Documentary Genre

Codes and Conventions

The purpose of a documentary is to document to report with evidence something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actual footage, or reconstructed.

It can use a narrator’s voice over to anchor the meaning or rely on the participants themselves with perhaps occasional comments from an unseen narrator.

Fly on the wall- appears as truthful as possible.

Current affairs- topically in depth look at a news item.

Radio and TV use documentaries a lot in their scheduling.

Audience research is vital.

Documentaries can have different styles (serious & formal)

Different techniques

Observation- programme makers pretend camera is unseen.

Interview – don’t look at camera look at person there interviewing.

Mise en scene- has to be right

Narrative- builds a sense of dramatic conflict

-          Beginning -  get audience’s attention, dramatic footage

-          Middle – more detail, conflict

-          End – resolve argument

 

Exposition - line of argument. What is the documentary saying?

Fully- narrated – off screen voice (voice of god)

Mixed- combine interviews, observation, narration and found footage.

Vox pops – street interviews with the general public, ask all the same questions

Topic

Think small

Think local

Good visuals good images

Good conflict – 2 sides

Music, sound effects, lighting

 Construction

Situations

Locations

Individuals

Camera

Time

Sound/music

Edit

Filming

Cut aways

Cut ins

Variety of shots

Vary shots in interview