Documentary

= Mt Doug Media - Documentary Unit =



Part 1
Complete the following questions on a new page on your wiki titled "Documentary".

Navigate to the National Film Board website called Behind the Camera.

With your documantary partner answer the following questions based on the information in the website:

1. What are the four goals of a documentary? 1. To document a subject to preserve knowledge 2. Reveal something about the subject or subjects 3. Allow the viewer to reveal what its like to be the subject or subjects. 4. Advocate on behalf of subject 2. According to the website what is some of the appeal for the viewer of a documentary? To see the creative mind at work through the art of a documentary. 3. Briefly summarize the 6 modes of the documentary. Expository: Is like an essay that address the audience directly and uses a narrator to talk about the subject. Generally documents events that have already happened. Some expository documentaries use old photographs or old clips in them. Observational Documentary: Does not have a narrator. More self explanatory. Benefited from sound equipment and portable cameras. Reflexive Documentary: exposes the film maker and his thoughts an feeling. First person documentaries, the film maker films his own problems and situation. Interviewer speaks to the camera and interviews other people as well.
 * What is a Documentary?**

1. How do documentaries "...reflect the attitudes, ideas, interests, even the prejudices of the filmmakers." Well the filmaker would probably film something he is interested in and has ideas about. 2. Give five examples of types of shots that refer to the size of the subject within a frame. 1. A wide shot shows alot of space. 2. A master shot contains a complete version of an action. 3. Establishing shot shows the lay of the land of the specific shot. 4. Long shot which is usually taken from a distance. 5.close up shots show just the head and shoulders of the subject. 3. What is the difference between a cutaway and a cut-in? A cut in is a close up detail that is inserted in a longer shot. A cut way takes the viewer away from the subject or action. 4. Decribe the relationship between an over-the-shoulder shot and a complementary shot. A camera shot that looks over the shoulder of a subject is an over the shoulder an opposite is a compelmentary. 5. What does the audio term "MOS" mean and where did it originate? it means silent it originates from German Directors
 * The ABC's of Documentary Cinema**


 * Preparing to FIlm**

//"It is extremely important for us to be clear about what we're trying to say, why we're trying to say it, and then work out a way to say it. Half of what a documentary is can be more about your attitude to the subject than the subject itself."// (Michel Grigsby and Nicholas McClintock, "The State We're In." Dox. 6, 6-10)

1. How will your attitude about a subject contribute to the content of the film? If the attitude towards the subject is good then the film will go over well. 2. Why might it be important for a filmmaker to be clear about what he/she is saying and why he/she is saying it? If it is not clear the viewers will not understand the film or where the film maker was coming from. 3. Why is it effective to show people in action and interacting with each other? It is effective because it would be boring without that. 4. Why is it important for a good documentary to have a clear perspective?A clear perspectiveis a good way of showing which direction the film maker is trying to go with the film and will ultimatly make the film better 5. What kinds of things can a documentary filmmaker do to research a topic? Read, watch films about the subject and ask an experts opinion 6. How can your audience enfluence your approach to your documentary? The audience can help by being supportive. 7. Why must a filmmaker clearly organize his/her approach before filming? If the approach is done wrong the filmmaker's film could end up not the way they wanted it.

//"By creating a plan, the filmmaker organizes his/her general vision, using ideas suggested by research, to formulate a more precise structure for the filming - even a list of sequences to be shot.//"

8. When might a documentary filmmaker use storyboards? before the filming 9. What is a shooting plan? What must be considered in creating a shooting plan? A plan that organizes the shooters ideas before he shoots the film. They must respond to actual events as they happen during the filming.

1. Describe the following jobs with regards to documentary film making: Director, Assistant Director, Production Manager, Camera Operator, Sound Recordist, Gaffer, Best Boy, Grip, Picture Editor, Foley Artist.The director is often called the "filmmaker." Assistant director maintains order. Production manager draws up budgets and the shooting scheduals. The camera operator sets up the shots under the directors supervision. Sound recordist does the taping. The gaffer places the lights for the shot. The best boy assists the gaffer. and the grip moves equipment on the shoot. The picture editor removes some footage and carefully selects the best shots. Sound editor edits the sound track.
 * Essentials**

1. What is a shooting schedule? Schedual of shooting. 2. What is the purpose of a pre-interview? Make the nerved person moer at ease3. How can location contribute to the impact of an interview? the location will also make the person more at ease 4. What can an interviewer do to avoid having their questions appear in the documentary? Make sure the answers are complete. 5. What is considered common practice in frameing the interviewee? Changing the camera angel and shots 6. What other shot should a filmaker gather during an interview? Move between he subjects
 * Shooting The Documentary**

1. What is the purpose of the Shot Log? To summarize the screen with time and description 2. What is the benefit of making transcriptions of all the interviews? So you can refer to what has already been said 3. What is a "problem-solution" structure? Fixes and orts out problems for good solutions 4. What is the purpose of the Rough Cut? It structes the film 5. Typically, what types of shots are cut from the final product? hose that didnt contribue to the entire effec of the film 6. What are some elements of good and bad narration? Good narration allows the viewer to make decisions for themselves.
 * Putting It All Together**

I'm not sure this represents your best effort! 20/30



Complete the above questions then email the document with the subject line: **y****our name/partner name docquestions** to bjanzen@sd61.bc.ca

Planning Your Documentary
The goal is to create a completely independant documentary free of copyright violations with the intent to distribute to film festivals. With that in mind, choose a topic with appeal to a target audience other than just you and your friends.

Check out this website that deals with [|copyright in Canada].

1. Choose a topic. (All topics must fall within the guidelines of the Video Production Rules and Regulations )

Here are some sites with suggestions for topics: [|Visual Rhetoric and Documentary Form] [|NFB Documentary]


 * Remember you need to be invested in your topic. It must be something you care about, are interested in, and have an opinion about.**

Narrow your topic down to a single statement. What is it you are trying to say? Why are you saying it?

2. Choose the mode. Expository/Observational/Poetic/etc. How are you going to say it? From what perspective are you telling your story? Are you an opponent, proponant or neutral? Are you a participant or outside observer?

3. **See me for approval and guidance.**

4. Research your topic. On line research Pre-interviews see this link for tips on [|interviewing techniques]. Scout locations

5. Write your [|Shooting Plan], Do any storyboarding and scripting of re-creations and narration and write your interview questions.

6. Write your [|Shooting Schedule] keeping in mind the timeline for this project.



Part 3

 * Shooting/Editing**

1. Shoot according to the above planning process

2. Transcribe interviews (Optional)

3. Paper Edit A log is made of the rushes, indicating the reel of film or tape, time in and out of each scene, and a description of the shot. (WS, MS, OS etc) Watch the rushes, log the shots and sequence the interview material.

4. The Rough Cut The editor assembles the footage in the most effective way to structure the message so that it is understandable and dramatic. The rough cut will also include sound. The sound editor will lay in a soundtrack, with ambient background sound, spot sounds or effects, and synchcronized dialogue. The sound mix, like the video, will be rough at this stage. There is generally no narration at this stage, either. The test is to see how well the images and sounds speak for themselves.

5. Get feedback on the rough cut from me and other students.

6. Final Edit Refine your film eliminating any unnessisary sequences and tightening it up. **(Remember it should only be between 5 and 10 minutes long)** Clean up audio and narration and add credits.

7. Export to Full Quality DV

8. Upload all preproduction materials to your wiki for evaluation.