codes and conventions of documentary film

1. Codes and Conventions
of Documentary film
What makes a documentary film?

2. Filming
‘Real’ footage of events Documentary is essentially seen as
‘non-fiction’ although there are debates around this. However,
a convention of documentary is that all events presented to us
are to be seen as ‘real’ by the audience. Documentarians often
go to great lengths to convince us that the footage is real and
unaltered in anyway, although editing and voiceover can affect
the ‘reality’ we, as viewers, see.
For example a hand held camera is often used, to appear
more realistic and in the action.
Technicality of realism: Including ‘natural’ sound and lighting.

3. The Voiceover
The voiceover will usually be authoritative in some way,
encouraging the audience to think that they either have
some kind of specialist knowledge or, as in the case of
people like Michael Moore and Nick Broomfield: ‘the right’
opinions that people should pay attention to.
‘Voice of authority’ a narrator who represents the view of
the documentary.
‘Voice of god’ a narrator we cant see.

4. Features:
Archive footage, to aid authenticity and to add further information
which the film maker may be unable to obtain themselves.
Interviews with ‘experts. Used to authenticate the views expressed
in the documentary. Sometimes, they will disagree with the
message of the documentary, although the film maker will usually
disprove them in some way.
‘Talking heads’ another form of interviews with members of the
public reflecting on the issue. Filmed from the shoulders up.
Re-enactments of an event which has previously occurred, using
actors but based on the facts of the event.

5. Visuals
Use of text/titles Text watch out for the use of words on
screen to anchor images in time and space. Labels,
dates etc tend to be believed unquestioningly and are a
quick and cheap way of conveying information.
Visual coding, This links to the idea of mise-en-scene.
E.g. If a doctor was being interviewed conveying
information. they’d have to wear clothing associated with
being a doctor in order to make it obvious to the viewer
that he/she is a doctor.

6. Modes of documentary:
Performative Mode
Filmmaker as participant- Performative mode of
documentary raises questions about what
knowledge is. It sets out to demonstrate how
the specificities of personal experience provide
entry into an understanding of the more general
processes at work in society.
The Reflexive Mode
awareness of the process- The spectator is the
focus of the attention. Speaks not only about
the historical world, but about the problems and
issues of representing it.
The Participatory Mode
Involves an interview between filmmaker and
the subject.
The Poetic Mode
subjective, artistic, expression-
Expository Mode
Images become subordinate to the voice-
over narration. They serve to illustrate,
illuminate or act in counterpoint to what is
being said by the author. Editing in the
expository mode serves to maintain the
continuity of the spoken argument or
perspective.
The Expository Mode
-voice of God- This mode is what we
identify with documentaries. It
emphasises verbal commentary – often
using a narrator
The Observational Mode
Window on the world- Attempt to