Codes and Conventions of a Documentary


Documentaries focus on and question people and events often in a social context making the audience form an opinion about it.

They present factual information about the world.


Documentaries use on-screen labels.

Devices used:

Recorded events as they atually occur

Information presents using visual aids, charts, maps etc.

Events stages for the camera when neccessary.


Three types of documentary:

Compilation film-film is made up of an assembly of archive images such as newsreel and footage.

Interview/'talking heads'-testimoniesare recorded about people, events or social movements.

Direct cinema-where an event is recorded 'as it happens', with minimal intereference from the film-maker.


Documentary techniques:

Narrative form-telling us a story with characters, tension, and a point of view, using improvisation. Modern situations consist of Big Brother.

Parallelism-asking the audience to draw parallels between characters, settings and situations.

Narration-helps the audience receive plot information.

Authoritative voice-Audience listens to a voice they already know, and trust. Normally documentaris use male voices, but recently, specifically with the younger audience, documentaires have introduced the female voice-over.


LIGHTING

The source of lighting in a documentary usually originates naturally from the environment being filmed. Unlike a feature film-maker using additional and manipulated light.


CAMERA WORK

Hand-held camera work is the most commonly used in a documentary, removing the need for a tripod or dolly, using their body for support. This creates a subjective point of view aiming at an intimacy between the audience and the film.



EDITNG

Fade-out-image darkens into blackness gradually.

Fade-in-image lightens from blackness gradually.

Dissolve-end of the shot is briefly superimposed with the beginning of the next.

Wipe-a shot is replaced by another using a line moving across the screen.

Material is selected, ordered and placed into a sequential form ('Mediated').



SOUND

Diegetic sound-comes from within the documentary

Non-digetic sound-comes from outside the film/documentary e.g a soundtrack or narrator