documentary codes and conventions

1. Documentary Codes
and Conventions

2. Narrative Structure, Themes
 Usually single stranded to not overcomplicate and to educate
 It depends on the subject matter if the documentary is open or
closed
 Most of the documentaries are non-linear, however there are some
linear documentaries e.g. 9/11
 The subject of the documentary depends on the channel and the
audience

3. Camerawork
 The interviewee is to the left or right off centre, usually a medium
close-up, close-up, mid shot or a big close-up.
 Always follows the rule of thirds – eye line is the third of the way
down screen.
 The interviewee is always sat on a chair that doesn’t swivel or move
around, and the interviewee is sat stationary – this ensures that the
framing is consistent and does not move.
 There are a variety of different camera shots used which are tilting
panning, zooming, tracking, crab shots and crane shots which are
all used to keep the audience interested
 Zoom in or out or pann across a photo or use a manual focus to
create a shallow depth of field to draw the audience attention.

4. Mise-En-Scene
 Lighting is used to highlight key points of interest.
 The light is bright where it needs to be and low key where it needs to
be to create the atmosphere e.g. reconstruction.
 Background is always appropriate for the subject matter and
interviewee.
 Always filmed with light behind the camera never with the light in
front of the interviewee.

5. Sound
 The voiceover is the glue that holds the narrative together.
 The voiceover links everything together, links the topics, introduces
and concludes.
 The delivery of the voiceover is calm, clear, the voice is not
expressive and spoken in Standard English.
 The music is always appropriate for the programme and is related to
the topic.

6. Editing
 Mostly standard cutting keeping effects to a minimum.
 Dissolve, slow motion and fast motion are used.
 The questions are cut out, cutaways are used to avoid jump cuts.
 The answers the interviewee have to make sense without the
questions.
 Short segments need to be used.
 The interviews can’t be longer than a minute at a time.
 A roll- interview, B roll- cutaways.

7. Archive Material
 A range of archive material is used to keep the audience interested
and to demonstrate things.
 Archive material is also used to sustain interest and to help the
audience understand some things that are being talked about.
 The archive material are things such as: magazines, photos, films,
newspapers, webpages and audio footage.

8. Graphics
 Set out in two lines where the first line is larger font size with the
name of the interviewee. The second line is the subline that anchors
the relevance to the topic.
 The graphics are usually on the right or left hand side of the screen.
 White is the most conventional colour for graphics.
 Simple font style and simple colours are used.
 The title is creative