COURSE SYLLABUS Course #: X478.733 Course Title: Producing Documentaries Reg. # Z6483 Units: 4 Quarter/Yr: Summer 2015 Day/Time: Tuesdays, 7-10pm Dates: June 23 September 08, 2014 (no mtg 7/28) Additional Class mtgs: Saturday 2-5pm tba Location: UCLA, Bunche Hall, room 2209A Instructor: Petra Haffter Instructor contact: email Email: petra@petrahaffter.net Course Description: Learn about the opportunities available to the independent documentary producer in this overview of the entire documentary production process from idea through distribution. Emphasis is placed on today's market for both television and theatrical one-to-two-hour programs through screening and discussing examples of documentary genres. Lectures emphasize story, structure, and style and address related budget, financial, and technical aspects of television documentaries. Each participant conceives and drafts a written synopsis for a 1-hour television documentary with the option to independently produce a presentation tape. Specialists with expertise in archival footage, interview techniques, location shooting, editing, and other areas are invited as guest lecturers, subject to availability. Goals & Objectives:! 1.Documentary Proposal: Each student will develop and write full proposal for a one-hour or full-length documentary.! 2. Verbal Pitch: Students will develop and practice an oral presentation of their documentaries and story idea(s).
! 3. Viewing: Students will watch documentaries outside the classroom: summarize and comment or critique each program verbally in class and in a brief written synopsis in a journal. While watching docs (in parts) mutually, students will learn to understand how these films were made and in some cases - what the historical or political context was.! 4. Reading: Documentary reviews, trade publications, and handouts given in class or via email / canvas. List of recommended books. Recommended Readings: Documentary Storytelling, 2 nd Edition, by Sheila Curran Bernard Directing the Documentary, 4 th ed., by Michael Rabiger Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos, 4 th ed., by Alan Rosenthal Introduction to Documentary Bill Nichols Documentary a history of the non-fiction film Erik Barnow How to write a documentary Script Trisha Das (Internet) Documentary Editing Karin Everett (e-book) Grading: Course grades will be based the on the completion of exams, assignments, and classroom participation as follows: Breakdown of the weight for each component of the final grade: Assignment #1, 1-5 40 % Proposal (narrative) Assignment/Exam #2: Budget 20 % Assignment #4: diary 10 % Pitch 10 % Attendance/Punctuality: 10% Participation: 10 % Letter Grade % A (90-100%) B (80-89%) C (70-79%) D (60-69%) F (<59%)
A grade of C or better is considered a passing grade. Certificate students must take 400 level courses for a grade. Students are expected to show up in time, attend the class and participate in discussions and workshops. Please no smoking or eating during class. Please note that ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL. Student Behavior involving cheating, copying other s work, and plagiarism are not tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. Students are responsible for being familiar with the information on Student Conduct in the General Information Section of the UCLA Extension Catalog or on the website at www.uclaextension.edu COURSE OUTLINE Date/Topic Week 1 Tuesday, June 23 Introduction: Students background, expectations from this class. Syllabus Discussion, Grading. Topic: Documentary Overview: There is not THE documentary per se, there is a variety of genres, modes and styles. Let s watch clips from diverse documentaries and identify. Cinema Verite / Direct Cinema; process film; historical film; biographical film; journey film; compilation; essay; poetic doc, social issue, investigative, docudrama; re-enactment, reportage, video journals Assignments Assignment # 1 part 1 1. Prepare 3 ideas for documentaries, that you would be interested in making. What are the subjects you are passionate about? Where do ideas come from? 2. Start a journal, note book 3. Screen one documentary of your choice related to you and your work - outside of the class. Enter the review and your reflections in your journal. Week 2 Tuesday, June 30 Topic: A brief history of documentary filmmaking. There was no divide between fiction and documentary at the beginning today it s blurry again. There was on top of that a hot doc time in the 60ies Screening clips from: Nanook of the North vs. The Story of the Weeping Camel, The Man with the Movie Camera, The Plow that Broke the Plaines vs Triumph of the Will and Salesmen. Discussion: How did documentary filmmaking change with new techniques? What is the difference between observational, character driven and plot driven? 1. Develop / research 2 of your 3 ideas 2. Prepare 2 paragraphs on each of the 3 ideas in written, and be prepared to pitch them. 3. Observe the reaction in class: Which one gains interest? Which one doesn t make it? Reasons. Week 3 Tuesday, July 07 Topic: Successful or wanted documentaries today. Screening (excerpts): The Cove, March of the Penguins, An Inconvenient Truth, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Catfish, 50 Feet from Stardom Assignment #1 part 2 1. Start researching in depth the one idea. 2. Write a one page synopsis and a logline. 3. Screen the documentary Daughter from
Discussion: Social issue, music/concert films, nature & animals, biographies and essays. Most important for the filmmaker: Give the documentary a human face through characters and conflicts. Create a STORY. Respect the THREE ACT STORY TELLING. In Class: Discuss and evaluate 2 of your 3 ideas. Review each student s ideas, Students pitch class/instructor review. Decide on the One idea to be pursued. Lecture/discussion what is a logline? What a synopsis? What a treatment? Danang outside of class enter review in diary and recognize the three act structure. (Optional) class presentation or 3. Screen two documentaries outside of class Gimme Shelter & Shine a Light compare these two Rolling Stones films. Enter this review in your journal And (optional) prepare a short Presentation for the class. Week 4 Tuesday, July 14 Topic: Three act structure and student s presentations. In class: The three acts in Daughter from Danang, plus comparison of the two Rolling Stones films Lecture/discussion: What belongs into a proposal? PPP: elements of a proposal In Class: Review the one page synopsis and the logline 1. Research the one idea further. Find people to interview. How? Where? 2. Screen one documentary outside of class 7 up TV-Series enter a review in diary. Week 5 Tuesday, July, 21 Topic: Interviews: On or off or as research material, for the narration? How to conduct an interview? What s to avoid? Plus: First person narration. The personal voice documentary. Screening: Roger and Me, one Errol Morris doc. Trouble the Water, The Colors of the Deserts (from the instructor) and Tarnation. In Class: Screening: tba Guest Speaker with Q&A: Discussion: This week s topic, and the documentary excerpts shown in class. 1. Conduct one pre-interview. If you have access to a video camera, shoot the interviews, bring to class on DVD. Otherwise, record audio. 2. Develop your ideas further and write a directors statement with approach, style. mode & genre. Assignment # 1 part 3 3. Clip samples for you and class Week 6 Saturday, July 18 or 25 tba Topic: Visual storytelling. What to shoot? How to Shoot? Shots vs. sequence. The grammar of the film language: Continuity, lighting basics, b-roll or better BEAUTY SHOTS, staging, re-enactment, abstract images. How to shoot events / graphics, scenes, thinking ahead plan you editing. Screening: A Thin Blue Line, Burden of Dreams, Every Day Sunshine, Far from Poland Discussion: This week s topic, and the documentary excerpts shown in class. What other documentaries did you watch this week? Week 7 Saturday, August 04 Topic:, Budgeting, Financing How to make a budget? What means break down your script / treatment? 1. Develop the individual idea to a more substantial treatment. Assignment #1 part 4 and prepare a pitch. 2. Add some quotes of your pre-interview 3. Add a shot list and/or storyboard 1. Revise your treatment 2. Break down your project: Lists of participants, locations, equipment.
Where to raise the money? Who is buying? The importance of television. The non-profit funding. Crowd funding Screening: 3 different docs with a same topic: here Los Angeles o demonstrate different approaches, styles and voices. class. In Class: Show / discuss the pre-interview. Guest Speaker: TBA (topic financing) 3. Develop a budget. Assignment # 2 4. Optional: making a short teaser or trailer Week 8 Tuesday, August 11 Topic 1: Pitching You have your treatment and a first budget. Time to pitch it. Screening: trailer or teaser from students and The Mystery of Picasso In Class: Students present Verbal Pitch. Topic 2: Pre-production Pick a topic/subject that s accessible and doable for you. Preproduction, releases, permits, working with participants, looking for locations. Break down and budget assignment # 2 is due. 1. Revise your treatment 3 pages min. Make cover/visual suggestions prepare cover letter; suggest graphics and music. Week 9 Tuesday, August 18 Topic: Editing 1 Writing the story, structuring the documentary, paper editing, the rough cut. Screening: Grizzly Man, Trouble the Water, Plaque & Pleasure on the Salton Sea. Discussion: This week s topic, and the documentary excerpts shown in class. Plus: reviewing the budgets. In Class: Deliver 3 page treatments and new verbal pitches. 1. Find one scene from a documentary with great editing, something that inspires you, and bring it in on DVD or memory stick to the class. Verbally present what s great about it to the class. 2. Continue to refine your proposal and pitch. 3. Write a one-page summary of what you learned from watching documentaries in this class. (Journal = Assignment # 3) Week 10 Tuesday, August 25 Topic: Editing II and more post production Fine tuning, music, graphics, sound design & mix / color correction, on-lining, mastering. Not to forget: compiled material and footage Screening: student scenes class in Class: Students present their great editing scenes. Guest Speaker: tba Journal assignment # 3 is due! 1. Continue to refine your proposal and pitch. 2. Screen one of the two films outside of class Cutting Edge or Visions of Light. Enter review in diary and prepare a short speech (optional for class) Week 11 Saturday, September 01 Topic: Distribution and Marketing Where to show the film? Festivals, theatrical, TV and cable, video, internet and other venues in New Media or for educational purposes. In Class: If it hasn t happened last week: students present Final Treatment and Verbal Pitch is due! Assignment # 1 part 5.
their scenes. Screening: Buena Vista Social Club, Wastelands, Vlast, Born into Brothels class. If not last week Guest speaker here: TBA Week 12 Tuesday, September 08 Topic: All these hybrids! Is documentary filmmaking crossing the line to fiction and vice versa? Some concluding thoughts. Notes to the diaries. Screening: The Beaches of Agnes, Battle for Hadita, Waltz with Bashir or students recommendations. class Returning and comments of the diaries. In Class: 4 students speak about Cutting Edge and Visions of Light (2:2) Plus Returning of the diaries with comments. Students have the chance to re-submit final treatments.