Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Type of Documentary
Fully narrated/ expository
Fly on the Wall/ observational
Mixed
Self reflective
Docudrama
Docusoap

Narrative Structure
Open
Closed
Single strand
Non-linear
Linear
Circular

Mise-en-scene
Creates the mood of documentaries
Adds to the story
Lighting changes the feel of the documentary
Low-key/ high-key lighting
Chiarascuro lighting- see half of the face
Chromokey- moving background in interview#
Background can reinforce the content of the interview/ gives more information about the interviewee's personal life/ occupation

Camerawork
Wide range of shots
Interviews are either framed to the left or right and eyeline is in the top third; interviewee looks at interviewer rather than the camera
Vox pops- street interviews
Close ups- show emotion
External shots- set scene
PAN/track
Hand held
Framing on interviews
Interviews often in medium close up/ close up

Sound
Voiceover- holds the narrative together; gender of voiceover normally fits/ suits the theme (Voice of God)
Voice usually speaks standard English with calm clear delivery; gender/ age is occasionally relevant to the topic
Ambiant sound
Buzz track
Background music
Incidental music

Editing
Zoom in/ out
Slow/ fast pace
Fade out/ fade in/ wipe/ dissolve
Depth of field
Superimposition
Cut aways- voiceover whilst relevant images, etc. are shown
Questions usually edited out of interviews

Archive Material
Can be still images/ video clips
Sometimes shown in cutaways
Camera movement used when filming still archive material, e.g. zoom
Relevant music; however it should not interfere with voiceover/ visuals

Graphics
Subtitles
Names of people being interviewed
Simple details usually 2 lines

Types of Documentaries

Beginning: includes dramatic footage to get the audiences attention

Middle: focuses on peoples opinions/examines issue of documentary; conflict shown in beginning may be strengthened

End: exposition- the answer is there at the end and the audience has no doubt about the argument- may be an action that the audience can take

Types of Documentary
Fully Narrated- off screen voiceover that makes sense of the visuals (tells the audience the meaning of images), e.g. nature documentary

Fly on the Wall- camera is unseen/ignored and captures things that would not be seen otherwise; unfolds real events and does not require voiceovers/narration

Mixed- uses a combination of interviews, observation, etc. to advance the argument- narrator is often infront of the camera

Self-reflective- when the subject of the documentary acknowledges the camera and speaks to it directly

Docudrama- a reinactment of the events as though it has just happened/is happening; like a fictional story, using techniques of documentaries to reinforce realism

Docusoap- the camera follows the lives of individuals so we get to know the characters

Features of Documentaries
Observation- watching someone, the camera is ignored/ people do not know they are being filmed.

Interview- allow for opinions/ views to be voiced (documentaries rely on interviews)

Dramatisation- show drama by observation/ re-construct scenes

Mise-en-scene- everything in the shot, e.g. costumes, props

Exposition- tells us exactly what is going on (argument/purpose of the documentary)

Documentaries may contain:
Visuals- e.g. archive footage- intended to suggest a meaning/emotion

Interviews- mise-en-scene affects the meaning; can contain factual/more emotional questions (usually closer to the end)

Voxpops- street interviews of the general public; asked the same question. Then all strung together in a fast sequence- can show general agreement/diversity of opinions

Documentary Narratives
Open- no answers have been given; there is no conclusion made so audience have to make up their own mind about what happened

Closed- all answers are given and there is a definite output/ending
Single-strand- one story/plot/theme throughout the documentary

Non-linear- the information is given in a way so time is disrupted and is not given in chronological order- contains flashbacks

Linear- the information is given in chronological order (there is a beginning, a middle and an end)

Circular- begins and ends in the same way (question is asked at the beginning and the end)