Codes and Conventions of a Documentary Genre

Single strand narrative


Editing: Cut is most common edit - does not distract from what is going on, on screen

Voice over - holds the narrative together (glue) Variety of relevance

Relevant depending on topic, relevant age to the topic, standard english, calm and clear delivery

Creative and Varied Camerawork - conventional framing on interviews - sitting on a stable chair

Camera usually static on a tripod not hand held

Images (moving and still) - Camera movement when filmin still images

Archive material

If Chromakey is used it shouldn't detract from an interview

Relevant music - doesnt abtract ot interfeer with the interview

Graphics - Anchor person - time, place and relevance to programme 0 usually 2 lines

In Interviews:
--Interviewee positioned to left or right of frame

--If more than one interviewee, it alternates
--Interviewees filmed in medium shot, medium close up and close up
--Questions are edited out
--Mise-en-scene - background reinforces the content of the interview and is relevan to the interviewee, providing mroe information abut them in terms of ocupation or personal environment.
--Graphics are used to anchor who the person is on screen and their relevance to the topic of the documentary.
--Always look at the interviewer, never the camera, never gives direct address.
--Positioning of the interviewer is therefore important. If the interviewee is on the right of the frame the interviewer is to the left of the camera and vice versa.
--Framing follows the rule of thirds. The eye line of the interviewee is always one third of the way down the screen regardless of the framing; even in close up.
--Interviews are never filmed with a light source behind the interviewee. IE. in front of a window or with the sun behind them, the light is always in front of them, --behind the camera.
--Cuts are always edited into the interviews to break them up and illustrate what they're talking about and to avoid jump cuts when the questions are edited out.
--All interviewees are sat down so that they remain still which makes for constant filming.
--Cuts are always archive material
--Cut aways are suggested by something said in the interview and therefore filmed after the interview.