This document outlines some common codes and conventions used in documentaries. It discusses the use of a clear voiced narrator to provide context and facts, standard camera techniques like establishing shots and close-ups during interviews. It also mentions the use of archive footage and materials to support the narrative, as well as graphic elements like titles and credits. Location, clothing, lighting and other aspects of mise-en-scene aim to be relevant to the documentary's themes. A variety of sound elements including music, interviews and voiceovers are also used to tell the story.

1. Codes and Conventions of a
Documentary

2. Voice Over
• Outline Themes
• Generally a clear, clam voice with sometimes a
regional accent relating to the topics and
themes of the documentary
• Offers facts and figures that allows the
audience to be able to form their own
opinions

3. Voice Over
• Narrator will speak in Standard English
• The voice over holds the narrative together
throughout the course of the documentary
• Tends to be relevant to the target audience by
use of age and gender

4. Camera Work
• Camera work - use of a variety of shot types such as:
• Establishing Shot – anchors the meaning e.g. A shot
of a supermarket
• Close up/medium close up/mid shot – interviews –
can see costume and emotion of the interviewee –
relationship with the audience

5. Camera Work
• Within interviews we tend to not be able to
see the interviewer only the interviewee –
gives an almost intimate feeling between the
audience and the person in question
• The interviewee is positioned right or left of
the camera

6. Camera Work
• Within documentaries footage can be shot
using handheld camera work or even a person
can be followed with the use of a tracking shot
• A variety of techniques are also used such as
the use of a zoom, tilt or a pan.
Pan Shot

7. Archive Material
• Variety of past materials such as:
• Photographs, footage, news clips, articles,
journal – highlights

8. Archive Material
• Always relevant to the topic
• Sometimes accompanied by music or voice
work – gives an explanation to the piece of
footage or provides information

9. Narrative Structure
• Themes of the documentary – purpose of the
documentary
• Single stranded – consists of one topic, subject
• Open or closed ended – allows the audience
to form their own opinions based on what
information they have been provided by the
documentary

10. Mise-En-Scene
• Location – relevant to the documentary’s themes
• Clothing
• Setting - background

11. Mise-En-Scene
• Chromakey – background that can be edited in
and changed to have a relevance to the
documentary and to avoid finding a setting to
film in
• Lighting - can be used creatively to create
certain effects within the documentary

12. Graphics
• Titles – used for interviews – name, bottom of
screen – it’s use does not distract the viewers
attention from the interviewee

13. Graphics
• Title anchors the meaning – text will stand out –
easy to read, unique font
• Colours relate to and connote the themes and
topics of the documentary
• Subtitles – used if the sound quality is poor or if a
translation is needed
• Credits – give credits to the creators and
contributors of the documentary – often used in
a scroll at the end of the documentary
• Used of animations – arrows, circles, shapes etc.

14. Sound
• Music – soundtrack, backing tracks – signify
topic or genre
• Background sound
• Interviewee talking – questions by interviewer
are edited out
• Voice Over
• SFX