Codes & Conventions

1. At the beginning of the year, we were given a brief specifying the tasks we were
required to complete. These were a five minute introduction to a documentary on
any topic along with two ancillary tasks; a listings magazine spread and a radio
trailer to support/advertise the documentary. To ensure that these products were of
the best quality, we had to conduct extensive research into the codes and
conventions of such things, which we did by looking at existing products in detail.
The first piece of research we conducted was into the typical conventions of
documentaries such as vox pops, interviews with experts, voiceover, actuality,
exposition, archival footage and expositions. These gave us an idea of what our film
had to include in order to successfully conform to the documentary genre. Now we
have completed the documentary, we can see which conventions we have used,
how successful they were and can evaluate the effect that they have had.

2. Our documentary explores the topic of body modification in an expository way;
presenting facts and various opinions and personal accounts regarding the topic,
which are reinforced by the voiceover explaining both sides of the argument at
hand. The voiceover in expository mode can also serve a rhetorical purpose, which
our documentary could be said to have done as it leans in favour of those who have
been discriminated against.
We used both vox pops and expert interviews to ensure we had a well-rounded set
of views from both the general public and reputable sources such as teachers to
authenticate the views presented. Another angle was presented by the inclusion of
archival footage from other sources such as Youtube videos on the topic which
reinforce the views presented. The voice-over we used is similar to those used in
exemplar documentaries we watched and follows typical conventions of a standard
piece of narration. It delivers some rhetoric along with facts and figures as well as
contextual information which economises the information presented in the
documentary.
As we only created the first five minutes of the documentary, it is difficult to
determine a specific narrative structure to reflect the whole documentary, however it
would likely have an open narrative structure. This is because the issues discussed
in the documentary, on discrimination against those with body modification, are
ongoing and do not come to a resolution as would be necessary if it were a closed
narrative.

3. To gain a better understanding of the codes and conventions of the documentary
genre, we watched several documentaries such as SuperSize Me, as well as
several on our chosen topic such as My Tattoo Addiction and Bodyshockers, the
conventions of which we then considered and decided which we would use/reject
for our documentary.
One of these conventions is establishing shots, which we used several times
throughout the documentary to set the scene, usually for vox pops.
One of these
conventions is
establishing shots, which
we used several times
throughout the
documentary to set the
scene, usually for vox
pops.
We also followed the
conventions used in the
documentaries’ vox pops,
such as positioning the
camera so the interviewee
is slightly to the left, and
with minimal space above
their heads.

4. In Super Size Me, close-up shots of fast food, the subject of the documentary, are
used frequently throughout and usually at a fast pace as a stylistic device and also
to reinforce the subject of the documentary. We also chose to use this in our
documentary, using close up shots of tattoos frequently in the opening of the
documentary. Like Super Size Me, we would use this feature throughout, although
this is not evident as we only made the first five minutes of a documentary.

5. We also followed the conventions shown in the documentaries for expert interviews.
We set up the mise-en-scene to reflect the expertise of the interviewees and the
topic being discussed.
In our expert interviews, we used props like computers to display images of tattoos
to indicate the topic at hand, and conducted the interviews in classrooms (for
teachers) to show their profession, as is done in Super Size Me, for example, when
a PhD is shown in a library.

6. We also followed the conventions shown in the documentaries for expert interviews.
We set up the mise-en-scene to reflect the expertise of the interviewees and the
topic being discussed.
In our expert interviews, we used props like computers to display images of tattoos
to indicate the topic at hand, and conducted the interviews in classrooms (for
teachers) to show their profession, as is done in Super Size Me, for example, when
a PhD is shown in a library.