Making Documentaries

Making Documentaries
Just an introduction, nothing scary
Wed, 2 June 2010

What Is A Documentary?
A story
A package of facts and information
Non-fiction (?)
Truth (?)

Styles
Narrative
Cinema-verite (Fly on the wall)
Talking heads (Interviews)
Examples
How To Report The News
The Impossible Project
You See Me Laughin’
September
Kogi BBQ

Camera
Framing
Intent
Steady VS Handheld
Foreground / Background
Establishing Shots & Cutaways (CAW)
Long Shot
Mid Shot
Close Up
Rule of thirds
Head room

Camera pt.2 (dreary.. Blerg. Unless you’re a geek)
Technical Specifications
Formats (Tape / Memory (.avi, .mov, .mp4, etc..)
Aspect Ratio (4:3 or 16:9)
Outputs (USB / Firewire / Docking Station)
Headphones (Y/N)
Mic Attachments (Y/N)
Lights
Batteries

Audio
Interview tips:
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How
Make your subject feel comfortable, they might open up more
Ask open ended questions (Not something they can answer with Yes or No)
Pay attention to your subject, if something interesting is said, get it on tape!
Golden Rule: People are afraid of the camera

Audio Technicalities
Microphones (Always recommended)
Wind / Background noise
Synching + logging with visuals (Advanced)

Editing / Post Production
Software (WMM, iMovie, FCE/FCP, Premeire)
Subtitles + Text
Voiceovers
Music
Transitions
Export
For Internet, TV, Cinema.. Etc
Codecs (H264)

Planning
“There is a muse that visits creative people, and you plan and prepare so that you are ready if she chooses to visit.”
- me
Get your team on the same page (Iron sharpens iron) ie. Scripts, synopsis, treatments
Prepare your equipment, and have a checklist, always check, don’t lose anything
No $$$, no film. Budget. Budget. Budget.
Have a shotlist (A list of shots you need to get)

Video Bibliography
Kogi Food BBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9nIDbonkZM&feature=related
How To Report The News
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI
You See Me Laughin’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bjx5BjTICQ
September
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bEt_mS07o
The Impossible Project
http://monocle.com/sections/business/Web-Articles/The-Impossible-Project/

fin.
Presentation: www.slideshare.com/litford
Contact: litford@gmail.com
Twitter: @litford

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Making Documentaries

by brian koh on Jun 02, 2010

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