Directing the Documentary
FILM 435
Spring 2025
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01
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Students embark on an intensive journey into the world of short-form documentary filmmaking through a hands-on course designed to help foster the emergence of their cinematic voices. The methods that many documentary filmmakers use to develop and craft their work serve as a model for the coursework. In a supportive environment, students engage in progressive learning to allow each to tackle many of the same key creative, practical, financial, and ethical decisions working researchers, directors, producers, writers, camera operators, sound recordists, and editors make during research and development, pre-production, production, and post. Students screen and analyze documentary shorts throughout the semester. During the first half of the semester, students complete exercises designed to help them to improve their technical skills while completing research and development and a written proposal for a five-to-seven-minute documentary. In the second half of the course, students direct, shoot, and edit their work. Ongoing feedback during the entire semester is provided. The course includes self-directed online training assignments and in-class workshops. Students enrolled in this course should anticipate heavy and unevenly distributed time demands. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: FILM430 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FILM-MN)(FILM) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Rabiger & Hermann, Directing the Documentary
Bricca, Documentary Editing
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly readings and regular production/post film analysis exercises; and final project assignments - including proposal (mid-term), production and editing milestones, and final five-to-seven minute final documentary short.
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
It is highly recommended, but not required that students take FILM384 - Documentary Storytelling prior to enrolling in this class. Students will need a large hard drive for high-definition video projects and should contact the instructor before securing this hardware. If students intend to use their own computers for coursework, they should have at least 16GB of RAM on their laptop and should check with Adobe requirements for running Premiere Pro on their computer.
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| Instructor(s): MacLowry,Randall M. Times: ..T.R.. 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: CFS128; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 9 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 4 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 1 | JR non-major: 1 | SO: 2 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 2 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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