centre number - 16607 candidate number - 9266

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
DOCUMENTARIES

2. DEFINITION
A documentary is a recording of an event,
generally based on peoples perspectives and/or
genuine facts.
“Creative treatment of actuality”

3. VOICEOVER
The voiceover may be authoritative in some way,
encouraging the audience that they have specialist
knowledge or research that the audience can learn
something from.

4. REAL
FOOTAGE
Documentaries are seen as ‘non-fiction’ although
there is some controversy around this in modern
documentaries such as MTV’s ‘Catfish’.
All events must be presented as if they are ‘real’
to the audience.

5. INTERVIEWS
WITH EXPERTS
Interviews are often used to authenticate the
views expressed in the documentary.
Interviewees look at interviewer, not the camera.
Usually medium close-up shot
Cutaways

6. USE OF TITLES
Use of words on screen to anchor images. Dates
and names are often used to introduce the
characters to the audience.
Text is also used for end credits to include
everyone that was involved in the documentary.

7. VISUAL
CODING
Mise en scene and props used to target the
established audience and to establish the genre of
the documentaries.