Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Narrative structure is varied - most are single-strand and non-linear

Camerawork:

• Varied shot types and movement to keep the audience interested.
• Handheld camerawork is used for actuality footage where necessary.
• Interviews:
  - Close-up or Medium close-up is conventional
  - Big close-up and extreme close-up can be used
  - Stationary Camera (tripod)
  - Eye-line is roughly 1/3 way down screen
  - Framed to left or right of shot.
• Establishing shots used
• Pan and zoom are used when filming still images
• Point of view shot sometimes used to position the audience in the action

Mise-En-Scene:

• Behind interviewees - either relevant to the subject (e.g. chromakey) or anchors their job/relevance to the subject.

Archive Material:

• Archive material from a variety of sources e.g. films, TV programmes, newspapers, magazines, websites, music videos - from other media.

Graphics:

• Graphics used to translate where necessary.
• Name and relevance to the subject/role of the interviewees - usually two lines. First line clear, second in italics. Anchors who they are and their relevance.
• Credits - scrolling, all archive material is credited.

Sound:

• Voiceover used to link everything together - Standard English/Age and gender relative to either audience or subject/emotionless - statement of fact.
• All questions are edited out.
• Music is used relevant to the topic.
• Interviews - no background noise (or kept to a minimum if unavoidable).

Editing:

• Questions are edited out of interviews.
• Editing creates pace.
• Cut - most common edit.
• No editing effects used unless relevant. Dissolve is used.
• Cutaways are used frequently - relevant to what is being talked about.
• Fade to black/from black sometimes used.