Codes and conventions of an interview
- 1. Codes and Conventions of an Interview
- 2. • Positoning – interviewee is always positioned either to the right or the left of the camera • Its important that the interviewer sits on the opposite side of the interviewee and is sitting as close to the camera as possible, on the same level as the interviewee – this avoids the interviewee looking directly or above the camera – no direct address - creates a more professional interview – the side will alternate throughout the narrative - adds to the creativity • Setting – relates to the themes of the documentary • Use of a close up, medium close up or mid shot – reveals the look of the interviewee such as their costume and facial expression
- 3. • Use of titles to inform the audience of who the interviewee is • Props can be used within interviews to relate or anchor the themes and topics within the documentary and contribute towards the setting • Within interviews we can here the sound of the interviewee speaking however, the questions posed by the interviewer are edited out • A two shot can sometimes be used within an interview IF interviewer or multiple interviewees are within the frame
- 4. • Sometimes interviews themselves can be a piece of archive footage and are being used for facts and/or to anchor the themes and meanings within a documentary • The background of the documentary will signify the topic or themes within the documentary and reinforces the content of the interview Filmed in a doctor’s/hospital
- 5. • The answers of the interviewee that feature within the documentary are relevant to the themes and topics of the documentary- they will make sense to the audience • Interviews will never be filmed with a light source behind the camera - e.g a window • Use of cutaways from interviews – this is for two reasons – 1. break up interview 2. Illustrate what is being said – this allows for a smooth edit to be created - avoiding jump cuts – fill editing spaces – avoids problems caused by bloopers • Graphics – anchor who a person is or their relevance to the documentary – themes and topics