Codes and Conventions of a Documentary

In today's blog I am going to research the codes and conventions of a documentary. I believe that doing this research will help me move forward with what I need to do in terms of what I should be including in my documentary.



Documentary:
A recording of an event, generally based on peoples perspectives and/or genuine facts.

Codes and Conventions of a Documentary:

Voiceover.
Voiceover will usually be assertive, and encourage the audience to want to know more and have specialist knowledge on the context of the documentary.

'Real' footage of events.
The events that happen in a documentary are usually seen to be 'real' by the audience. However, editing and voiceovers can affect the 'reality' we, as viewers, see.
Interviews.
This allows people being filmed to speak directly about the event and gives a direct mode of address between viewers and those in the show. Anecdotes are good techniques to emphasise realism.
Technicality of realism.
Includes 'natural' sounds and lighting.
Archive footage/stills.
This is to help add authenticity and to add further information which filmmakers may be unable to obtain themselves.
Interviews with 'experts'.
It is generally used to authenticate the views expressed in the documentary. Also used for film makers to usually disapprove of them in some way.
Text.
Text is used to anchor images in time and space. Mostly used as labels, showing dates and location.
Sound.
Usually the use of non-diegetic sound to bridge between scenes and create a mood of the documentary. However mostly diegetic sounds of people taking, machinery, animals, etc. This is to create realism.
Dramatization.
This is a reconstruction of an event played by actors which is used to give the audience a further insight into the real event which occurred.



Camera and Editing:

Hand held camera work.
This is to emphasise the real time and space, as we already know the key to a documentary is to show that it is real. The movement of a hand-held camera gives this intention.
Sound.
Unintended sound is left in during editing, i.e. moving cars, to show the location and set the scene of the documentary.
Single camera production. 
This is a method of filmmaking and video production where one camera operates at a time during each set.