1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
OF DOCUMENTARIES
Emma Riddiough

2. Narrative Structure
 Nearly all the documentaries are single stranded
 There are themes that run through the documentary
 Voice over holds narrative together but also creates
meaning for the audience

3. Camerawork
 Establishing shots are used to anchor the meaning of the
documentary
 Interviews are filmed in close up, medium close up or
sometimes in big close ups; and are framed to the left or right
of the screen
 Handheld camerawork is used to show actuality
footage, adding to the atmosphere of what they’re talking
about
 Interviews follow the rule of thirds
 A variety of camera shots and angles are used
 Creative camerawork
 Zooms and panning shots used to show still images

4. Voice Over
 Anchors meaning
 Offers various facts and figures allowing the audience to
form opinions
 Voice over – gender /age is relevant to the topic; e.g. it
has to appeal to the target audience
 Holds the narrative together
 Standard English is used; e.g. normally calm and clear

5. Mise-en-scene
 Use of chromakey makes the background of the
interviews relevant
 Interviews – backgrounds are relevant to either the
subject or the person who’s being interviewed
 Lighting is creative
 Background – needs to be relevant and has to fit in with
the subject; e.g. location
 The clothing that the interviewee/person who’s being
filmed has to have relevance to the topic

6. Sound
 Has to have relevance to the topic
 Used to highten the emotion or to build the narrative
 Music/Background noise helps to set the scene
 Voice over or Narrator is used
 Special effects are used in reconstruction
 Questions edited out of interviews

7. Graphics
 White text is often used as it stands out
 Title stands out (bold) and is unique, as it helps reflects the
topic/ subject
 Credits scroll up the screen; e.g. pays tribute to the archive
footage and material that's been used
 Titles used in interviews anchors who they are and the
relevance they have to a documentary; e.g. usually shown on
the opposite side of the screen
 Anchor's time

8. Archive Material
 Can be accompanied by music; e.g. sound bed, under
visuals
 Always relevant to the topic
 Good variety can be used; e.g. films, videos, tv clips,
newspapers, photos
 Can zoom/pan over archive materials
 Voice over anchors the meaning of the documentary
together, whilst explaining what it is

9. Editing
 Cuts are most commonly used
 Dissolves
 Slow and Fast motion aids in emphasising the
atmosphere
 Interviews are normally one to two minutes at a time
 Montage editing
 Effect are used; e.g. fade to black/ elliptical editing