Codes and Convetions of a Documentary Genre.

-Interviews

-Still images and videos- Archive Material

-Cutting from each clip - most common edit- does not distractwhat is going on screen

-Voice over- Narrative Structure

-Themes

-Music in background

-Graphics- usually white, sans serif- positioned left or right

-Credits at the end

-Norammly single strand narrative

-Editing techniques may be used on actuality footage and archive material

-Gender is sometimes relevant depending on topic

-Creative and caried camera work- Conventional framing on interviews- camera usually held on a tripod

-Archive material; newspapers, magazines, websites- use camera movement

-if chromakey is used it should not distract from interview- mise-en-scene is carefully structed

-Relevant music

-Well paced- not see an interview lasting one minute- other visuals are used over the sound of an interview

Structure of Documentaries.

Narrative Structure:
Open- there are loose ends which are not tied up at the end, audience makes their own mind up about the situation.
Closed- there is a definite conclusion to the narrative, the conclusion is very clear towards the audience.


Linear:
Follows chronological order, events follow order of time.
Non Linear:
Things are not in time of order, example- flashback or flashforward.


Circular:
Usually one which is open. The start is the same as the ending.


Visuals:
Television is a visual medium. The programme needs to be visually stimulated. The makers need to make the informative programme entertaining: archive material, street scenes, open countryside, close up of faces = stock footage.


Interviews:
Most important aspect of a documentary. A interview can be held anywhere but the mise-en-scene does affect the meaning.


VOXPOP:
Voice of the people. This is when the interviewer will go out on the street with a camera and ask people passing by the same question.

Construction of Reality:

Gatekeeping:
Producer selects and rejects certain information and facts for their documentary.

Editing process:

It is where gatekeeping happens in a documentary. Voice over can also affect the meaning.