.

7. NARRATOR
 Are used to move the narrative along and used to
push an idea or a view on the topic forward.