Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

• 1.
  CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF DOCUMENTARIES
• 2.
   The positioning of the camera must be alternated to prevent the audience from becoming bored.  Conventional editing is used – this means that only the interviewee's answers are heard.  Interviews are usually filmed in either medium close up or close up.
• 3.
   This can include images and video etc, as long as they relate to the topic of the documentary.  Chroma Key can be used. An example of Chroma Key. Here the background is of a sharks mouth-which relates to the topic of Jaws.  The purpose of archive material is to give the audience more information about the topic of the documentary.
• 4.
   Conventional editing is most commonly used: This is when only the interviewee’s answers are heard.  Cuts are most commonly used. This prevents ‘jump cuts’ and therefore allows the footage to flow easily.
• 5.
   Mise-en-scene always relates to the topic of the documentary.  Chroma Key can sometimes be used in interviews, in order to create mise-en-scene.
• 6.
   Commonly used in interviews: they anchor the person to the documentary.  Examples of graphics may be: the title of the documentary, names of people being interviewed, credits and additional text. Name of Interviewee Text Image
• 7.
   Numerous different shots are used throughout documentaries in order to add variety and therefore prevent the audience from becoming bored. Zooms in  Documentaries follow the Rule of Thirds: this is where the interviewees eye line is 1/3 down the frame.