SJ6060 - Documentary Filmmaking (2019/20)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2019/20 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Documentary Filmmaking | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Computing and Digital Media | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Assessment components |
|
||||||||||||||||
| Running in 2019/20(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
|
Module summary
Students will develop professional practices working in small groups to produce a short documentary. They will be required to research, pitch and develop a documentary proposal following industry guidelines and legal frameworks. The module will give an overview of the commissioning process and will include input from industry professionals. There will be an emphasis on how to film and work with documentary subjects (or characters) in an ethical way.
Students will learn about a range of documentary modes, genres and techniques via screenings, discussion and practice. Key figures and films will be explored as well as emerging styles and formats.
Prior learning requirements
N/A
Syllabus
The module will allow students to develop advanced media practice skills by working towards the production of a 7- 10-minute documentary. LO6
The module will address planning, research, pitching, filming, editing and presentation of a short documentary. LO4
Students will gain experience in specific production roles within their teams through exercises and on their final films. LO5-6
The module will address aesthetic principles such as how to frame and present an interview. LO1,4,5
Key to the module is the selection of interesting and relevant themes to explore though filmmaking. LO1-3
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Learning hours comprise face-to-face and virtual contact hours plus self-managed and directed learning and reflecting through group discussion on projects in workshops. Weblearn is used for blended learning. Small groups will meet to develop and film their documentary outside of class time.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:
LO1: Give critical analysis and interpretation of a range of documentaries from different historical
periods
LO2: Challenge notions of objectivity in the representation of human experience
LO3: Plan and carry out investigative research
LO4: Demonstrate understanding of industrial practices such as pitching, proposals and working within a legal framework
LO5: Work in a team, demonstrating management and planning skills transferable to careers in the audio-visual and creative industries
LO6: Design and execute a short documentary project from first idea to finished film
Assessment strategy
There will be three contributory assessments.
The first assessment will be formative, involving the research planning and pitching of a group documentary concept. The proposal will assess the students’ theoretical understanding of documentary genres and modes and industrial practices such as writing treatments and seeking consents and permissions.
(LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6)
The second assessment will be summative and theory-practice in design. It will demonstrate students’ ability to apply theory in the structure and representation of a short film on their chosen subject and show their technical abilities as filmmakers.
(LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6)
The third assessment will also be summative: a written evaluation of their production will enable them to give a critical assessment of their success in realising the aims set out in class for their film project reflecting on their role within the group production.
(LO1, LO2, LO4)
Bibliography
Textbooks:
Core Text:
• Bruzzi, Stella, New Documentary: A Critical Introduction (London: Routledge, 2000)
• Cousins, Mark and Kevin MacDonald, Imagining Reality (London: Faber, 2006)
• Kochberg, Searle, Introduction to Documentary Production: A guide for media
• students, (London: Wallflower, 2002)
• Nichols, Bill, Introduction to Documentary (Bloomington IA: Indiana University Press, 2001)
• Rabinger, M Directing the Documentary (1992) Focal Press
• Ward, Paul – Documentary: The Margins of Reality Wallflower Press - UK - 2005
Other Texts:
• Armstrong, Richard, Understanding Realism, London: British Film Institute (2005)
Ashton, Judith, Rose, Mandy, Gaudenzi, Sandra i-Docs: The Evolving Practices of Interactive Documentary (2017) Wallflower Press
• Artis, Anthony (2014) The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production, Focal Press
• Chanan, Michael The Politics of Documentary, (London: bfi 2007)
• Corner, John, The Art of Record: A Critical Introduction to Documentary, (Manchester University Press (1996)
• Jago, M (2017) Adobe Premiere Pro CC Classroom in a Book (2017 release), Adobe
• Ten Brink, Joram, Building Bridges: The Cinema of Jean Rouch (London: Wallflower Press, 2007)
Winston, Brian, Claiming the Real: The Documentary Film Revisited (London: BFI,
Websites:
• https://sheffdocfest.com
• https://video.vice.com/en_uk
• https://animateddocs.wordpress.com/