CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF DOCUMENTARIES

Emma Riddiough

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

Camerawork

Establishing shots are used to anchor the meaning of thedocumentary 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

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

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

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

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

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

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