Codes and Conventions of documentary trailers, posters and websites for my A2 media coursework by Katy Mills

1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Of Documentary Websites & Trailers
Katy

2. Codes & Conventions
Codes are a signs within media that help to create meaning, you have technical
codes which is how technology is used such as camera equipment and editing
software as well as symbolic codes which is the hidden connotation or deeper
meaning of the media text.
Conventions are the common themes, technology and stereotypes found within
a media text for example: Documentaries about Gangs usually will be self filmed
by the gang members and footage would be secondary occasionally.
These two components are very important to analyse in media texts especially
when creating your own as they help to expand your own creativity and
understanding.

3. Documentaries tend to use a website to promote their film and within these
websites there are many conventions used.
Websites

4. Conventions
All of the websites have a front page to the website with a photo and basic
image such as the title. This is a page where you are able to enter the
actual website and connect on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
If there is no enter selection then on the top of the screen there is a tab
with a selection of options.
This helps to make the website very
interactive and user friendly, as well as
straight to the point. In the website I
make, I will be sure to incorporate these
as it helps to make the website easier to
use by all.

5. In addition usually the first thing you will see on the website is the trailer, as it is the
thing you want the audience to see first as that holds the most information and
enigmas about the documentary and draws the audience in more. It usually can be
viewed on the website itself instead of taking you to a new tab or window on You
Tube or Vimeo for example thus making it a lot more user friendly and allowing the
website to flow easily.
In addition there is usually a tab or place which allows you to either see where you
are able to watch the film or where you are able to download it from.
It tends to have links which
you can click and it will take
you to the correct page
needed to watch the film or/
and book to see the film in
cinemas. This could also be
found under a tab such as
News, See The Film etc.
Usually it is the second or
third tab on the website.

6. Another convention of the websites for documentary films is the
colours, pictures, text, fonts etc. used throughout always
matches the themes of the documentary itself and will be
similar if not identical to the posters. Usually to ensure that the
website is aesthetically pleasing for the audience they will stick
to a maximum of 3 main colours. A key example of this is the
website for the documentary Minimalism.
It is a documentary about how only owning what you need can make
your life better and happier. The font is slim and straight and like the
name of the title is rather minimalist and simple. However it isn’t boring
and contrasts well with the background of pale clouds. The pale clouds
are associated with the minimalist lifestyle as it is seen as being rather
neutral and natural, it’s also rather calming and it is claimed (from the
trailer and film) that living this life style can help to make your life a lot
more calmer.

7. Furthermore another code and convention of documentary
websites especially independent ones is that they usually have
a place on he website that allows you contact the makers of the
documentary if you have any questions or queries it will either
have emails you can use to contact or it will have a section
where you can just start an email as the email address it will be
sent to is already coded within the website.

8. Codes and Conventions of Websites
• Images that match/ link to the documentary
• Links to the trailer and where to stream or buy it from
• Reviews and comments
• A range of social links to sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
etc.
• A place where you can contact the makers or any other people
involved with the film
• Usually extremely user friendly where it allows you for example to
click on links or tabs to take you to the next relatable page
• Colours and fonts that will connote the themes easily and are also
aesthetically pleasing
• With regards to colours usually only a maximum of 3 main colours
are used through out the website and the images used on it
• Not too much writing but enough to give information about not only
about what will be documentary in general but also about the whole
production process to make the final product.
• Occasionally a title page or home page with just the poster and a
button to proceed to the rest of the information found on the website

9. Trailers for any film are extremely important to promote a text
along side the website, in fact the trailer can be far more
important than the website and it hold the most potential in
ensuring people will watch the (documentary).
Trailers
Trailer for the film Minimalism :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Co1Iptd4p4

10. Minimalism
When the trailer begins it jumps straight in with a voice over this a key
convention of many documentary film trailers as It open up straight away,
jumping into what the film will about but also leaving some enigmas, allowing
the audience to be kept guessing hence ensuring that they carry on watching.
Then almost archive like footage is cut in of people on black Friday sales at
shops and it is very tense with new coverage like speech over it, I feel as
though having footage that looks or could possibly be second hand and
archived is a key convention in trailers for documentaries to really tell the story
of the films themes and what it will about it, it also connotes that it is about a
real life issue that people could be familiar with allowing the audience to engage
and connect with it in many ways. I feel as though a documentary should allow
you to really feel apart of the text which is a key function of media
communicated through uses and gratification theories.
Shortly after this we are introduced to awards that the documentary has
received, and the music moves from intense to a lot more indie, acoustic like
music to connote the idea of minimalism as the music is very simple and isn’t
over the top in anyway. In addition having the awards at the beginning of the
trailer allows for the audience to already set up their expectations for the film so
that they go in with the idea it will brilliant.

11. As the trailer proceeds more archive like footage of magazines, stores, celebrities
etc. Are seen and you have voice overs of professionals such as writers explain to
us shortly about how the modern day need to consume is effecting us, it will as they
finish talking cut to their face so we are able to see who is in fact discussing this
idea. It then shortly after reveals in-fact what the film will be about which is how
people live a minimalist lifestyle and how beneficial it is to them and the world
around them, it allows for a upbeat atmosphere allowing the audience to feel a
sense disengagement from the world around them and really feel entertained and at
peace with what they see in the text as it is so relaxing and joyful this hence really
does target those who want to be educated and find something new and through
doing this it allows the audience to want to understand these enigmas within the
trailers to really understand how good a lifestyle like this can be thus they want to
watch the full film. Finally the last things you see in the trailer are the title and realise
dates along side some small text of information about the creators.
Having the title at the end of the trailer is a key convention to really any film trailers
especially documentary ones, as it leaves the audience hanging wanting to find out
what the film is called so they can find out even more thus they have to wait to the
very end to find this information out and then it follows by the release date so that
the audience must sit through the whole trailer to gain a further understanding of
when they can see the movie. Furthermore the title for the movie in the trailer is the
exact same font and typography as on the posters and website so that it fits together
well and sticks to the same format.

12. The True Cost
The similarities between The True Cost and Minimalism really reveal
how documentary trailers stick to this very similar format of voice over,
archive like footage, in-fact The True Cost uses a piece of the same
footage as in Minimalism near the end of people running into a store,
followed by very emotive music to match the theme and the title at the
end.
The True cost however is a more emotive, sadder documentary
informing and educating people about the effects of sweat shops, thus
it the music within is very moving throughout which is a key code of
much more emotionally moving trailers for documentaries where the
music is consistent through out and doesn’t change much as well as
really fits the mood. From the archive footage there is a real contrast
between first world fashion consumerism and third world fashion
manufacturing to really demonstrate and connote how much of an
issue it, having contrasting footage is an important convection of
documentary trailers as it sets out an enigma for audience where they
can already see how much of an issue there is however they want to
find out more thus they have to watch the film. Having this type of
footage near the end without any speech just the emotive music and
film really leaves the audience wanting more and doesn’t reveal too
much about the film but does show the main, key themes that is will
about as well leaving it on a dramtic cliffhanger

13. The Bad Kids
Instead of starting with a voice over like the previous trailers, this trailer begins with
music that has a consistent beat and a mention of an award to reveal to the audience
that it is a excellent film, having reviews of awards through out like this trailer does is
extremely important to inform the audience that the film is award winning and is
interesting so that they will want to see it. In addition to this instead of a voice over
about the film seem to have more text that states things such as “Somewhere in the
dessert” to set the scene, I feel like this is a very interesting and useful technique as it
allows the audience to quickly pick up on key information that may be missed in a
voice over. This is a convention used in very fast paced trailer that need to
communicate important facts about the film. In addition in the text it uses rhetorical
questions to get the audience thinking, this is a key convention in documentary film
trailers either through text or speech to start the cogs turning in the audiences brains
so they begin from the very start to think about what they can learn from the film. The
trailer continues with introducing characters who will be found in the film that play an
important role and gives the audience a sneak peak- insight into what their lives are
like acting as a enigma code as the audience wants to find out more about them and
their journey through out the film.

14. Codes and Conventions of
Trailers
• Quick snappy cut aways to reveal the themes in the film sometimes they can
look very achieve footage like
• Voice overs by professionals ie) Doctors, teachers, writers etc.
• The Title always found at the end of the trailer to leave the audience waiting to
find out more about it
• Enigmas through unanswered, rhetorical questions either through speech or
text on the screen that leave the audience wanting to understand and learn
more
• The same text through out that is usually also the same text on the poster and
the website
• Awards and reviews all the way through but ensuring that there is one near the
beginning to inform the audience that the documentary film is award winning
and critics enjoyed it so they will too
• The trailer tends to end on some kind of cliff hanger so the audience want to
watch the full documentary to find out what happens
• The music is consistent throughout and matches the themes in the
documentary usually focusing on the emotions the trailer is meant to promote

15. Posters
Posters help to visually promote the documentary without
giving out too much away, it provides a key image and the title.

16. Amy
The poster sticks to three main
colours, which is black, white and
pink as well as the same bold font
through out this is convention found in
film posters as it ensues the poster is
simple and is allows for the poster be
more aesthetically pleasing, a bolder
colour is usually used against a
darker, duller one such as black or
white to make everything stand out
especially the title.
Reviews are also usually found at the
top or bottom of the poster and there
are usually a large amount that only
show 4-5 stars this connotes to the
audience how great the film will be.

17. The Perfect Human Diet
This poster unlike others doesn’t have
a review of any kind or a award
winnings however it does have a
quote from somebody who has
watched it explaining what the
documentary can help do and in this
case it is educate.
The image is very simple and clear
matching the themes of diet and food
as it is a fork with some meat on top,
it is a important code and convention
to have the image fit the themes and
plot of the documentary as it must
visually give an indication as to what
it is about still allowing people to
make their own connotations.

18. Deaf Jam
Conventionally a poster will
sometimes have a piece of text that
will say who the film is by just for
context and also that way the
audience is able to find other films
made by them.
At the bottom of posters it is a code
and convention to have text that has
information about production
companies and people who helped in
the production of the documentary
film.

19. Codes and Conventions of Posters
• A colour scheme sticking to three colours usually one very
bold one contrasting with black or/ and white
• Quotes from reviews, stared reviews that are either 4 or 5
and awards stated on the poster
• Bold fonts especially for the title and the rest of font is
usually the same font but slimmer and smaller
• The images must always connect with what the trailer is
about and should usually have the main theme conveyed,
visually revealing what the documentary will be about