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Documentary Project Studio


This is the resource page for my Documentary Project Studio class which is currently in session. See also my Documentary Video Boot Camp course page. Contact me for more information.

MPFV238-1 Documentary Project Studio (3 credits)
Meets Tuesday evenings, 6:00pm to 10:00pm, July 13 to August 31, 2010.
Offered through MassArt Professional and Continuing Education

This course will guide you through the phases of research, planning, production, post-production of a short documentary film as you reinforce your skills working on a complete project start to finish. Successful completion of Documentary Video Boot Camp (or equivalent experience) is a prerequisite. For more information about the class, contact me. To register for the class, visit MassArt Professional and Continuing Education on the web or call (617) 879-7200.

Handouts

Resources

  • Equipment available for check-out
  • Fair Use & Copyright Articles (Center for Social Media, includes links to “Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use” and “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video” as well as a variety of excellent articles dealing with copyright issues)
  • Documentary Filmmaking Resources (an evolving listing of resources for documentary filmmakers compiled by yours truly, if you come across additional resources you find helpful that are not on the list, please let me know so I can add them)

Reading Assignments (links to Amazon.com book pages)

Each week, readings will be assigned from Directing the Documentary, 5th ed. by Michael Rabiger (Focal Press, 2009). Since this is a studio class and the work you produce is what it’s all about, it’s certainly possible to complete this class without doing the readings, however, the readings will enhance your participation in class discussion and critique and will provide perspetive that will enhance your production experience.

  • Week 1: Chapters 1 (Director’s Role), 2 (Defining Your Artistic Identity), 3 (Developing Your Story Ideas), 4 (Proposing and Pitching a Short Documentary)
  • Week 2: Chapters 5 (Documentary Language), 6 (Elements of Grammar), 7 (Research), 8 (Crew), and 12 (Directing)
  • Week 3: Chapters 9 (Camera), 10 (Lighting), and 11 (Sound)
  • Week 4: Chapters 12 (Directing), 13 (Editing: From Start to Viewing the First Assembly), 14 (Editing: The Process of Refinement), 31 (Transcript to Film Script)
  • Week 5: Chapters 15 (From Fine Cut to Sound Mix), 17 (Point of View and the Storyteller), and 18 (Dramatic Development, Time, and Story Structure), 19 (Form, Control, and Style)
  • Week 6: Chapters 32 (Creating Narration), 33 (Using Music and Working with a Composer), 34 (Editing: Refinement and Structural Problems)
  • Week 7 and 8: Use this time to catch up on your readings or review topics of personal interest)

Optional Reading (links to Amazon.com book pages)

  • Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide by Anthony Artis (Focal Press, 2008)
    a solid nuts and bolts digital video production handbook, recommended if you need to brush up on your production craft including camera, lighting, sound, or production management
  • Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Third Edition, by Jay Rose (Focal Press, 2008)
    An excellent guidebook covering both production and post-production sound issues including detailed tips on editing dialog, ambient, and music tracks in the mix.
  • Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 6 by Diana Weynand (Peachpit Press, 2007)
    if you want to brush up on your Final Cut Pro editing skills, this step-by-step tutorial will serve you well (if you’re using Final Cut Express, see the next book)
  • Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4 by Diana Weynand (Peachpit Press, 2007)
    if you want to brush up on your Final Cut Express editing skills, this step-by-step tutorial will serve you well (if you’re using Final Cut Pro, see the previous book)
  • Thank You for Submitting Your Proposal: A Foundation Director Reveals What Happens Next by Martin Teitel (Emerson & Church, 2006)
    a delightful book written by an executive director who has seen his share of proposals and provides you with a no-nonsense guide for writing a winning proposal
  • Aristotle’s Poetics for Screenwriters by Michael Tierno, a delightful introduction to classic dramatic structure, while oriented towards narrative screenwriters, as a documentary filmmakers you will still find much of value in understanding the basic principles of Artistotelian poetics.
  • The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher E. Vogler (3rd Edition), a classic book on dramatic structure, also oriented towards narrative screenwriters, however, you will also find much of value in this book.

Some films (links to sources for rental, purchase, or online clips in parenthesis):

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