WEEK 1
This week we are going to start a new ‘Short Documentary’ project. We will be looking at what is documentary, why making documentaries is important and what are the key documentary conventions.
This power point will guide you through the key elements of documentary and tasks you are expected to complete:
The list of resources / documentaries you are expected to select from and watch in your own time
Task One
Write down your comments and analysis of the documentary conventions in the following:
- “Project Nim” Trailer
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhSrPswvLtc
- “Wasteland” Trailer
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlwh8vT2NU
- Choose two from the selection of trailers we discussed yesterday.
In your analysis, include the following:
- As many typical documentary conventions that you can observe.
- What does the director want to tell you? or call to action
- Do you think it is truthful and do you trust the film?
- Do you see any moral or ethical issues (Exploitation, insensitivity etc)?
Task Two
Watch at least 30 mins of 2 Documentaries. Please select
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Touching the Void
Biggie & Pac. The Suge Knight Killings
(Some bad language – Over 17 and R Rated for language )
- Compare the styles
- Take notes about structure
- Filming techniques
- How did they tell the story?
- Sound?
- Narration?
- Music?
- Timeline
- Mood
Task Three
Using the two documentary ideas I have created below, discuss with your group how you would set about making the idea into a documentary film. Think about the following:
Research (What could you research?)
Archives/home footage (What could you look for?)
News Footage/Newspapers?
Photos (What type or source?)
Interviews (Who?)
Style (Type?)
Reenactments (Of what and why?)
Narrator?
Music?
Animations/Graphics/Diagrams
Lighting?
Locations?
Juxtaposition?
Title of Film?
Give a budget!
IDEA FOR GROUP ONE
There is a newspaper report about a bridge in India, which has a grim reputation for being the most popular “Suicide Bridge” in the world. Last year an elderly retired local man started walking up and down the bridge and talking to anyone he thought may be in danger. He has since talked to hundreds of people and saved many many lives. He has no training and is unpaid.
IDEA FOR GROUP TWO
A Canterbury local news website reports that some old bones had been discovered deep in the woods near Dover. The police are starting an enquiry into archived missing persons but a local historian is exploring a theory it was a pilot from World War 2, as some fragments that may be parachute pieces had been found nearby.
SIX MODES OF DOCUMENTARY
This week we will be looking into six modes or styles of documentary making. As you will notice there are some cross overs between different modes, but there are also some elements of filmmaking specific to each mode / style. In Monday sessions we will be going over each mode of documentary, watching some examples specific to each one and discussing the conventions.
Tuesday sessions:
You will use time in the morning session to watch examples of documentary clips already selected for you. You will analyses each clip by defining its documentary techniques and conventions.
You will talk about use of camera, sound, editing etc. Please refer to documentary conventions we have covered in last week sessions.
You will also place each documentary clip in a context of its documentary mode and give your reasons for your decisions. Introduce each mode with its characteristic and then justify your points giving examples from documentary clips you have watched.
An overview of six modes of documentary:
These are the films to watch this morning:
Dust Bowl Ken Burns 2012
Etre et Avoir by Nicolas Philibert
(Chapter 4)
Baraka by Ron Fricke (From 13:00 to 23:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlTqap_b0yk (Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SIfjsCwktE (Part 2)
Stories We Tell (2012)
Sarah Polley
Catfish
Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Louis Theroux meets the Boer Leader
WEEK 2:
MONDAY SESSIONS :
FILM AND EDIT ‘VOX POP’ INTERVIEWS
Interviews are the hart of documentary filmmaking. Your first technical challenge is going to be filming and editing a ‘Vox Pop’ interviews.
TUESDAY:
PIECE TO CAMERA/ PRESENTER LED – VIDEO TASK
TOPIC: MY FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY
During Monday sessions you will be introduced to your second video task ‘ Piece on camera/ presenter led’ exercise. You will be asked to chose your favorite documentary to talk about and create 1-2 minutes video. You will film yourself following guidance from Monday sessions. If you missed lessons the above power point will take you through the task and give you video examples / tutorials of what is expected of you. If you have not already please watch Louis Theroux: Docs that made me. This is a longer version of video that we would like you to create. To watch it again click here
What we are expecting from you is:
- Choose your documentary
- Download it
- Watch it and write down a short script explaining why you chose it, the things you like, what it was about, how it told the story, the conventions, lighting, style, call to action, narration etc.
- Film yourself tutorial (style as you wish) explaining these elements and intercut it with excerpts of the documentary to illustrate your points and observations
- Make it as professional as you can with steady shots, good quality sound, lighting, smooth edits, presenting skills and using technical terms within your analysis.
WEEK 3
MONDAY:
During Monday sessions you will be introduced to Adobe Premier program and will use the time in session to edit both Vox Pop exercise as well as Piece to Camera exercise. To utilize your time please make sure that you have your downloaded clips (from documentary you have watched and are talking about) with you and in the right file format (compatible with Adobe premier).
TUESDAY:
Developing your ideas for short documentary project.
Once you have finished the editing you will start developing ideas for your own short documentary project. The power point will guide you through the process.
WEEK 3:
INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
MONDAY:
In Monday sessions you will be introduced to interview techniques. You will watch various examples of interview styles nd techniques and discuss what do you need to prepare in advance to conduct a successful interview. You will also need to find two interviews of your choice, watch them more than once and write a detail analysis of your findings. The power point will assist you in what you need to pay attention to when you watch and analyze examples of interviews, and also what questions you need to answer in your analysis.
TUEASDAY:
In Tuesday’s sessions you will complete the edit of your interview and engaged in planning of your documentary. If you have not started developing ideas for your documentary already please check
Week 2 Tuesday power point for the start prompts.
Once you have three ideas for your documentary and you have selected your final idea you will start the research to inform your project. Please use the Half term to carry on with this task.
WEEK 4:
Monday sessions:
You will use Monday sessions to finish off the research for your documentary and start the pre production planning. Please use the power point to guide you through pre production planning process:
WEEK 5:
Production/ postproduction week:
During this week you will finish filming and start editing your documentary project.
Make sure that you follow your pre production planning, but at the same time be open to opportunities to enhance your project. We are looking for well structured, filmed and edited short documentary with a clear idea behind it. Think of what you want to communicate to your audience and what would be the best possible way to do it.
Make sure that you check equipment before filming and the most importantly do the sound check before start filming.
Good luck.
Once your project has been completed and uploaded on your blog you will need to analyze the effectiveness of the solutions you have provided throughout the production process.
Please submit for evidence:
- Write a reflective evaluation of your project based on peer and tutor feedback.
- Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of your project
- Comment on how the final short documentary matches your original idea
- What methods and techniques have you used to create your final work. Comment on use of documentary conventions.
- How does your final short documentary match the professional standard work / have you followed the professional conventions (show comparison between yours and professionally created short documentary)?
- What technical skills have you developed in the process of this project.
- Target audience:
- Who is your intended target audience (gather at least five members of your target audience feedback)? What is the feedback on your final documentary from your target audience?
- Gather feedback from peers and your tutors on effectiveness of your work and its suitability for its target audience. Reflect on your target audience findings.
- If you could what would you like to improve further on this assignment.
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