Documentary Idea: Codes and Conventions

My documentary idea is a day in the life documentary about a personal friend who use to experiment with legal highs, my documentary will feature many codes and conventions which are commonly found in documentary films and programs.

Voice over- This method will be used as way to shape the story of the documentary together. In my documentary my friend will provide the voice over, this is because we can understand his perspective while the observational footage is playing.

Observational Footage- A code and convention which is found in factual programming such as news reports and documentary's, this is used in factual media because it is not fabricated or rehearsed, and gives the viewer a first perspective of a person or event. In my documentary I will use a lot of observational footage because my documentary is a human interest story, as well as a factual study into legal highs.

Interviews- Interviews are a method of research, but can also be used to inform an audience, my documentary will have interviews with Kurt Barratt the documentary main subject, but will also have interviews with the owners of the "chemical research" stores, and some vox pop interviews with the general public. Most of my interviews will follow a semi-structured format.

Cutaways - Cutaways are shots which are used in between interviews and the presenters narrative, these cutaways can be used to set a scene or to visually express the theme of the subject. I will use cutaways in my documentary to establish the town of Ashton-under-lyne and to give my audience the visual idea of my documentary.

Match Cut - A match cut is a series of shots which create a sequence, filming from different angles, but are choreographed in the same time frame. I will use this when filming in or outside the legal highs shop.

Jump Cut - Jump cut's are used in long shots, a jump cut means a long distance shot with a moving object or person which has been cut, and has made a 'jump' in time, this was first used by post war french filmmakers.
I will be using the sequence during a long distance shot.

Tracking shot - Tracking shots are used to follow a person from any angle without cutting, These shots are proffesnally done on a track, hence the name. Many popular filmmakers such as 'Martin Scoresse', 'Stanley Kubrick' and 'Alejandro González Iñárritu' use this technique. I am going to use this as my opening sequence to the film, which will also include voice over.