Codes and Conventions of a documentary interview

Camera Work

• interviewee is framed to the left or right of the frame
• close up or medium close up
• interviewee does not look into the camera but at the interviewer stood on the oppisite side of the camera to where they are sitting
• eyeline is about a third of the way down
• interviewee sits down so they can stay still

Lighting

• never film with the light source behind the interviewee

Mise En Scene

• Reinforces the content of the interview or its relevant to the interviewee and provides information on their occupation

Editing

• simple cut
• questions are edited out and cutaways are used where a question would be to avoid jump cuts
• interviews can be cut to create the narrative

Graphics

• first time is their name - bigger font
• second line anchors the relevance - smaller font