Codes and Conventions of the documentary genre

Codes and conventions of the documentary genre

• Single strand

Editing:

• Cut is the most common edit so it does not distract what is on screen


• Editing should really be invisible unless its used for a purpose
  
• Editing techniques maybe used on actuality footage and archive material


• Visuals used over interviews


• Well paced interviews no longer that 1 or 2 minutes

Voiceover:

• Holds the narrative together (the glue that holds the documentary together)


• Gender is sometimes relevant depending on topic


• Relevant age to the topic in some way


• Standard English usually calm and clear delivery

Camerawork

• Creative and varied camerawork


• Conventional framing on interviews
  
• Camera usually static on a tripod


• Make sure interviewee is sat on static chair so it cant move

Interviews:

• Interviewee positioned to the left or right of frame - if more than one it alternates

• Filmed in medium shot, medium close up and close up

• Questions are edited out

• Mise en scene- background reinforces the content of the interview or is relevant to the interviewee, providing more information about them in terms of occupation or personal environment.

• Graphics are used to anchor who the person is on screen and the relevance to the topic of documentary-sub line

• The interviewee looks at the interviewer, not directly at the camera

• Positioning of the interviewer is therefore important. If the interviewee is on the right of the frame, the interviewer is on the left of the camera.

• The interviewer should sit or stand as close to the camera as possible

• Framing follows the rule of thirds-eye line roughly a third of the way down the screen.

• They're never filmed with a light source behind the interviewee i.e. in front of the window or the sun behind them

• Cutaways are edited into the videos for two reasons- break up interviews and illustrate what they're talking about- to avoid jump cuts, when questions are edited out.

• Cutaways are either :archive material suggested by something said in interview and therefore filmed after the interview

• Sometimes aspects of the interview are filmed with another camera e.g. extra close-ups of eyes, mouth and hands and used as cut aways

Archive Material:

• Use camera movement when filming still archive material e.g. zoom, pan


• Use a variety of relevant material to the documentary


• If Chromokey is used it should'nt detract from a interview


• Relevant music, correct sound levels so it does'nt interfere with visuals or voiceovers


• Music bed in which visuals lie on
  

Graphics:

• Graphics used to anchor who the person is and their relevance


• Can anchor a period of time and cant be obtrusive


• Simple details usually 2 lines