The document analyzes various codes and conventions commonly found in documentary films. It discusses the use of voiceovers, narration to tell a story; inclusion of real footage from events being documented rather than dramatization; interviews that allow people involved to speak directly about their experiences; incorporation of text, dates and other information; addition of sound effects or music to set mood; and techniques like shaky camerawork and ambient sound that aim to enhance realism. The document also provides examples of different modes documentaries can take, such as expository, observational, participatory, and reflexive styles. Overall, it offers an overview of techniques and approaches used in documentaries to inform audiences while achieving varying levels of objectivity or realism.

1. Codes and Conventions of a
Documentary

2. Voiceover- The voiceover is usually someone quite demanding, encouraging the audience to that they either have someone who specialises in
that specific area. David Attenborough, Nick Broomfield, amongst others. Unseen commentator who explains a story during the
documentary, as the audience we are encouraged to believe what they say is true.
Narrativization- communicate (events/experiences) in narrative form, in order to understand the documentary more.
“Real” Footage from event- essentially documentaries are seen as “non-fiction”. All events that are presented to us are to be as “real” by the
audience. The use of natural sound and lighting. This may be a recording of an actual event which is documented with the real people
involved not actors.
As an Example of “real footage”: London Riots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WmMhircZOc
Interviews- views expressed of different people in the documentary as to the event. Allows people being filmed to speak directly about
events prompted by specific questions, Interviews in a documentary provide a sense of realism. Interviewers ask questions to the individual,
this is done to gain more emotion.
Text- The use of information, dates and times. New programmes use to its advantage, it’s a quick way of conveying information.
Sound- this is used to give off a certain effect, eg: Supersize me, they use childish immature music to undermine McDonalds as a business.
Dramatization- reconstruction of an event acted by actors.
Realism- Documentaries may achieve this through active footage, interviews, location shooting and following the action.
• Documentary being REAL and LIVE:
• Uneven handheld camera work
• Unintended sound
• Example of this- Japan’s Tsunami: Caught on camera
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM4wQwDAgMs
Codes and Conventions of a Documentary

3. What is a documentary:
• A documentary is the use of pictures, videos or interview with people involved
in real events to provide factual reports on particular subjects.
Modes of documentary’s
• Expository- voiceover, images used to illustrate, assembles variety of footage
and interviews.
• Observational- handheld shots, long takes, synchronous sound, no voiceover
or interviews.
• Participatory- interviews dominate, news, footage, newspaper headlines,
handheld shots, long takes, synchronous sound, voiceover.
• Reflexive- techniques borrowed from fiction film, anti-realist techniques,
voiceover.
• Performative- shaped into the narrative of an investigation, addresses the
audience in an emotional and direct way. Subject matter often to do with
identity.

4. Documentary Research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY2gh51KdnQ- The nightmare (sleep paralysis documentary)
• Voiceover- The voiceover is usually someone quite demanding or encouraging the audience to that they either have someone
who specialises in that specific area, however in this circumstance it is the person who experienced sleep paralysis talking
about their personal experiences.
• Real footage from event- night cameras in his room to record him whilst sleeping to see what action takes place.
• Interviews- views expressed of different people in the documentary as to the event. They interviewed the family members,
psychologists and the person who experiences sleep paralysis.
• Sound- the use of non-diegetic sound scary music helps the audience engage with the context of the document and what it is
about.
• Camerawork-interviews are usually close up picks out emotions and facial expressions. Some hand held shots of real footage
events.
• In my opinion, what I like about this documentary is that is different to a typical documentary as the topicality is different, not
only that but there is more use of interviews in this particular documentary as it is harder to catch footage of the events that
the man experienced.

5. Blackfish was a documentary released on Netflix, during summer I watched it and looked into and analysed the different code
and conventions identified amongst that documentary.
• Voiceover- The voiceover is usually someone encouraging the audience, in this case the voiceover was telling us about
background history to when SeaWorld first captured their whales and how they did it. The voiceover was quite moving and
slow because they wanted to raise awareness of trapped animals whom should live in the wild.
• Real footage from event- audience members footage to show of the tricks of this trained whales in SeaWorld. Underwater
cameras where placed in the cage with the animal to watch their behaviour and see the gymnast working with them do all the
tricks underwater.
• Interviews- views expressed of different people in the documentary as to the event. They interviewed trainers who worked
with the animals, they also interviewed people who have been injured by these animals whilst on show. The interviews help
the audience feel sympathy for the trainer and the whale too.
• Sound- the use of non-diegetic sound being water splashing etc makes it feel more realistic as though the whales shouldn’t be
trapped in those cages.
• Camerawork-interviews are usually close up picks out emotions and facial expressions. Some hand held shots of real footage
events.
• In my opinion, what I like about this documentary is that is different to a typical documentary as the topicality is different, not
only that but there is more use of interviews in this particular documentary as it is harder to catch footage of the events that
the man experienced.

6. • I researched a wide variety of documentaries in order to get a broad perspective of what codes and conventions can be found in
different styles of documentaries.
• http://www.itv.com/mafiawithtrevor http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03q99cc/newsbeat-documentaries-anorexia-a-boy-in-a-girls-world
The Mafia with Trevor McDonald Anorexia- a boy in a girls world
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/royal-marines-commando-school
Royale Marines Commando school
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtOghS8RyoI- The Texas
Mass Murders Serial Killer Paedophile Dean Corll Crime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejD33EEeCPU-
Jeffrey Dahmer - The Milwaukee Cannibal Crime
Documentary 2017