1. Documentary conventions:
What is a documentary?
Documentary is usually described as non-fictional representation of reality, it has a clear
narrative structure and makes use of a variety of plans to transfer the meaning to an audience.
A documentary usually concentrates on a single issue or story and may present alternative
view or a single vision.
What are the conventions of a documentary?
• Exposition
• Voice-over
• Interviews
• Archival footage
• Visual coding
• Title and text
• Montage
• Reconstruction

2. Exposition  It occurs at the beginning as well as
introducing the important subjects of the film. It’s
important to include exposition in documentaries
because it creates the viewers first impression and
introduces the viewer to the content.

3. Voice-over  Is commentary by the filmmaker, it is spoken while
filming or added to the soundtrack during the production. This is done
so the filmmaker can speak directly to the viewer, this offers
information, explanation and opinions
Comedian David lamb is a voice-over
artist , his voice is added to the
soundtrack during the production . His
best known for ‘COME DINE WITH ME’
on this program he provides a dry and
bitingly sarcastic.

4. interviews Are common documentary technique. It helps
people being filmed to speak about events, provoked by the
questions asked by the filmmaker. There are two type of
interviews. 1. On screen, where we see the filmmaker asking
questions as well the person answering. 2. Off screen,
where we see the person answering the questions but not the
filmmaker asking.
Off screen
interview
On screen
interview

5. Archival footage  Is a
primary research, is a
factual taken from a film
library or stored and put
into a documentary to
show historical events or
add details without the
need for extra filming.
Archival footage, this
footage is from the biggie
and Tupac documentary

6. Visual coding  this associations with the idea
of Mise-en-scene for example a news reader
wearing smart clothe like a suit and sitting
behind a big table and having camera’s being
pointed at will make it more realistic and
reliable to the viewer.
Visual coding

7. Titles and
text  It’s a
speedy way
of conveying
information .
Title and text

8. Montage of toy
story 3
Montage  is a sequence of ideas that is put
in specific order in the film.

9. Reconstruction  Its an artificial scenes of an
event which has been recreated and acted out
on a film based on information of the event.
Reconstruction provides factual information
and gives the viewer sense of realism.