1. Conventions of a Documentary
 Talking heads: when a person speaks to the camera giving information
about the given topic and narrates about it.
 Shot types / Angles: the way the documentary is filmed using different
shot types and angles to give a different perception. The background
would generally tell the form the information is given in: Books and
Chess pieces in the background would generate the sense of
intelligence. You would use a medium close up when filming a talking
head.
 Voice over are popular in documentaries as they usually tell the story.
Doesn’t draw to much attention from what is being displayed on screen
but relates so the audience can understand what they are looking at.
 Most documentaries would use archival footage to add further
information which they could have not gathered themselves.
 Documentaries also have interviews with experts explaining what they
know about the given topic such as a talking head but between two
people having a conversation.
 The use of text and titles is quite common as they quickly convey
information such as the date and time of the scene or the name of the
curators/interviewees/interviewers.
 Visual coding: using Mise en scene and props for example a doctor
wearing a white coat or a policeman wearing their hats and outfits to
generate a sense of realism.
 Sound. Sometimes music will be played from a non-diegetic source
meaning you can’t see it on screen

2. Conventions of a Documentary
Form: Visual information (Videography)
Structure: Scenes and visual representations
Content: Archival footage, Pictures and video information
Technical Conventions: Transitions, Text and Titles, Editing, Sound
Mode of address: Formal, Informal, Short, Informative