Documentaries typically follow certain conventions regarding their structure, camerawork, voiceovers, and editing. Narratively, they tend to be single-stranded with themes throughout and a voiceover that ties the story together. Visually, establishing shots are used to set the context while interviews employ close-ups, rule of thirds framing, and creative camera angles. Sound-wise, voiceovers provide context and facts, music heightens emotion, and effects are included in reconstructions. Graphically, white text stands out for titles and credits while titles identify interviewees. Archive material must be relevant to the topic and voiceovers further explain context. Cuts, dissolves, and montages are common editing techniques.

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
DOCUMENTARIES
Emma Riddiough

2. Narrative Structure
 Nearly all the documentaries are
single stranded
 There are themes that run
through the documentary
 Voice over holds narrative
together but also creates
meaning for the audience

3. Camerawork
 Establishing shots are used to
anchor the meaning of the
documentary
 Interviews are filmed in close up,
medium close up or sometimes in big
close ups; and are framed to the left
or right of the screen
 Handheld camera is used to show
actuality footage, adding to the
atmosphere of what they’re talking
about
 Interviews follow the rule of thirds
 A variety of camera shots and angles
are used
 Creative camerawork
 Zooms and panning shots used to
show still images

4. Voice Over
 Anchors meaning
 Offers various facts and figures
allowing the audience to form
opinions
 Voice over – gender /age is
relevant to the topic; e.g. it has to
appeal to the target audience
 Holds the narrative together
 Standard English is used; e.g.
normally calm and clear

5. Mise-en-scene
 Use of chromakey makes the
background of the interviews
relevant
 Interviews – backgrounds are
relevant to either the subject or the
person who’s being interviewed
 Lighting is creative
 Background – needs to be
relevant and has to fit in with the
subject; e.g. location
 The clothing that the interviewee
/person who’s being filmed has to
have relevance to the topic

6. Sound
 Music has to have relevance to
the topic
 Music is used to highten the
emotion or to build the narrative
 Music/Background noise helps to
set the scene
 Voice over or Narrator is used
 Special effects are used in
reconstruction
 Questions edited out of
interviews

7. Graphics
 White text is often used as it
stands out
 Title stands out (bold) and is
unique, as it helps reflects the topic/
subject
 Credits scroll up the screen; e.g.
pays tribute to the archive footage and
material that's been used
 Titles used in interviews anchors
who they are and the relevance they
have to a documentary; e.g. usually
shown on the opposite side of the screen
 Anchor's time

8. Archive Material
 Can be accompanied by music;
e.g. sound bed, under visuals
 Always relevant to the topic
 Good variety can be used; e.g.
films, videos, tv clips, newspapers, photos
 Can zoom/pan over archive
materials
 Voice over anchors the meaning
of the documentary together,
whilst explaining what it is

9. Editing
 Cuts are most commonly used
 Dissolves
 Slow and Fast motion aids in
emphasising the atmosphere
 Interviews are normally one to
two minutes at a time
 Montage editing
 Effect are used; e.g. fade to black/
elliptical editing