Documentary Making

Documentary Making

Documentary Training Course

This is a no frills attached introduction to the documentary. You have the ideas and now want to put them onto a screen. You're ready to make a start.

Here is where you do just that, beginning with the rudiments of developing an idea and pitching it, before moving on to research and script it. You'll have a crash course in camera techniques so that you're ready after only four weeks to get out there and shoot a documentary.

Course outline

Week One

What are the forms? Observational, Political, Current Affairs, Historical, Authored or Docu Drama. Looking for stories.
The elements of documentary film-making: Research, Writing Proposals, Pitching, Budgeting, Shooting, Post Production and distribution channels. Know your market: Commissioning and/or Funding.
Introduction to cameras.

Week Two

The paper stage, and research. The Pitch. Evolution of ideas.
Techniques of storyboarding and story construction. Aspects of Directing. Exploring ideas of rhythm, pace, authority. Planning a shoot: Safety and legal issues. More on cameras. Elements of screen craft. Elements of recording sound.

Week Three

Preparing the shoot in detail. Permissions. Rights. Location issues. Story styles and crafting an ending.
More camera: Shutter Speeds, Gain, White Balance. Lens choices etc. Choosing a visual style. Camera positions and angles.
Why storyboard a documentary shoot? Why recce? Paperwork: logs and release forms.

Week Four

Finalising projects and shooting plans. Discussion and analysis: story structure and marinating interest. Interview techniques: putting interviewees at ease. Planning an interview.br>

Week Five

FILMING DAY, 10.30am - 7pm
7pm - 9pm Digitise footage and Digitise any photographs/ stock footage etc. br>

Weeks Six, Seven,and Eight

Postproduction with professional software. Here you will take your raw footage and capture it onto the computer, then digitally edit, construct and mix a soundtrack, colour correct and finally export onto DVD.

many thanks