Making DocumentariesJust an introduction, nothing scary

Wed, 2 June 2010

What Is A Documentary?

• A story• A package of facts and information• Non-fiction (?)• Truth (?)

Styles

• Narrative• Cinema-verite (Fly on the wall)• Talking heads (Interviews)Examples• How To Report The News • The Impossible Project• You See Me Laughin’• September• Kogi BBQ

Camera

• Framing– Intent– Steady VS Handheld– Foreground / Background– Establishing Shots & Cutaways (CAW)– Long Shot– Mid Shot– Close Up– Rule of thirds– Head room

Camera pt.2 (dreary.. Blerg. Unless you’re a geek)

• Technical Specifications– Formats (Tape / Memory (.avi, .mov, .mp4, etc..)– Aspect Ratio (4:3 or 16:9)– Outputs (USB / Firewire / Docking Station)– Headphones (Y/N)– Mic Attachments (Y/N)– Lights– Batteries

Audio

• Interview tips:– Who, What, Where, When, Why, How– Make your subject feel comfortable, they might

open up more– Ask open ended questions (Not something they can

answer with Yes or No)– Pay attention to your subject, if something

interesting is said, get it on tape!

Golden Rule: People are afraid of the camera

Audio Technicalities

• Microphones (Always recommended)• Wind / Background noise• Synching + logging with visuals (Advanced)

Editing / Post Production

• Software (WMM, iMovie, FCE/FCP, Premeire)• Subtitles + Text• Voiceovers• Music• Transitions• Export– For Internet, TV, Cinema.. Etc– Codecs (H264)

Planning

• Get your team on the same page (Iron sharpens iron) ie. Scripts, synopsis, treatments

• Prepare your equipment, and have a checklist, always check, don’t lose anything

• No $$$, no film. Budget. Budget. Budget.• Have a shotlist (A list of shots you need to get)

“There is a muse that visits creative people, and you plan and prepare so that you are ready if she chooses to visit.”

- me

Video Bibliography• Kogi Food BBQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9nIDbonkZM&feature=related• How To Report The Newshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI• You See Me Laughin’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bjx5BjTICQ• Septemberhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bEt_mS07o• The Impossible Projecthttp://monocle.com/sections/business/Web-Articles/The-Impossible-Project/

fin.

Presentation: www.slideshare.com/litfordContact: litford@gmail.comTwitter: @litford