2. Documentary Codes &
Conventions
According to John Corner a documentary should
include the following features:
1. Observation - the audience is a eye witness to
the evidence by being shown footage in a way
which makes them feel almost as if they were
truly there. However the way in which this
happens often makes the participants objects, not
subjects.
2. Interview - Documentaries rely on this feature.
They can be used to show a contrasting point of
view to the observations previously shown. A shot
of a single person can be boring for an audience
to watch, especially if they have a lot to say or are
talking about a complex subject. A common
convention to keep the audience’s attention is to
dub over images or pieces of footage which
support the speech, as well as intercutting
sections of observation.
3. Dramatisation - by producing some
reconstruction material based on the facts of the
real event, it reinforces the idea the audience is
an eye witness to the events shown in the
footage. Creating conflict and drama will enhance
the experience for the watcher also.
4. Mise En Scene - the different aspects of MES
are important in creating a reality which will
convey the message that the production company
want the audience to see.
5. Exposition - this is the line of the argument the
documentary intends to make, by the end of the
film this needs to be clear. John Corner believed
that exposition can be plain or indirect, where the
audience can make up their own mind.
Other important features are:
- The inclusion of music and sound, this helps to
convey specific emotions, and make reconstructions
more convincing.
- Interviewing technique, by filming interview footage
first, a member of the crew can make notes on what
cutaways need to be found to dub over what is being
said. The interview needs to be done in a professional
matter, the set-up needs to be finished before the
person you are interviewing arrives as this strengthens
the trust needed for a successful interview. Knowledge
of the subject you're going to talk about is key to being
able to probe for more information.
- Selection and Construction, this is done during the
editing process, deciding what makes it into the final
product. This is also a process that can change the
overall impression of the documentary and the footage
gathered depending on the intention.
3. Documentary Codes &
Conventions
They do not need to contain
analysis or political, religious, social
views. They are not current affairs
programming which are part-way
between a documentary and the
news, usually no more than 30
minutes (any longer they become a
documentary) and offer a more in-
depth view of the news and are
important for exploring more weighty
issues and and social development.
Current Affairs programs often come
under criticism of showing only
ratings-driven populist issues and of
distorting and misrepresenting the
views of their contributors.
Like many other forms of media,
documentaries follow the traditional
conventions of a beginning, middle, and end.
- Beginning, There are a few typical ways of
starting a documentary, the central question
could be posed, action footage could be
showed to grab interest, or similarly interviews
could be quickly cut together displaying
conflicting views.
- Middle, This section examines the issue
focussing on people's opinions, reinforcing the
argument. By presenting more evidence and
conflict it blocks the narrative from closing.
- End, The exposition is finally fully apparent
and any doubt from the audience is resolved. A
lasting impression and new world view is left
with the audience.
Documentaries are a view of reality, though
they have elements of fiction for aesthetic
purpose, the narration being one of these
elements. They typically societies victims,
suing humans as their evidence. There are
different types of documentary, and depending
on the type, the documentary makers will focus
Tonight with Trevor McDonald is one
program accused of changing it's content
to gain more viewers
