Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

I will be looking at the codes and conventions of documentaries that are broadcast by Channel 4 like 'Benefits Street' but also documentaries that are not broadcast by Channel 4 like 'Billionaires Paradise' which is broadcast by the BBC. 

The codes and conventions that I have felt that are in all documentaries are;

• A clear narrative - provides a story line for the viewers
• A fitting setting but depends on the type of documentary
• Low/High key lighting but also depends on the type of documentary
• A voice over - to tell the audience what is happening 
• Wide range of camera shots/movements
• Interviews - to make the audience get to know the people on the documentary
• Establishing shot to establish the setting
• Some documentaries want the audience to see it in an negative light
• They want to get an mixed response from the audience
• Calming soundtrack in the background

But I also looked at just Channel 4 documentaries because that is the style that I would like to do it in. 

• A clear Narrative - so that the audience that would be watching the documentary would follow someones life and try and try to understand what they are going through
• Low/High key lighting - this would depends on what the situation would be during the documentary and if they use natural lighting it could make us as audiences think it's true, real so that we would buy into their ideology; however, it achieves the negative light by not using any filter of lighting or any kind of extra high-key light.
• A voice over - they have voice overs in most of the Channel 4 documentaries, so that the audience would know what is going on during the scene and which drives the narrative.
• Interviews - they have this in Channel 4 documentaries so that they can see what the person that is in the documentary and how they feel
• Establishing shots to establish the setting - they have this a lot in Channel 4 documentaries so that the audience that are watching would see the setting and understand what is it like for them
• Negative light - Channel 4 like to have there documentaries in an negative light like 'Benefits Street' because they want to get more publicity from it
• Mixed response from the audience - Channel 4 like to make people when they watch it feel different things (sympathy or anger) and would get an people talking about it to get more publicity
• Calming soundtrack in the background - to maybe contrast to what is on the the documentary and make it seem in a happier light

Summary

I would be using some of these styles within my documentary like an voice over, a clear narrative, calming soundtrack and maybe some interview with the teachers or students that go to the school so that we can make our documentary look professional.