Documentary Filmmaking: An Introduction to Project Learning
FILM 104
Spring 2021 not offered
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Designed for first year students, this course is an immersive, time-intensive, hands-on introduction to the documentary film process, in which students will examine the world around them to create compelling stories where real people are the protagonists and the narratives are informed by real life. Through close study and analysis of feature-length and short documentaries, plus active research, writing, producing, directing, shooting, sound recording, editing, and re-editing, students will rigorously explore the power and possibilities of nonfiction storytelling and the ways that documentary filmmaking can be a form of community engagement. This fall, the course will feature an emphasis on films about political campaigns, elections, and the political process, and the class will produce short video documentaries with a focus on the different viewpoints, individuals, and organizations involved in the 2020 election cycle at Wesleyan and beyond. Students should expect to spend 5 to 10 hours of work per week outside of class time collaborating with their classmates. Film production experience is not required, and experience with film-editing software is helpful but not required. Production lessons include discussions on how to build partnerships with documentary subjects, how to navigate the challenges of social distancing in film production, how to conduct interviews in person and via digital technologies, how to shoot observational video footage, how to record sound, and and how to edit digital video using Adobe Premiere. Students will present works in progress in all phases of the creative process and participate in constructive critical discussions. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (HRAD-MN) |
Major Readings:
Readings will be provided by the professor and include work by Michael Rabinger, Sheila Curran Bernard, Bill Nichols, and Errol Morris.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Pre-Production portfolio, production exercises, rough cut, final cut |
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