Course Outline for Film 16
Documentary Filmmaking

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 09/05/2019
Catalog Description:

FILM 16 - Documentary Filmmaking

3.00 Units

Introduction to documentary filmmaking and current techniques of digital documentary including, sound, video and mixed media documentary. Story basics, research, structure, objective/subjective approach, audio recording, shooting setups, interviewing, and rough-cut editing.
Strongly Recommended: FILM 15.
0612.20 - Film Production*
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 2.00 36.00 72.00 108.00
Laboratory 1.00 72.00 0.00 72.00
Total 3.00 108.00 72.00 180.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. analyze the impact of documentary films on society;
  2. define the compelling story aspects of various documentary film topics;
  3. articulate the effects of subjectivity on documentary films;
  4. write and evaluate a treatment for a student-produced documentary film;
  5. shoot and edit a short documentary film which tells a compelling story;
  6. create a biographical sound story;
  7. create a biographical documentary using photos, archival footage, sound, music and motion graphics;
  8. apply ethical guidelines in situations involving copyright law, image manipulation, and artistic integrity;
  9. critique one’s own work and classmates' work with constructive comments that critically analyze the elements and principles of design using appropriate terminology.
Course Content:
  1. LECTURE
    1. Documentary Film
      1. Styles and Genres
      2. Finding a story
      3. Research
    2. Cinematic storytelling
      1. Techniques 
      2. Relevant film terminology
    3. Film techniques
      1. Artistic choices
      2. Shot composition
      3. Camera angle/movement
      4. Focal length
      5. Lighting 
      6. Direction of actors
      7. Scenic elements
      8. Music
      9. Sound effects
      10. Editing
    4. Pre-production
      1. Research
      2. Pre-Interviews
      3. Location surveys
      4. Production schedules
      5. Budgets
      6. Release forms
    5. Production crew positions including but not limited to
      1. Director
      2. Cinematographer
      3. Researcher
      4. Art Director
      5. Director of Photography
      6. Grip
      7. Boom Operator
      8. Sound Editor/Composer
      9. Editor
  2. LAB/DEMO
    1. DSLR Camera techniques for documentary filmmaking
    2. A Roll Footage vs B-Roll Footage
    3. Interview shoot
    4. Identifying pertinent B-Roll
      1. B-Roll shoot
      2. Photography
      3. Graphics
      4. Text on screen
    5. Lighting techniques
      1. Three-point interview lighting
      2. Color and light
      3. B-Roll lighting
    6. Sound techniques
      1. Audio recording techniques
      2. Microphones
      3. Narration
    7. Camera B-Roll
      1. Tripods
      2. Pan
      3. Tilt
      4. Run and gun camera work
    8. Working with Interviewee
      1. Pre-Interview
      2. Coaching an interview
      3. Camera direction
      4. Reshoot
    9. Introduction to editing techniques
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Laboratory
  3. Demonstration
  4. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write an essay which examines the effectiveness of documentary films to educate and persuade.
  2. Interview a person of interest in your life using audio only and edit this into a sound documentary using interview recording, and diegetic sound.
  3. Conduct an on-camera interview with an expert speaking about a subject in their field; edit this footage together with other material that is shot, found or created as graphics.
  4. Create a biographical documentary using photos, found footage, audio, music, and graphics.
  1. In-class exercises
  2. Class presentations
  3. Final project
  4. Projects
  5. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Create a documentary film using industry standard tools enlisting artistic principles, story structure and film production principles;
  2. critically analyze the elements and principles of documentary film using appropriate terminology in a critique environment;
  3. practice professional methods for production document creation, media revisions, file storage, screening, and analysis.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Sheila Curran Bernard (2015). Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen (4th). Focal Press.
  • Optional: DSLR Video Camera
  • External storage drive, such as a USB flash drive
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Introduction to documentary filmmaking and current techniques of digital documentary including, sound, video and mixed media documentary. Story basics, research, structure, objective/subjective approach, audio recording, shooting setups, interviewing, and rough-cut editing.
Strongly Recommended: FILM 15.