Please complete and turn in your editorial draft on Ethics in Journalism.
All documentaries have similar basic principals and/or qualities:
Sample of previous SOTA creative writing documentaries:
Pick a topic (see below).
Research your chosen topic. It is likely you have to uncover some basic details and information about your subject matter. Just like previous research assignments, record any citations. You will need to give credit in your film for any quotes or materials you use that are not yours. Take notes on facts, statistics, definitions, or other information that will help you tell your story.
After you have researched your topic a bit, you should decide what KIND of documentary you intend to make. You have various options. Pick one of the five types from above.
If you are going to begin interviewing, write a few questions you will ask all of your interviewees. Perhaps you would begin your film by writing a VOICE OVER script. Remember that, just like in fiction, speech writing, or poetry, you want to HOOK the viewer's attention. Give us a reason to care about your topic by introducing the topic in a creative and interesting way.
When interviewing, set the camera up to focus on your subject(s). Try not to shoot the film entirely head on. Instead, it is better that you sit next to the camera and record, so that the interviewee looks at YOU, not the camera head-on. Record your interview. Ask follow up questions.
Before you leave your subject, ask to follow the person around with the camera for a bit. Record the subject doing typical things they would normally do in their day. Also, ask permission of your subject to use the information you recorded on film.
Then it's editing time! Take only the most interesting parts of the interview and string these together (perhaps with other interviews) or pictures or other footage of your subject doing things.
View these human interest videos as models.
All documentaries have similar basic principals and/or qualities:
1. The events depicted in the film are unstaged; the events exist above and beyond the diegesis (the film world) or the act of filming them. The unstaged nature of the events suggest that the events or subjects have an existence independent of the cinema, thus granting them an air of authenticity or "realism".
2. Documentaries are understood to be non-fiction films. The world or diegesis of what appears on screen is considered real, not imaginary (as in fiction films).
3. It is often assumed that the documentary film maker observes, recording events or subject matter objectively. This is, of course, an untrue or uninformed statement.
There are Five different TYPES of documentary:
A. Expository documentary: the film maker's commentary acts as the "voice-of-God", often giving information or perspectives external to the filmed world in order to "see the world afresh, even if the world seems romantic (idealized) and/or didactic. Here's an example: the Last Lions (2011) & March of the Penguins (2005)C. Interactive documentary: The filmmaker's perspective and opinion is more evident. Interview styles allow the film maker to participate actively in presenting of events. It is sort of the opposite of the observational documentary. Sometimes the film maker him/herself is present in the film, asking questions or juxtaposing their opinion with others. Unlike expository documentaries, the film maker is present instead of a disembodied voice of authority (god).
B. Observational documentary: The film maker records events depicted in the film unobtrusively, without intervention from the film-maker, capturing "real life" without commentary, intertitles, or interviews. The documentary type depicts a "slice of life" or direct representation without comment or subjectivity of the film maker. The film maker is completely invisible and/or uninvolved. the French film: Etre et Avoir about elementary schools in France.
Roger & Me (1989) but also Bowling For Columbine, Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me (2004) and Capitalism a Love Story (2009), and Where to Invade Next (2016)One of the most famous performative documentaries is Koyaanisqatsi. Here's a clip.
D. Reflexive documentary: Going one step further from interactive documentary, the film maker of reflexive documentary does not attempt to hide the convention of film making. You know you are "watching a film" about "making a film." While documentaries are usually considered realistic, the camera work in a reflexive documentary are much more similar to formalism (the opposite style to realism). Example "Man with a Movie Camera" (1928)
E. Performative documentary: Going beyond the reflexive documentary, the performative documentary seeks to evoke mood or atmosphere traditionally found in fiction films. It can be downright avant garde and formalistic. Its purpose is more metaphorical than literal, although what's important is that it is a documentary that is performed. Here's an example: Survivors by Erol Morris.
Sample of previous SOTA creative writing documentaries:
- Post Mortem (2011 winner of the High Falls Film Festival Young Filmmaker's Award)
- Kadisha Philips: The Nicki Syndrome (2010) & Teen Point of View: Teens Around the World (2010); Kadisha (Asher's sister) has worked for VH1, The History Channel, & Nickelodeon in New York City.
- Another student film (Interactive Documentary style): One Girl At a Time (Kyle Cox--not a SOTA student...)
Pick a topic (see below).
Research your chosen topic. It is likely you have to uncover some basic details and information about your subject matter. Just like previous research assignments, record any citations. You will need to give credit in your film for any quotes or materials you use that are not yours. Take notes on facts, statistics, definitions, or other information that will help you tell your story.
After you have researched your topic a bit, you should decide what KIND of documentary you intend to make. You have various options. Pick one of the five types from above.
If you are going to begin interviewing, write a few questions you will ask all of your interviewees. Perhaps you would begin your film by writing a VOICE OVER script. Remember that, just like in fiction, speech writing, or poetry, you want to HOOK the viewer's attention. Give us a reason to care about your topic by introducing the topic in a creative and interesting way.
When interviewing, set the camera up to focus on your subject(s). Try not to shoot the film entirely head on. Instead, it is better that you sit next to the camera and record, so that the interviewee looks at YOU, not the camera head-on. Record your interview. Ask follow up questions.
Before you leave your subject, ask to follow the person around with the camera for a bit. Record the subject doing typical things they would normally do in their day. Also, ask permission of your subject to use the information you recorded on film.
Then it's editing time! Take only the most interesting parts of the interview and string these together (perhaps with other interviews) or pictures or other footage of your subject doing things.
View these human interest videos as models.
- Survivors (documentary by Errol Morris)
- 3 Beautiful Human Minutes: food for thought on the power of Human Interest stories (intro)
- Ann's Story: A Foster Care Story (cause focused)
- Daughters Growing Up Without a Father: Letaris Witfield (cause focused)
- Michelle Duty: Human Interest (human-focused)
- Rodeo Human Interest (topic focused)
- Construction Human Interest (event/place focused)
For your next project, you will make a short 3 minute to 5-minute human interest video or a documentary on a specific topic. You will shoot, edit, and upload your film on Youtube to share with the class when you are done.
Some things to remember about human interest stories:
- Your human interest story is a story. It should have a specific subject (see examples above) and involve some understanding of what it means to be fatally and tragically or humorously human.
- Create questions in your journal that you might ask your subject.
- Follow your subject around for some time (usually a day) and take pictures or video of him/her doing something normal.
- You should write a voice over script introducing your subject.
- You may use partial interviews or researched statistics in your video.
- You may use a musical underscore to add tone and ambiance to your video.
- Above all: Be creative!
How to go about doing this project.
1. Decide to work alone or with a single partner.
2. If you work alone: make a list of potential subjects for your human interest video or a documentary. Choose one as your subject (this can be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a teacher, a person of interest, or an overlooked or important topic, etc.)
3. If you work with a partner who will be your subject, decide who will be the subject and who will be the videographer.
4. Videographers should come up with some interview questions to ask the subject. Record your questions and answers in your journal.
5. Decide on where you will shoot video footage of your subject. You may have to travel, so plan accordingly. Brainstorm different possible settings to use as an appropriate backdrop for your video in your journal.
6. Record your interview with your subject. Use some of this material (the best parts) for your video.
7. Use your smartphones or video equipment (you can borrow this from our department) to make your film.
8. Upload your video/audio footage into Windows Movie Maker (or iMovie or Premiere, or other video software if you have access to it).
9. Edit and prepare your video. It should be, again, 3-5 minutes in length.
HOMEWORK: Begin planning/writing/shooting your documentary or human interest video project.
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