Documentary Production (392-0-20)
Instructors
Debra Tolchinsky
Meeting Info
Annie May Swift Hall 219: Tues 3:00PM - 5:50PM
Overview of class
This course will explore documentary practices as students produce their own 6 to 10-minute short. The emphasis will be on watching and workshopping what students generate alongside viewing documentaries (primarily shorts) from a diverse array of filmmakers. Screenings will be augmented by written material as we consider crucial questions circulating in the non-fiction realm. We will reflect upon whose stories are being told, by who, and to what end. We will examine the structure of particular films and how stylistic choice underscores or subverts content. And finally, we will look at the evolving landscape for financing, viewership, and impact.
Learning Objectives
By analyzing various non-fiction films and creating a short, participants will gain a more
in-depth understanding of the documentary genre.
Class Materials (Required)
Reading/viewing assignments will be available on Canvas or in class. Students may access cage equipment pending cage availability, provided they have a $50 deposit card on file. Students must have access to a personal computer (price variable) or use the computer labs at school. Required Software: Adobe Premiere. The School of Communications purchases licenses for Adobe Creative Cloud, including Adobe Premiere Pro editing software to provide to all RTVF majors and to non-majors enrolled in production classes. Media projects should be turned in via a private password protected downloadable link such as Vimeo or YouTube. (Vimeo starter membership is currently $9 per month billed annually) https://vimeo.com/upgrade?context=homepage. You will need a portable hard drive to store your footage and for editing—at least 1 TB recommended (price range approximately 60 to 130 dollars depending on the brand). You will also need an additional backup method. I highly recommend a second portable hard drive.
Class Notes
Attendance during the first class is required unless cleared by the professor. Technical skills such as lighting, camera, sound, and editing will not be the focus of this class. Group projects (two people max) will be allowed.Students must strictly adhere to RTVF Production guidelines: https://communication.northwestern.edu/radio-television-film/for-current-rtvf-students/
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Students must have completed RTVF 190-0 in order to register for this course (concurrent registration is not allowed) or be a student in Writing: MFA or Documentary Media: MFA programs