OBL update http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/05/20115418631882612.

html

Week 14 – Documentary Lecture 3

Non Film Documentary + The Production Process

Give out assignment• Cry• http://ufpmediastudies2011.wordpres

s.com/2011/05/04/course-work-2-new-media-documentary-project/

• Title Sheet/Statement of Purpose:  May 10th

• Background Research to Topic and Production Plan: May 17th– Background Research About 500 words on the aspect

of media you’re investigating, any relevant theories or examples.

– Production Plan: How are you going to investigate this question? Who are you going to talk to? Where are you going to go? What equipment will you use?

• Class time to work on project: May 24th

• Final project: Written component due May 31st

• Presentations: will be May 31st and June 2nd 

• Soundslides (only if you have your own Web site)

• Iphoto (http://www.apple.com/support/ilife/tutorials/iphoto/ip4-1.html )

• Imovie – for editing sound and video• GarageBand – for editing sound

• Learning to evaluate and analyse narratives in different documentary formats (e.g. film, audio, photo essay).

• Understanding relation between narration, and sound and understanding the significance of gathering compelling sequences and logical editing

• Developing ideas and concepts for documentary project, maturing and researching ideas, pitching stories.

Narration – Structure of Telling a Story

• Photo/Audio Slideshows• French Elections – http

://www.guardian.co.uk/slideshow/page/0,,2044805,00.html

• First Year Out– http://www.nytimes.com/packages/

html/nyregion/20071125_DNA_FEATURE/index.html

New Media + Documentary Form• Those were kind of “traditional”

slideshows…lets look at some specifically “new media” documentary forms…

• Changes in means of communication– Content globalization: means audience is

(potentially) global.– Interactivity potential to communicate with

users.– Communities allow discussion and debate

to form around the content.

New Media + Documentary Form

• Changes in means of expression– Interfaces: allows audience to interact

with the content in a different and new way.

–More than video: audio, animation, graphics, text all mix

– Serializing: can release a story in lots of small pieces instead of a feature length film.

–Makes distribution cheaper…

New Media/Online Documentary Forms• Audio/Photography in larger interactive

interface: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html

• What kind of stories are being told?• How do they transition between

photos?• Do you think this is a more or less

effective way of telling a story?Britain From Above http://www.bbc.co.uk/britainfromabove/stories/visualisations/taxis.shtml

New Media/Online Documentary Forms

• Gaza/Sderot (interface/interactivity)– Gaza

http://gaza-sderot.arte.tv/en/#/faces/16/11_18_2008_gaza_heba-with-her-girlfriends

– Sderot (First Love) http://gaza-sderot.arte.tv/en/#/faces/12/12_05_2008_sderot_a-fist-love-is-never-forgotten

Production Process• http://prezi.com/xpfxks3slxbf/documen

tary-lecture-3-alternative-documentary-forms-production-process-film-burma-vj/

• Creating media is complex and expensive

• Anyone with access to a computer can create media.

• But whether it’s Steven Spielberg or LonelyGirl – the production process is the same (at least at the basic level).

• 1. Idea – Obviously, someone needs an idea.

• 2. Funding – Some media is cheap to make – others are more expensive. If you are traveling the world make a Imax documentary, you are going to need money. You’ll need to get investors. If you don’t have expertise, you might go to a media production company – who take on the idea and provide expertise.

• 3. Pre-Production: research the audience for your project, plan each stage of the project: who will you speak to? What equipment will you need? Do you need to hire your crew?

• 4. Production: Often the easiest part, putting together the raw data (Text, images and sound). Filming, recording, taking the pictures, etc.

• 5. Post-Production Editing, putting the raw footage together into a narrative. Adding any effects or a soundtrack. Sometimes post-production companies handle this stage.

• 6. Marketing and Promotion: Convince audiences to see the movie (or listen to the album).

• 7. Distribution: The most important part of the process – but almost forgotten. Media production companies sell the rights to distribute to specialist companies.– Films: theater, stream online, DVDs– Music: in olden times, record ships, now Itunes,

etc.

How to interview…• 1. Structured– Prepare a list of questions, go ask them.

• 2. Semi Structured– You might have some ideas about what

you want to discuss, but you’re not doing a strict Q&A

• 3. Informal– Go where the conversation takes you.

• Katie Couric on how to interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eOynrI2eTM

• Avoid Yes/No questions• Predict follow up question• Avoid “laundry list” of questions you

want answered.

Ask yourself why• …why are you interviewing this

particular person?• Are they someone with insider

knowledge about your topic?• What might their biases and opinions

be?

In General…Your Project…Consider• What’s the question? Narrower is better:

“Portrayal of masculinity in Nigerian music videos” is better than “Masculinity in Music Videos”.

• Tone: Funny? (Like Supersize me?) Serious? Friendly? Authoritative?– Will you be “present” in front of the camera or narrating

from behind?• Structure: Like an essay, your project should

have structure. An introduction, a main body, and a conclusion.

• Have fun…surprise us!

Choose today’s doc

Burma VJ (2009)• Young journalists in Burma: Democratic

Voice of Burma, work illegally in Burma.• Mixed footage smuggled out of Burma but

also re-enactments

• Burma VJ http://www.channel4.com/programmes/burma-vj/4od#3038653

• More info on controversy here: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1874773,00.html/

Or…• Oliver Stones Film on Latin

America• South of the Border

http://www.lovefilm.com/film/South-of-the-Border/153398/?play_immediately=1

• Dear Zachary http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/dear-zachary-a-letter-to-a-son-about-his-father/