The document outlines several basic conventions used in documentaries, including: 1) A-roll footage contains important interviews filmed steadily to look professional. 2) Interviews involve relevant people and are filmed on a tripod from the rule of thirds to look sophisticated. 3) B-roll footage supplements interviews and includes relevant montages while cutaway shots accompany interviews by showing what the interviewee describes.

1. Basic Conventions of
Documentary.
- The Simpsons.
- Emma Wylie!

2. A-Roll Footage
A roll footage is mainly based on the important
footage within documentaries. They usually
contain interviews with important – and
relevant – people within the subject.
Furthermore, they are normally filmed on a
steady camera to make it more professional.

3. Interviews!
In every documentary interviews are used to make it more exciting.
They usually involve people who are relevant to the topic, and who
can give extra information, their opinion, or behind the scenes info.
Interviews are filmed on a tripod to make it look professional and
sophisticated. If handheld cameras were utilised, they would look
amateur. All interviews are filmed in the frame of the rule of
thirds, which shows the subject being either to the far left or right,
to make the interview more exciting. This also allows more room
for props or pictures which could be relevant to the content.

4. Interviews Cont
Conventionally, the camera will not show the
interviewer, or their questions. The interviewee will be
expected to answer in full sentences, and reveal the
question, so it can then be either shortened down, or
the question can be cut out. The interviewee will also
be expected to look at the interviewer, who is to the
left or right of the camera.

5. Interviews – Mise En
Scene
The interviewee will be dressed in attire which reflects
their job role, or relevance in the interview.
Furthermore, the background pictures in the frame are
associated with the documentary. This is usually added
by Chroma Key, or blue screen, which allows the
interview to take place on a green or blue screen, then
add a background which could look more exciting.
Furthermore, the lighting of the interview needs to be
high key so the subject can be seen clearly. Always lit
from the front and never in front of a window.

6. Interviews Camera Shots
Different camera shots are used to make the
documentary more exciting. Throughout the
documentary, different types of shot sizes and
framing is used so can add variety and make it more
enjoyable.
Far left. Medium Shot. Far Right. Medium/Long Shot Far left. Medium shot.

7. The main subject is in agreement to the rule of three High key lighting is frequent and makes the
interviewee stanad out. His attire is also quite
and fits the first line. This shows that Matt Groening is
formal and implies that he is in a higher job
on the far left, with the characters that he created on [which is seen as we see he is the creator of
the right. Simpsons]
High key
lighting to
show the
interviewee’s
face well.
Relevant characters are either
There are titles of the name of the interviewee, as well as edited in using Chrome Key, or
their role in the industry. This gives insight as to who it is. are in the background. They add
It is also at the bottom of the screen away, not covering context to the conversation and
anyone or anything as that would be in the way. say about what the interview is
about.

8. B-Roll
Footage
B-Roll footage is used so it can be edited together so
can be made into a montage so supplement and
accompany the main interviews. The footage will be
relevant and can be associated with the documentary
topic. The footage can include vox pops, presenter,
archive footage and/or cutaway shots.

9. Cutaway Shots
A cutaway shot is used to accompany an interview and show what the
interviewee is describing. For example, if the interviewee is discussing awards,
a list of awards could be shown. In The Simpsons documentary, this is
shown as the ‘Hollywood Legend’, James, is describing a gift he got once. The
documentary then shows the gift which he received. And then cuts back to his
interview so he can move on to a new topic of conversation.
Part 1 of the interview. Cut to shot of gift Part 2 of interview

10. Establishing Shots & Archive
Footage
Within many documentaries establishing shots are
utilised to indicate where the main places – or
people – are. It also gives a background as to where
interviews could take place, and will be associated
with the documentary.
Archive footage is also used to show old facts, or old
footage which relates to the documentary.

11. Still photographs & Vox pops
Still pictures can be used to describe the point that the
interviewee is making and emphasise on it. Whilst being
on screen, the camera may pan or zoom in or out on the
photographs.
Vox pops are clips of interviews with the general public and
are only used in small clips. They are used to show their
opinions, and also breaks up the documentary to make it
more exciting. It is usually filmed on handheld cameras.

12. Presenters and Voice Over
Narration
A presenter is always found in
documentaries, and usually introduces the
next segment of the documentary. They
deliver a carefully written speech and will
anchor the meaning of the visual images to
improve the understanding of the topic.
The presenter or narrator will usually have an
authoritative voice to make it more formal.