DocFilm

CI 4950 & 5950

Non-Fiction Film & Video

Fall Semester 2007

Instructor: Joe Murphy

Office: 213A EDH

Phone: 262-2298

Office Hours: Mon.& Wed., 1:00-3:00; Tues.-11:00-2:00, Thurs.-11:00-12:30

Email: [email protected]

CREDIT HOURS: 3 Rm. 02 EDH Tues.-Thurs. 2:00-3:15 pm

DESCRIPTION :

Students view and analyze a variety of non-fiction films and videos in terms of both form and content. Emphasis is placed on understanding the wide range of purposes for which non-fiction programs are made, and on examining the variety of techniques used to achieve those purposes. Students also engage in some hands-on experiences attempting to capture reality on videotape as part of an effort to explore what happens to reality when it is shaped into a film or video.

GOAL :

At the completion of the course, each student will be able to view documentaries more critically and better understand the degree to which any program differs from the reality being documented.

OBJECTIVES :

At the completion of the course, each student will be able to:

Describe the ways filmmakers distort reality when filming, and explain which of those distortions are inevitable and which could be avoided.

Define documentary film in terms of those elements that all documentaries have in common.

Describe the ethical considerations that must be faced when creating a non-fictional portrayal of a subject.

Explain the relative advantages and disadvantages of a non-fictional as opposed to a fictional treatment of a subject.

Describe the major similarities and differences among each of the types of non-fiction film and video and cite examples of programs within each type.

Understand the different types of relationships that producers of non-fiction programs establish with their subjects and with their audience.

Select a subject and create credible visual and aural evidence to inform an audience about some aspect of that subject.

DATE	CONTENT	VIEWING	ASSIGNMENTS
Aug. 21	Introduction Range of styles for non-fiction films Elements common to all documentaries My biases with respect to documentary film Criteria to apply when evaluating a non-fiction program	Age Matters -27m Harvest of Shame-55m Naqoyqatsi-89m StartUp.Com-103m
Aug. 23 LAB	Apply criteria developed above to rough cut of Jeff Goodman's video about the Arthur Morgan School	Library Reserve Girl Wrestler -57m	Written Critique on Forum by 10PM 8/27
Aug. 28	Nature of Mediated Reality Methods for determining truth Truthfulness of the visual and aural evidence presented Film as a stereotype of reality Difference between truth and veracity	Mojave Mirage-27m Full Frame #1
Aug. 30 LAB	Demonstrate and practice using production equipment needed to produce a documentary	Library Reserve Waiting for Guffman-84m	Written critique on Forum by 10PM, 9/3
Sept. 4	Ways film and video manipulates reality Inevitable ways film distorts reality Avoidable ways film distorts reality Effects of form on content Aesthetic concerns conflicting with being truthful	Artful State-18m What Is It About Hats?-29m
Sept. 6 LAB	Selecting a good topic and researching it	Library Reserve Brother's Keeper-105m	Written critique on Forum by 9/10 Each person will bring to class on 9/13 a brief description of five good ideas for documentaries to produce.
Sept. 11	Selecting and Condensing Reality How condensing distorts and enhances reality Ethical considerations in editing Importance of what is not presented
Sept. 13 LAB	Aspects of a topic that make subject difficult to produce Preparing a good treatment for a program	Library Reserve Born Rich-81m	Written critique on Forum by 9/17 Each student will select a topic for a documentary film, research the topic, and write a treatment for a documentary about the topic. Bring to class on September 20.
Sept. 18	Selection of Subjects Subjects relationship with the audience Advantages and disadvantages of letting subjects speak for themselves Importance of establishing trust with subject Experts vs. ordinary people
Sept. 20 LAB	Factors to consider in pre-production of a documentary Each person will make a case for having the class produce the topic for which their treatment was written. Be prepared to decide on the topic for the class exercises or group documentary project on Sept. 25.	Library Reserve Speedo-78m	Written critique on Forum by 9/24
Sept. 25	Relationships of filmmaker to subjects Ability of the filmmaker to relate to the subject and establish a trusting relationship Objectivity/subjectivity of the filmmaker Personal diary films/filmmaker as subject
Sept. 27 LAB	Interviewing styles and techniques Getting a useable response from a subject Selecting best time and place for interview Making actors out of amateurs Developing good interview questions	Library Reserve Six O'Clock News-90m	Written critique on Forum by 10/1
Oct. 2	Fiction in Documentaries Truth vs veracity How fiction can present truths documentaries cannot Ways authenticity and credibility are established in film Ethical concerns of mixing fact and fiction
Oct. 4 LAB	Practice different techniques and set-ups for conducting interviews. Class will pick a topic, make up good interview questions about the topic and then spend 30 minutes interviewing each other.	Library Reserve Thin Blue Line-102m	Written critique on Forum by 10/8 Every student in each group will make up five good interview questions for their group project. Each student will then select at least 4 people to interview and will videotape each interview. Bring questions and names of subjects to class on Oct. 16 and bring tape to class on Oct. 18.
Oct. 9	Approaches to structure in documentary films Traditional dramatic structure Chronological structure Investigative structure Emotional structure
Oct. 16	Ways filmmaker expresses point-of-view Approaches to narration Subjectivity/objectivity of filmmaker Documentary film vs. journalism Persuasion vs. propaganda
Oct. 18 LAB	View and critique interview tapes	Library Reserve Regret to Inform -75m	Written critique on Forum by 10/22
Oct. 23	Reality as entertainment Cultural phenomenon documentaries Selection as subject conferring importance Stereotypical portrayals of groups or individuals
Oct. 25 LAB	Each student will videotape five images that accurately portray some aspect of the group project and can be used in the final edit. Bring to class on Nov. 1.	Library Reserve Spellbound-97m	Written critique on Forum by 10/29
Oct. 30	Experimental portrayals of reality Expressionistic treatments of reality Presenting live performances on film or tape Distorting reality to create new reality
Nov. 1 LAB	View and critique the visuals created for the group projects	Library Reserve What the Bleep is Going On-108m	Written critique on Forum by 11/5
Nov. 6	Attempting to portray the past in a truthful way Using actors in historical reenactments Availability of stock or archival footage Impact of time passing on subjects involved
Nov. 8 LAB	Writing and recording narration Selecting and recording sound effects and music	Library Reserve Fog of War-107m	Written critique on Forum by 11/12
Nov. 13	Approaches to controversial subjects or ideas Documentary as agent for social change Impact of funding on form and content of message Elements of a topic not presented
Nov. 15 LAB	Basics of Editing Video with Final Cut Pro	Library Reserve The Shutka Book of Records-77m	Written critique on Forum by 11/19
Nov. 20	Discussion of The Shutka Book of Records
Nov. 27	Directed Viewing of Draft of final project
Nov. 29	Directed Viewing of Draft of final project
Dec. 4	View final projects
Dec. 7 3-5:30	View final projects

EVALUATION:

Each student will post critical responses on the web discussion page to each of the documentaries on the course outline. These responses should be posted NO LATER THAN midnight of the day before the class discussion. We will not have time to view most of the programs during the class so they must be checked out in the ASU library and viewed outside of class. Each response should include specific positive and negative comments on both the form and content of each program. 40% of final grade.

Class Participation, including attendance and active involvement in class discussions and activities. 20% of final grade.

Documentary treatment project. Each student will select a topic for a documentary film, research the topic, and write a treatment for a documentary about the topic. 10% of final grade.

Rough cut of group documentaries and directed viewing of the rough cut by the class. 10% of final grade.

Final group project documentary is due on Dec. 4 or 7. 20% of final grade.