Codes And Conventions (A2 Preliminary Task)

To gain and understand how documentaries would be filmed, we decided to watch some and gather clear information on how we could successfully create our own documentary. After watching different documentaries we came up with clear information that would initially help us when filming our own documentaries.

From watching the documentaries we came up with clear instructions on how to actually make a good documentary, firstly the person you choose to interview will be either filmed in a medium shot, a medium close up and a close up. They are filmed at either the left or right of the screen and if there is more than one person being interviewed they are positioned in different places on the screen to create variety.The framing follows the third rule, this means that the eyeline is roughly a third of the way down the frame. The interviewees look directly at the interviewer and not at the camera. The positioning of the interviewer is an important factor of this. If the interviewer is positioned on the right then the interviewee must be positioned on the opposite side, and vice-verse. The interviewee must then stand as close to the camera as possible, so the interviewee is looking at the interviewer but also is looking closely to the camera. This is because we don't want the interview to look staged and unreal. The background is an essential part, which reinforces the content of the interview. It can also be a vital source of providing the interviewee to with more information about them. Interviews are often not filmed with a light source behind them, for example infront of a window. The light always has to be in front of the interviewee. The questions are never asked when in documentaries but are edited out, however the answers have to be in full sentences in order for the audience to be able to understand what has been asked by the interviewer.

After using those specific details within our documentary, other certain aspects were needed in order to keep the viewer interested in what we are documenting, therefore cut-away shots were needed to keep their attention. Cut-away shots are important in a documentary not only because it keeps the audiences attention but because it allows them to grasps what specific thing the documentary is about.