Documentary Conventions

C O N V E N T I O N S

DOCUMENTARIES

VOICE-OVER

Documentaries often use voice-overs to offer information, explanations and opinions for viewers on the the subject being documented. This is either done while filming is done or added as separate audio when editing.

INTERVIEWS

This is a popular documentary technique which allows people being filmed to talk about the subject/events using question prompts asked by the filmmaker. Through interviews,

filmmakers are often able to express their own views indirectly whilst providing a sense of realism for the viewer. Interviews can be done both on/off

screen or even in a different setting.

EXTREME CLOSE-UPS

These shots help provide a sense of realism and are often a good way of filling up spaces in which the interview may be being conducted and shots are needed to fill in audio space.

Differently extreme close-ups are popular among wildlife/nature documentaries in order to give a better, much clearer view of the animal/insect.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE

These are used in order to show historical events or add detail without additional filming. Also known as ‘stock footage’, this material can often be accessed from an archive or film library.

REENACTMENT

These artificial scenes of an event reconstructed and acted out based on information of what happened. These are often used in documentaries in order to provide viewers with a sense of realism as if they saw the event themselves.Indications that footage is not real may include: blurring, distortion, coulour enhancement and lighting effects.