This course is an in-depth investigation of the art and craft of on-screen nonfiction storytelling. Successful completion of this course will result in students having an enhanced historical, theoretical, ethical, and aesthetic understanding of documentaries.
Specifically, students will be able to:
- Identify the various genres and the accompanying techniques used in various documentary productions.
- Discuss ethical concerns and dilemmas surrounding the documentary form.
- Analyze documentaries to identify and understand the story structure used by the creators.
- Work as part of a team to complete an 8-12 minute documentary.
- Create ancillary materials to promote their work for film festivals.
Fall 2024 Schedule
| Week | Tues | Topic, Readings, and Films | Thurs | Topic, Lab Activities, and Films |
| 1 | 08/20 | Introduction “My Mom’s Motorcycle” | 08/22 | Chapter 01 Defining Documentary “Kalua Pig” & “SLOMO” |
| 2 | 08/27 | Chapter 02 Story Basics “Ken Burns on Story” | 08/29 | Chapter 03 Identifying the Story Scenes from “Thomas Jefferson” |
| 3 | 09/03 | Chapter 04 Story Structure “Betty Tells Her Story” “Hand Cut” “Jack Secord’s Lake Jam” | 09/05 | Chapter 05 Creative Approach Cinema Verite “My Evening with Haskell” |
| 4 | 09/10 | Chapter 06 Watching Like a Filmmaker Re-creation, Errol Morris | 09/12 | Chapter 07 Research & Casting Werner Herzog |
| 5 | 09/17 | Chapter 08 Project Development “Sriracha” | 09/19 | Chapter 09 The Film on Paper |
| 6 | 09/24 | Chapter 10 Shooting “This may be the Last Time” | 09/26 | Chapter 11 – Editing Due: Proposal + Casting List with Contact Information |
| 7 | 10/01 | Chapter 12 Narration & Voice Over Group Work | 10/03 | Chapter 13 Storytelling: A Checklist Group Work |
| 8 | 10/08 | Group work | 10/10 | Group work |
| 9 | 10/15 | Group work | 10/17 | Group work |
| 10 | 10/22 | Group work | 10/24 | Group work |
| 11 | 10/29 | Group work | 10/31 | Group work |
| 12 | 11/05 | Group work | 11/07 | Group work |
| 13 | 11/12 | Group work | 11/14 | Group work |
| 14 | 11/19 | Group work | 11/21 | Due: Link to Documentary Film Festival Package Peer Evaluations Talent Releases |
| 15 | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Break | 11/28 | Thanksgiving Break |
| 16 | 12/03 | Work on Filmmaker Reaction & Reflection | 12/05 | Work on Filmmaker Reaction & Reflection |
Not attending will automatically result in a 10 point reduction on your paper.