Documentary Outline

Due Date: Week 3 workshop

Weight: 15%

Please deliver your proposal to your assigned workshop.

Any assignment delivered beyond the due date will not be considered for production.

You are asked to write an outline/proposal for a documentary of up to 5 minutes in length. This is a creative document, not an essay.  Choose an idea from the world around you that you think is achievable and that has the potential for strong sounds and images, interesting characters, story or argument. 

The documentary outline needs to be well structured and it should:

• Describe  the idea and themes that you are hoping to explore any argument you may wish to make, or your perspective on the themes.  What is the potential for an engaging story? 
• the people (social actors/characters) you may be including in the project,
• the research you have conducted so far and further research you will need to conduct.
• Indicate any stylistic ideas you may be considering at this early stage of development, 
• describe the documentary form or forms you think you project will use - how will you approach the subject?
• Please also discuss the logistical challenges offered by the project and how you will meet them.  For example, if the documentary is a portrait of someone, what kind of access do you have to this person, where do they live/work?  If they live out of Sydney how will you deal with this?

The outline should be approximately 3 pages long and you are encouraged to include other material such as photographs, text, archival material or other references that help to describe the idea.

Outlines will be assessed and short-listed for production based on the following criteria:

Originality and strength of central idea

What is the central idea you are exploring? How original, interesting or imaginative is it? Does it offer potential for a short documentary or could it be more easily explored via another medium? Does it have the potential to reveal something fresh about the world we live in? What themes does the idea suggest?

Story/Argument

Potential for engaging story and/or powerful argument about the world around us.

Evidence of preliminary research

Successful documentaries are based on solid research. Research includes the factual, aesthetic and technical. Please reference at least one screen work that is informing your viual style or perhaps works with a similar subject. You must provide evidence that you have researched your idea to the degree that you know it can be made. For example, does your research demonstrate that the idea has depth, have the people you wish to participate in the documentary agreed to do so?  You must also indicate further research you intend to pursue.

Visual and aural potential

Research also includes considerations about style, approach. How does your idea lend itself to an exploration through sounds and images? Remember that digital video, as a time-based medium, is very different from a written text. Your proposal should demonstrate that your documentary concept contains the potential for an imaginative use of sounds and images.

Awareness of documentary form

What kind of short documentary are you proposing? Please note that "current affairs" style projects are not acceptable. Documentary has a long history of conceptually and aesthetically innovative works. It is important that you begin to familiarise yourself with the range of possibilities available to you and consider the relationship between style and content.  Consider, for example, if your documentary will be interview based or observational or include reconstruction or be an essay form or a compilation film or be designed/stylised in any particular way or some mix of doco forms?  

Feasibility: in terms of facilities, skills base, locations, length

Your idea must be feasible. You have only a certain number of days for both your shoot and post-production.

Assessment criteria

• Strength and originality of documentary idea
• Evidence of preliminary research
• Demonstrated visual and aural potential
• Feasibility
• Writing style: clarity, expression, grammar, presentation

Proposals must be submitted by being printed and delivered in person to the lecturer in your workshop session in week 3.

Assignment 2

Workshop Research Presentation

Due Date: 2 or 3 per week, weeks 3, 4, 5 & 6

Weight: 10%

Working in pairs, you will give an in-class presentation on a documentary of your choice.  Structure your presentation well and make sure you cover the following:

• production details: title, makers, year, country, commissioning body or context,
• documentary idea: succinctly describe subject, theme and argument or perspective 
• analysis of how it operates: discuss the ways in which it communicates its ideas, including form, structure (where does it start and end, what happens in between), characters, other content and tone
• the creative and technical strategies evident in the work  such as visual and aural style, rhythm and juxtaposition, and  how these may (or may not) contribute towards the film's meaning(s) 

Include one film extract which illustrates your points

This presentation will be approximately 10-15 minutes including the film extract and will also involve a 5 minute Q&A in the workshop.  Powerpoint is the preferred mode of delivery of these presentations.  Ideally clips will be embedded in the powerpoint or easily accessible by clicking on links.  Each person in the team will deliver part of the presentation and you will be assessed individually.  

Assessment criteria  

•    

  Evidence based critical evaluation of a documentary screen work's form, structure, content and style and communication of theme or ideas.

• Clarity and accuracy of analysis of technical and creative strategies of the non-fiction screen works.

• Effectively prepared and structured presentation responding to task requirements, and ability to lead class discussion

Submission of this task is by oral presentations which will be made in pairs in a workshop session (to be designated a week before it is due). 

Working in your production groups, prepare a Production Research Report to present in-class

Production Research Report Presentations will be up to half an hour and will be lead and coordinated by your Research & Development/Design crew member (or Producer on teams of 5), with each member of the crew being responsible for a segment.  

Reports must include:

1. The research done into subject, theme and perspective including films watched, pre-interviews done, books & articles read, sites visited, other forms of research & development of idea
   1. Provide a list and then reveal three or four of the top influences on development of your project
   2. Briefly discuss the influence they have had – what you have taken from them as a group, into your project
2.  Research into related films
   1. Provide a list of relevant films and choose one or two to focus on in the presentation
   2. each group member should discuss an aspect of the film, relative to their crew role eg. production process, theme and perspective, shooting style, design/visual style design), juxtaposition/structure/rhythm or aural style
3. the specific research you have undertaken in relation to technical or other production aspects of your crew role. For example, if you are DOP have you attended additional camera workshops or practised with the camera outside class?  If you are a producer have you researched how to schedule the production? What preparation have you taken as sound recordist or sound designer?

Assessment criteria

·                Demonstrated scope and relevance of creative research into subject, theme and perspective

·                Clarity and accuracy of analysis of technical and creative strategies of relevant film references

·                Demonstrated scope and relevance of technical and/or production research in crew role

·                Demonstrated synthesis of research by group into a coherent creative and technical pathway towards the planned production

Research Reports will be submitted via in-class presentation in crew groups in week 7.  Associated websites where materials have been collected by the group can be viewed during the presentations and links may be sent to the lecturer via email after presentations.  

Short Documentary

Due Date: Workshops Week 13

Weight: 40%

In this collaborative assignment each student will participate in a crew role contributing towards the development and production of a short screen documentary of up to 5 minutes duration.  Each student collaborating on the production will be expected to undertake adequate creative, technical and organisational preparation to support the performance of their role.

 The production parameters for the documentary are:

1. Up to 5 shooting days

2. Edit plan completed prior to commencement of editing

3. 5 days picture edit per project

4. 2 days sound edit per project

5. All crew members are to make themselves available to attend all the planned testing and shooting period and to view and comment on edits in workshops and as required.

 Assessment criteria:

• Shape, structure and originality of completed project
• Effectiveness of creative choices in composition, shot construction, lighting, sound, design, editing, direction of social actors, narration, production management etc in terms of engagement.

 Short Documentary Productions will be submitted via screenings in workshops in week 13 and exports of the production, as coordinated with the technical director for the unit.  

Crew Role, Critical Reflection &  Portfolio

Due Date: Week 13

Weight: 10%

 You are assessed on your crew role performance as evidenced in the final production and  supported by the following documentation: 

·       500 word critical reflection discussing at least two major learning challenges you faced in your crew role during the process and how you resolved them.  You could address technical and/or creative issues together with interpersonal skills eg conflict resolution etc.  For example how was the collaboration managed in your team? Was everyone up to the technical standard required by the project? If not, how was this resolved?

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• Demonstrated effectiveness of contribution in crew role as evidenced in final production
• Demonstrated commitment in crew role as evidenced by attendance at workshops,production meetings, technical workshops, tests, shoot and post-production and other activities as necessary
• Demonstrated creative and technical preparation for crew role as evidenced in documentation provided
• Capacity to critically reflect on learning experience

Crew Role Assessments must be submitted by final workshop date of week 13, via ilearn.

Active Workshop Participation

Due Date: Every Week

Weight: 10%

Active workshop participation is more than simply being in attendance (which is compulsory). In order to receive high marks for workshop participation, students must be punctual and well-prepared,  complete any required in or out of class work including attendance at relevant technical demonstration sessions and production meetings (which will be logged), prepare for workshop presentations, engage actively by asking and answering questions and participating constructively in pair or group work as required.  The marks allocated for participation in this unit reflect the importance of student participation in a production course, particularly one such as MAS312 that focuses on communication and the production of a short collaborative digital video work.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• Demonstrated attendance & punctuality at workshops
• Demonstated active engagement in and preparation for workshop processes