Codes and Conventions of TV Documentaries

Interviews•Framed slightly to the left or right of frame.

• Close up, medium

close up or big close up

used.

• Questions edited out•Cutaways used to avoid jump cuts - relevant to what is being talked about - archive material: pictures, film - actuality footage• Graphics used to anchor who the person is and their relevance to the topic - name slightly bigger than their job/relevance to the topic

Voiceover• Introduce the topic• Link items together• The glue that holds the narrative together • Standard english - age and gender are relevant to the topic

• Cut is the main edit• No fancy editing• Shouldn’t notice the editing

Editing

Music• Relevant to the topic• Reconstructions - sound effects

Mise-en-scene• Background is always relevant to the person being interviewed• Actuality footage used• Cutaways used• Creative camerawork• Tripod used for all filming except where the camera needs to respond quickly to what is happening• Snappy title