Codes and Conventions of the Documentary Genre

Narrative structure/Themes

• Every documentary have a certain theme which is something that they desire the audience to feel and understand whilst watching. This includes a strong intention for the documentary to reach

• Some themes may include:• Food• Murder• Lifestyle• The majority of documentaries use a linear narrative as everything we view on screen is in

chronological order

Camerawork • The majority of documentaries use a standard zoom in/out for the camera movement to

make the audience feel as if they are more involved in the scenario.• It is common to see that documentaries tend to use a handheld camera to create a POV effect

making the audience feel like they are experiencing the situation themselves.• The main/most common shot used in documentaries is a medium close up as these are

mostly used to film interviews as it allows the audience to clearly see who the interviewee is whilst getting some of the surroundings. Some graphics can also be included in the bottom of the screen to show who they are.

• Wide angle shots have sometimes been used to display what is going on to the audience.

Mise-en-scene

• The scenery is usually the main location or crime scene that the documentary is based/talking about. Usually they have accomplished by using the actual locations to make it more realistic and as if the audience are there.

• The characters featured in the documentary are always the same people from the real life situation which enables the audience to acquire a clearer image of what is going on.

Editing

• The creator of most documentaries use continual cuts as they want it to look as realistic as possible for the viewing audience.

Sound• Diegetic sound used in documentaries is based upon the theme.• Speech is the diegetic sound used in every documentary. Speech is created from people being

interviewed and also from narrators and other people featured in the documentary. In the duration of an interview we do not hear the interviewer asking the questions and this means that the interviewee in return must answer in full sentences so that the audiences understands what they are talking about.

• Soundtracks are mainly used to build the mood and create a desired intention/feeling.

Archive Material/Graphics• Documentaries usually use a array of images on screen to show and allow the audience to

view what has been intended to view.• An end clip is used by the majority of documentaries with a black screen, images and text to

further describe what has happened after the documentary has been filmed/produced; giving the audience some insight.