Codes and Conventions of a Documentary

Codes and Conventions of a Documentary:

A documentary is a nonfictional motion picture intended to document an aspect of reality in order to inform a viewer or to maintain a historical record.

Actuality- Filming real events as they happen, thus documenting real life. This certifies the factual nature of the documentary film.

Archive footage- Film, images or sound taken from previous records, projects or a database. Using archive footage is useful when reporting on historical events or natural disasters that you couldn't physically film yourself due to differences in time and geographical location. (Avoid using more than 25 seconds of archive footage per five minutes).

Fly on the wall- Filming real events, giving a natural  perspective of people or a situation whilst remaining unnoticed. Although this covert method raises some ethical issues, it often provides the most factually accurate and honest view of reality.

Voice Over-  Most documentaries feature voice overs which narrate what the programme is about, giving key information, explaining footage and introducing the topic of debate.

Graphics- Text, maps, images and photographs can be incorporated into documentaries in order to illustrate a point with greater clarity or to state who interviewers and interviewees are in a banner near the bottom of the screen. Graphics are also usually incorporated into the opening sequence of the documentary.

Interviews- An interview with an expert on the topic of the documentary gives an important and insightful view on the key issues being explored. They can also provide ample information on the topic which adds to the factual importance of the documentary.

Vox pops- A random interview with members of the public (often stopped on the street) filmed with a handheld camera. This provides an insight into the knowledge, opinions, ideas and misconceptions that the general population may have in regards to that subject.

Talking Head- A close up or medium shot of someone talking directly to a camera. A presenter of the documentary is often used for this.


Documentary Textual Analysis:

Beginning of “Louis Theroux: Behind Bars - San Quentin Prison"

The documentary fades in to an establishing shot of San Quentin prison in San Francisco. This is typical of films and documentaries and often provides the starting and endpoint of the narrative, giving a sense of finality and bookending the film.

After the establishing shot a clip from an interview with one of the prisoners is shown. The sentence “Things that thrill me won’t get me in jail for 500 years”(said by Louis Theroux) acts as “the hook” and encourages the audience to continue watching the documentary in order to find out why that prisoner has such a long sentence.

The interview used at the start allows the audience to get a more personal account and view of prison life. This also increases the validity of the information within the documentary, as the interviewer Louis Theroux is giving the audience a “fly on the wall” perspective.

Handheld camera shots are used throughout the interview clip, adding to the actuality and realism of the daily events within San Quentin prison. The camera pans between the interviewer and the interviewee, reminding the audience that the footage is unscripted and of real occurrences people and lives.

Non-diegetic contrapuntal music begins at the same time the BBC logo appears at the bottom of the screen. The upbeat and relatively light-hearted music contrasts the dull and bleak setting of the prison with its oppressive bars and barbed wire. The BBC logo also adds to the authority of the documentary film, as the BBC is a renowned and respected organisation, recognised worldwide for its professionalism. The BBC's reputation for objective and independent journalism gives the documentary a serious tone, strengthening the reputation of San Quentin prison as an important institution with the purpose of holding some of America's most dangerous criminals.

A voice over provided by Louis Theroux is played over the music and a montage of footage depicting the interior of San Quentin prison. Voice-overs are used to provide key information, such as that San Quentin is the “oldest and most notorious prison”. The prison reportedly houses around 3000 prisoners, giving the audience an impression of the intimidating scale of the institution.

All of these devices are used to add to the realism of the documentary and to interest the audience. This also means that it meets the codes and conventions of documentary films.

Clips from the Documentary: