Documentary Practices (550-0-20)

Instructors

Spencer Parsons

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 118: Tues 6:00PM - 8:50PM
Louis Hall 106: Thurs 6:00PM - 7:50PM

Overview of class

This course will examine problems of performance for camera in documentary practice and documentary techniques in creating and/or capturing performance for fiction. We will consider documentary and anti-illusionistic practices in theater, such as the living newspaper and neo-futurism, as well as traditional documentary work complicated by the performances of subjects, documentary re-enactments, and devised narratives. Assignments require students to work on both sides of the camera and to perform live acting exercises in class.

Learning Objectives

Skills developed and evaluated will be regular performance practice for audience and camera, as well as dramatic scene analysis of fiction and documentary performance. Students will both perform and direct performance for assignments. Assignments will include live performance in class and short sketches and films to be shot out of class, as well as leading and participating in discussion of films shown in-class. As in-class critique, discussion, and performance of scenes are essential to the subject matter, class participation will be particularly emphasized.

Class Materials (Required)

100 NEO FUTURIST PLAYS FROM TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND by the Neo-Futurists

All other readings provided for free as PDF.

Personal hard drives for editing class projects. Loaner hard drives from the Cage can be used by students with insufficient resources.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for Documentary Media MFA Students.