obl update mericas/2011/05/20115418631882 612.html mericas/2011/05/20115418631882
TRANSCRIPT
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/documentary-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/