Documentary Filming

In this documentary assignment you will apply everything you learned. If you apply these requirements correctly, the end result will look really good and professional. If you just shoot and edit without using all of these the video will look amateur. The list may seem like a lot but you should be including these in your video second nature by now. (the subject shots must be person but does not always need to be; eg. focusing on a bus passing by because the interview talks about how they ride the bus each morning)

Objective

Using what you have learned about shooting a documentary from the previous tutorials, you will shoot all of your documentary footage needed (interview and b-roll) using various cuts, angles, and shots. It is recommended that you get your film idea approved prior to filming although it is not required and you can film regardless. Make sure you look and study over the shooting list.

I had a student film his documentary like the screenshot below; there are at least five things wrong with it. Please follow the shooting concepts you learned in the class.

You will film the interview of the subject and one of the short intro options.

You can start filming the B-roll to match your interview and complete some of the filming requirements but these two are due in part B at the latest.

Time

You must first film the entire interview in one meeting with the individual because we want to be efficient and not take up their time and your time. Remember that you should have at least five minutes worth of interview footage and then later you will edit it down to 2-4 minutes.

Location

Choose one specific location to film the entire interview and do not change it once the cameras are set up.

Cameras

It may be helpful to use two cameras when filming so that you can switch to different angles of the interview within your documentary.

Stable

Remember that the camera cannot move and should be on a tripod, desk, pile of books, etc. Make sure the camera is close enough for a medium interview shot so that it is easy to hear and there should not be any distracting noises in the background while you are filming the interview. Set up a second camera somewhere

B-Roll

In Part B all of your B-roll is required but you should start filming some of it or at least the parts where you need to show the individual interacting with the B-roll. Don't forget to apply the principles learned about B-roll cutaways.

Film any missing or parts you need to redo of your interview as well as the rest of your B-roll based on the content that your subject. Remember that you must have B-roll that matches what the person is talking about.

If you have not already, don't forget to complete the filming