This document discusses several conventions used in documentary interviews. It explains that titles and graphics are used to identify interviewees on screen. It also discusses the "rule of thirds" framing technique where the subject is placed along imaginary lines dividing the screen. Appropriate lighting and setting, like a medical office for a doctor, are used to establish context. Interview shots are usually medium close-ups to show expressions and importance. Questions are edited out and cutaways added to give the interview a smooth pace.

1. BY ELLIE LANGTON
There are many different codes and conventions of interviews that occur in the documentary genre
such as;

2. Titles and graphics are used in
order to give the name and
relevance of the interviewee on
screen.

3. When filiming an interview rule of thirds is very important, this is imaginary guidelines when framing your
camera lens. The idea is to mentally divide the screen up into 9 squares, or rectangles depending on your
frame, by using two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Where these
lines cross over, they’ll create 4 cross-sectional points and this is where the focal point is. This means that
this is where the eye is naturally drawn to when looking at an overall image. Therefore, when you take a
photo, or want to film, your subject should fall onto one of the cross-section points or along one of the
lines. For example the women in this documentary is slightly off-centre
As the rule of thirds has been applied

4. The appropriate Mise en scene for all interviews needs to show the
relevance of the documentary topic and also provide more information on
their professional role. For example, if you were interviewing a doctor or
medical professional you would choose the mise en scene to be with in a
lab or doctors waiting room, and you would have medical equipment
surrounding it and them wearing a relevant uniform. The lighting of an
interview is also important as it sets the tone, it is always good when
interviewing to have high key lighting, as it helps the over all look and the
interviewee is seen properly, but low key lighting could be used if a specific
person didn’t want to be identified on camera for a particular reason and if
you were trying to portray connotations of good and evil.

5. The majority of interview shots are medium close up which was is to
show the expressions of the interviewers and to connote their
professional importance within our documentary. Also, the majority of
the interviewees are not facing the camera directly to achieve the most
natural interview as possible. No direct address to lense (audience)

6. • Questions are edited out of interviews
• Cutaways are added in, in order to give the interview a
flowing pace
• It is a good idea to ask the interviewee to leave pauses before
they answer a question so there is no overlap when editing
• Sometimes it is a good idea to play the end of a question
asked over a cutaway which again just makes sure the
interviews runs smoothly