Documentary Filmmaking: An Introduction to Project Learning
FILM 104
Fall 2020
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01
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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) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Course handouts and readings will be provided by the instructor via course Moodle
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly shooting and editing assignments; In-class reviews and critiques of edited exercises and final video |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course is intended for First Year Students. Interviews will be held Thursday August 27 and Friday August 28 via Zoom. Appointments are first come, first served. Please reserve a 15- minute appointment at calendly.com/sqshepard/film104interviews.
Zoom link information will be emailed to confirmed interviewees.
Important: You must submit a Drop/Add request before the interview.
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| Instructor(s): Shepard,Sadia Quraeshi Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: CFS128; CFS112; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 6 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 6 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 5 |
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