Codes and conventions of a documentry

Extract 1


Extract 2


As a class we watched two clips from professional television interviews. We identified the codes and conventions of the above interviews. Afterwards, as a class we discussed the codes and conventions and took note. These codes and conventions below can all be applied to most television documentaries.

The way interviews are filmed & edited

• Positioned to the left or right of the frame
• If more than one position is used the positioning changed.
• They are all filmed in medium shot, medium close up or close up.
• Questions are edited out.
• The mise eh scen of the interview reinforces the context of the interview and/or is relevant to the interview providing more information about them in turns of occupation or personal environment.
• Graphics are used to anchor who the person is on the screen and their relevance to the topic.
• Always look at the interviewer, never the camera, never gives direct address.
• Positioning of the interviewer is therefore important. If the interviewee is on the right of the frame the interviewer is to the left of the camera and vice versa.
• Framing follows the rule of thirds. The eye line of the interviewee is always one third of the way down the screen regardless of the framing; even in close up.
• Interviews are never filmed with a light source behind the interviewee. IE. in front of a window or with the sun behind them, the light is always in front of them, behind the camera.
• cuts are always edited into the interviews to break them up and illustrate what they're talking about and to avoid jump cuts when the questions are edited out.
• All interviewees are sat down so that they remain still which makes for constant filming.
• Cuts are always archive material
• Cut aways are suggested by something said in the interview and therefore filmed after the interview.
• Sometimes aspects of the interviewee are filmed with another camera such as extreme close up of eyes, mouth or hands.

Documentaries:

• Cutting is the most common edit - it prevents distraction from the documentary itself.
• Editing should be invisible except on archive material and actuality footage. 
• The voice over holds the narrative together.
• The gender and age of the voice over is sometimes relevant depending on the topic. 
• The voice over is usually delivered in calm and clear standard English.
• Creative and varied camera work is used. 
• Interviews follow conventional framing.
• The camera, during an interview, is usually static - on an tripod
• When the archive material is still images there is usually camera movement. 
• A lot of archive material is used in relevance to what is being said.
• If chroma key is used it shouldn't distract from the interview.
• Any background music should be relevant and not obstructive to what is being said. 
• Graphics are used to anchor the person, relevance, time or place to the image. 
• Interviews are well placed - never longer than one minute
• Other visuals are used over the interview. 
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