Introduction to Documentaries
Subject Overview
Students will discover the basics in documentary history, and how to define the various modes of documentary that exist, as well as the difference between narrative fiction and documentaries. They will view a number of different documentaries, both feature length and short, to explore filmmakers’ techniques and recognise different conventions found within the differing modes of documentary. For example, a cinema-verite film, like ‘High School’, versus a performative Michael Moore film like ‘Bowling for Columbine.’
Duration
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Contact Hours: 3 hours per week
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Total Hours: 30
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Duration: 10 weeks
“Doing a documentary is about discovering, being open, learning and following curiosity.”
Spike Jonze
Aims
- Explore and discuss a basic history of documentary production
- Investigate and learn to differentiate various modes of documentaries film-making based on Bill Nichols’ 6 Modes of Documentaries.
- Introduce definitions of narrative fiction and documentary, and discuss motivation and reasons why documentary film-makers make documentaries
- Compare and contrast documentary narratives with narrative fiction films
- Identify, research and pitch a potential documentary subject