Documentaries follow certain codes and conventions including using relevant sound effects and music, carefully constructing the mise-en-scene, and editing interviews in a way that provides continuity while removing unnecessary questions. They also make use of cutaways, archive footage, graphics to display information, and aim for simple editing to avoid confusing viewers. Interviews are typically filmed in a medium close up with the interviewee looking off-screen and the camera alternating angles.

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
DOCUMENTARIES
By Luke Brierley

2. Relevant sound effects are used to add a certain effect, such as in The Simpsons 20 year Anniversary,
the theme tune is playing in the background.
Mise en scene is important as it is usually filmed either against a greenscreen or live, and is relevant to
the theme of the documentary, such as the shark images in the background of In the Teeth of Jaws.
Questions are edited out so as to add to continuity, and cuts between different interviews can be
made without hearing the interviewer.
Cut aways are used instead of jump cuts, so there will be footage of one interview, then some archive
footage will be played, and then it will cut to another part of the same interview.
Onscreen graphics are used to display dates, times, names of interviewees, and other information.
Simple editing is used so as not to confuse the viewer of the documentary.
The eyeline of the interviewee is always positioned ¾ of the way up the screen. They are usually filmed
in medium close up, however other types of shots are also used to add variation.
The interviewee appears to be staring into space, or possibly at the interviewer. They are never looking
at the camera.
The camera switches between being positioned to the left and the right of the interviewee.

3. Archive footage is shown of the subject of the documentary. Still images are also included in this
footage.
Voxpops are used to get the opinions of many different people on the subject of the
documentary.
People being interviewed are always experts, as they can give more in depth answers and
opinions.
There is always a range of interviews used to collate as much information as possible.
There is always more than one point of view about the specific subject. This creates conflict in
the documentary and makes sure it isn’t all one sided.
Reconstructions of events are sometimes acted out to give more insight into a real event.
Documentaries are based on factual evidence.
Sometimes non diegetic sound is used.
Simple graphics are used so as not to annoy the viewer, their attention should be focused on the
documentary.
The title is relevant to the subject of the documentary.
Evidence is used to make the documentary more factual.
The narrative structure ends with a solid ending, however it can also end unclear so the
audience can make their own minds up.