There are five key elements of documentaries according to John Carner: observation using fixed cameras without disruption, interviews cut with relevant footage, dramatizations to help audiences understand events, using mise-en-scene like settings and lighting to convey meaning, and presenting an exposition or line of argument for audiences to consider.

2. There are five elements of the documentary according to
John Carner from the University of Liverpool:
These are:
1. Observation- ‘Like a fly on the wall’ uses a fixed rig set-up. The camera is
up on the wall, not disrupting the action that is going on with a voice over
clarifying on events. E.g 24 hours in A&E.
2. Interview-most documentaries will have interviews which will be cut with
relevant footage to make it clear what is being said in the interview.
3. Dramatisation- A reconstruction of real life events to help the audience
clearly understand what’s happened.
4. Mise-en-scene-The director has to use the mise-en-scene to anchor what
the meaning is and what the documentary is about. Mise-en-scene
features the setting, lighting, costume and movement. For example a
documentary on cakes would be in a bakery.
5. Exposition- this is the line of the argument that the documentary is
following so that the audience can make up their minds based on the
information given.