Task 1

Codes and conventions of filming and editing interviews

Today we watched two short clips of documentaries from youtube, The Simpsons and The teeth of Jaws. Here are the two links

Simpsons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orLGl7c5oHc

In the teeth of jaws: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Zj8R0kumw

• Who the interviewer positioned.

• Interviewee filmed in medium shot, medium close up, close up.

• Framed to left or right of screen- if there is more than one interview positioning alternates so as to create variety.

• Mise-en-scene background reinforces the interview or is relevant to the interview providing more info.

• Questions are edited out.

• Cut-aways are edited interviews for two reasons
• -To break up interviews and illustrate what the interviewee is talking about.
• -Avoids jump cuts when questions are edited out.

• Graphics are used too anchor who the person on screen is and their relevance to the topic of the documentary.

• Interview people such as production designer, producer, actor, screen writer, and author.

• Cut Away is showing what someone is talking about.

• Mises en scene for documentary or the teeth of jaws- film posters, beach and sharks mouth.

• Animated opening credits.

• Most midshots looking at interviewer not the camera.