This document outlines several common conventions used in documentaries, including voiceovers to provide authoritative information to accompany images, using realistic lighting and ambient sounds during interviews to capture authentic footage, and conducting interviews with experts to authenticate views on the subject. Titles and props are also discussed as effective ways to quickly convey explanatory information within short documentaries.

1. CONVENTIONS OF A
DOCUMENTARY
Demi-Leigh Chamberlain

2. The Voice Over
 The voice over is a main convention
commonly seen throughout documentaries
 It is used to be authoritative, and to provide
information usually on the image which is seen
 This will be useful to a short documentary as it
provides information over the top of an image
which is already being used
 Particularly useful with expository when
providing ‘voice of god’

3. Realism
 Ambient sound/lighting – this is a particularly
helpful tool when conducting interviews
 All events which are presented should be seen
as real
 Shown through continuity, or little editing
 Documentaries should bee seen as realistic as
they are provided to convince us that they are
real.
 Overheard exchange to record dialogue
between two or more people

4. Footage Skills
 This is particularly important within a short
documentary as it aids authenticity
 It is also a great help as it adds further
information to the film

5. Interviews with Experts
 This is a common convention within a
documentary as it provides exposition of the
subject
 Used to authenticate the views of the subject

6. Titles
 Titles are a particular strong point for quick
way of conveying information within a short
documentary
 It gives exposition
 Anchors images and subjects illustrated on
film

7. Mise En Scene
 Props used are another way to show
exposition to the subject
 Informative quick way of acknowledgement of
subject area (doctors office – computer,
stethoscope)
 Provides realism to the footage of the film