Documentary

News Production: Learning Quests:

Quest 1: What is a documentary?

• Find a documentary filmmaker who shows a style that you like. Consider these famous (and not-so-famous) persons/groups:

  • Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me & Pom Wonderful presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold)

  • Roger Moore (Farenheit 9/11)

  • Soul Pancake (Series of short pieces available via Vimeo)

  • Stillmotion (series of short pieces available via Vimeo)

  • Choose one of your own

Quest 2: Storytelling

• Complete this video lesson: "Storytelling the Stillmotion Way" https://vimeo.com/64207362 (12:00)

• Part 2: https://vimeo.com/64257951 (12:59)

• Part 3: https://vimeo.com/64607162 (13:40)

• Part 4: https://vimeo.com/64673177 (12:28)

Quest 3: Observing Models

• Some sample short documentaries (please note that not all documentaries on these sites have been previewed. There are specific suggestions available below the individual sites):

  • Global Oneness Project: Global Oneness Project Film Collection

    • Mr. Happy Man Bermudian man shares his love each morning

    • Wright's Law Short Film about Physics Teacher & his family

  • Vimeo:

    • Mr. Christmas Northern CA man creates massive light display each December

  • 60 Second Docs (many of their productions are not school-appropriate; however, the ones listed below are):

    • The Tall Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjLOWydktVg

    • Ballet Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVeE0Ti7DaY

    • Cardboard Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsezZOLevxA

    • Limbless Crossfit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzSx8z8aZYg

    • 9 year old Piano Prodigy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYOjsF8_viQ

    • Mother Daughter Graffitti Artists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jyVohYjdcc

    • Bunny Museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2RLVddlKeU

    • Water Sommelier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUyGOZdtd0w

Quest 4: Learning through Production

• Apply your new understanding(s) to the planning of your production. Your production should demonstrate the incorporation of the new knowledge developed through your research.

• Create / Plan

  • One option for helping you with the preparation and planning for a minidocumentary was provided by Human Postcards: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CLS4ouE-Q6VkdZbuPyLP0fgFafA46nVs/view?usp=sharing

• Produce

• Self-Assess / Track Alignment to AVP Standards

Quest 5: Screening and Reflection

• Reflection

  • Post video by doing BOTH of the following:

    • Uploading exported video to your Google Drive

    • Uploading exported video to the "ZAN" Server

  • Reflect on the final product

    • Respond to the work

      • Complete the blue reflection form (available in links on left side of this page); make your own copy of the document; complete in your Google Drive, then share completed reflection with Ms. Kramer.

      • Create a blog post (http://blog.mtlsd.org/MediaArts/) that demonstrates your reflection. As appropriate, please consider discussing the following:

        • How the production ended up being the way it is.

        • Strengths you see in the final work.

        • Weaknesses you hope to address in a revision or in future work.

        • Connect your work to other artists and other works

• Screening

  • Screen the work for the class, sharing your insights and what you've learned through the process of producing the work. Moderate a discussion of your peers' positive comments and constructive criticism.

Quest 5: (Optional) Revise and re-release

• Using your reflections and your peers' reviews and comments, create and plan a revision of the work. Your revision must represent a major rethinking and/or reshooting of the project.

  • Minor changes are welcomed and encouraged on your submitted works; however, they will not qualify as a full revision.

• Produce the revised work.

• Screen the revised work in class (please note: you will not screen the revision on a regular screening day).

• Connect: work with peers to discuss the improvements and recognize new strengths and possible weaknesses.