Codes and conventions of a documentary

The codes and conventions for a documentary are simply the following: Mise-en-scene, editing, camera work, lighting, sound and narrative.

Mise-en-scene:

• Interivew: in the background has to have specific props related to the subject (chromakey) for example a teacher would be interviewed in a class room or in the staff room.
• Talking heads: Would be positioned just facing slightly off camera.
• Simple backgrounds.
• Code of attire reveals the position of the interviewee.
• Location shown.
• Original footage.
• Reconstruction.

Editing

• Cut away shots used -(Lots)
  
• Good to set pace.
• Not contiunity.
• Criss fades.
• Dissolves.
• Fade in and out.
• Text added.
• Non diegetic/ diegetic sound included.
• Fast motion.
• Slow motion.
• Spinning effect.
• Montage.
• Three in one shot.
• Interview shot.

Camera work

• Point of view shots.
• Close up for effect and to show peoples emotion.
• Establishing shot of location.
• Hand held camera work to show reality and for authenticity.
• Pans and zooms.
• Tracking shots.
• Long takes.
• Reaction shots.
• Location shots.
• Revolving shots.
• Whip pans.
• Titls.
• Zoom
• Reaction shots.
  

Lighting

• Natural (day and night) for authenticity.
• Studio lightin for talking heads.
• Reconstruction- darker relates to genre e.g. Marilon Manson - The devil made me do it.

Sound

• Voice of god (anonymous)
• Music.
• No questions audible.
• Diegetic sound of subject being filmed to sound natural.
• Sfx used.
• Buzz track.
• Background music.

Narrative

• Must be a definate beginning, middle and end.
• Main question and most dramatic footage and the beginning, middle to include complication.
• End must make the exposition full apparent -resolution, binary oppositions (or a sense of conflic).
• Propp's character roles.
• Toderov's equilibrium.
• Disruption.
• Barthes' enigma code.
• A clear sense of movement either physical, time, emotional and psychological.
  

Archive footage

• News
• Zapruder- footage (Grainy, hand held, shakey) - authenticity.
• Extracts- films/ clips/ photo's/ newspapers/ hand held mobile phones

Theorists

• Toderov- equilibrium.
• Propps- character
• Druzzi - Performance- documentary's like performance.
• Bill Nicols- Expositiy, Observational, interactive and reflexive.