Codes & Conventions

Codes & Conventions

Type of Documentary
Mixed

Narrative Structure
Open
Single Strand
Non Linear

Camerawork
Interviews:
- Framed to either the left or right of screen in medium close up or close up
- Most important person getting interviewed usually framed or filmed in a unique style to stand out
Panning and Zoom used on still images to make them more visually interesting for audience
Handheld camerawork for actuality footage so as the camera can reply quickly to action
Overall throughout a documentary there is a large variety of camera shots and framing throughout this is to make the documentary more entertaining and visually pleasing as well as informing

Mise-En-Scene
Interviews:
- Background of interview mostly related to interviewee
- Background can be related to content if this is the case cornicing is used (blue or green screen) so as a background can be put in during editing which links directly to what is being spoken about

Sound
Narration:
- Standard English
- Generally the narrators age and gender reflects that of the target audience
- Occasionally the narrator is the complete opposite to what would be expected for example: a documentary on cars with a female voice over
Other voice over’s such as translations can also be used
Music is used to anchor emotions which will reflect the footage being shown
Non-diegetic sound can be used such as sound effects to make the audience feel as if they are there, these are usually used over the actuality footage but can sometimes be used over still images such as in a historical documentary showing a picture of a king may play war sounds over a still image to make it more entertaining

Editing
Montage used at beginning to give audience a teaser as what is going to be in the rest of the documentary
Cut & cutting used as they are not distracting to the audience
Fade to/from black used to sometimes show a passage of time
Archive Material
Film
TV
News Broadcasts
Images
Magazines
Newspapers
Music Videos etc.

Graphics
Interviews:
- Name & relevance/job title of interviewee on opposite side of screen to person
- Sans Serif or another simple font used as to not be distracting
Title has a unique font; font usually reflects content of show for example: Egyptian style font for a documentary on Egypt
Translations
Indicate time