Documentary Genre

Codes and Conventions of Documentaries
The purpose of a documentary is to document to report with evidence something that has actually happened. It can show this by using actuality footage, or reconstructions. 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 (verite) - appear as truthful as possible.
Current affairs (topicality) – look at a news item. Both radio and TV use documentaries in their scheduling.
They are important to the target audiences. Audience’s research is vital.
Documentaries have different styles...

Different techniques
Observation – pretend the camera work is unseen.
Interview – don’t look at the camera
Mise en scene
Narrative Dramatic conflict Exposition – line of argument. What is it saying?
Fully narrated -Off-screen voice over (“voice of god”)
Mixed combine interviews, narration, observation and found footage
Vox pops – street interviews with general public – same questions
Beginning – catch the audience’s attention with dramatic footage, middle – more detail and conflict, end – resolve the exposition.

Topic
Think small
Think local
Good visuals
Conflict (two sides)
Music, sound effects and lighting
Construction
Choosing situations and locations Individuals
Camera work
Time Music/sound
Edit
Filming
Cut away’s
Cut in’s
Variety of shots (still, zoom, still)
Vary shots of the interview