1. Codes and Conventions of
Documentaries

2. Archive Material
• Most documentaries use archive material in
their programs. This is used to anchor the
narrative and make it clear what the
interviewee is talking about

3. Interview
• When a someone is being interviewed there position and eye
line are important, therefore they are NOT just placed
anywhere.
• People are positioned as if there is a grid on the screen and
people are positioned either the right or the left and there
eyes should be just below the top grid

4. Reconstructions
• Reconstructions are used in documentaries to give the
audience a greater understanding of how the events that have
not been caught on camera occur.
• Some reconstructions are not accurate as they are put
together by peoples reports and how people said the events
went on.

5. Sound
• Sound in documentary depends on which type
of doc is being used
• Most documentaries used vocieover’s to

6. Editing
• Editing in documentaries is mostly just quick
cuts in documentaries