Codes and conventions of a documentary

Interviewees filmed in medium shot, medium close up or close up.
Framed to left or right of screen
Framing follow the rule of thirds- eye line is roughly one third of the way down from the frame.
Interviewee looks at interviewer not directly into the camera.
Positioning of the interviewer is very important. if the interviewee is on the right side of the frame the interviewer should be positioned on the left side behind the camera.
Mise en scene- background reinforces the content of the interview or is relevant to the interviewee, providing more information about them in terms of occupation or personal environment.
Never interviewed with a light behind them, i.e. in front of a window or with the sun behind them.
Questions are answered in full and the interviewers questions are cut out in editing.
Cutaways are edited in for two reasons. to break up the interview and to illustrate what the interview is about and to avoid jump cuts when the questions are asked.
Graphics are used to anchor who the person on screen is and their relevance to the topic of the documentary.