Teaching Documentary

“Publication Day:” Final versions of projects should be exported from FCPX by 4 pm.

Publication Day Rules

This will be a busy, stressful day when we’re all under deadline, so reduce distractions.

Focus on work at hand.

Keep your workstations quiet.

Use headphones/earbuds to listen to soundtrack.

Speak mostly with your partner.

As much as possible, share editing work.

Alternate every 30 minutes or 1 hour.

Respect input of non-editing partner.

Non-editing partner computer could be used for looking up FCPX solutions.

If you still need to shoot, you must be done by 1:30 pm.

8:30-11:30 Work editing or shooting

11:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30 Shooting work must be done

1:30-4 Editing

4 Projects must be exported

Have questions ready, and make them

Topical to the project

Open-ended (not just yes or no questions).

Be friendly and relatable. Follow the Golden Rule.

Give an introduction for yourself and the project.

Ask people to restate question in answer, and/or ask to restate or rephrase if necessary.

Whether you shoot a participant in the center of the screen or to one side, be consistent with the style, and give subjects headroom.

Take your time, and add handles to the beginning and end of the clip.

9:30 to Lunch/11:30 Shooting

11:15 Text to let me know if you 1) want to shoot in the evening and 2) if you’re not returning with equipment before lunch

1:30 to 3 pm Shooting

Expository

News story in documentary form

Explanatory and argumentative

Voiceover narration, often “voice of God”

Poetic

Experimental and creative

Emotional and experiential

Meant to emphasize unexpected elements

Typically nonnarrative or unconventionally narrative

Observational

“Fly on the wall” approach

Little obvious filmmaker intervention

Voiceover usually comes from participants

Participatory

Filmmaker involvement in project: May not be subject but presence is known

Attempt to use camera to disrupt--not just capture--reality

Performative

Performance and/or reenactment within documentary 

Reflexive

Examination of documentary/filmmaking process

Camera Type: Canon t5i Rebel, DSLR

Mode Dial: Toggle for Off/On/Movie and various styles

Turn to movie and to green A+

Lens and Focusing

AF/MF button: Make sure it’s set to AF

Set Stabilizer to On

Exposure

Related to style on Mode Dial

Auto now, but switch Mode Dial to CA and press ISO button to alter if needed

Touchscreen

Fold Touchscreen into camera

Press Q button on screen

Check to see Movie rec. size is 1920 and 30: 1920x1080 aspect ratio, 30 frames per second

Audio

No audio checks with headphones

Auto on A+

Can attach lavalier to isolate sound (e.g. interviews)

Tripod

Battery

Shooting Basics

Observe and plan

Take your time but don’t waste it.

Give yourself “bumpers” at the beginning and end of clips.

Assignment/Critique

Come up with a plan for your beat project based on what you shoot today.