 Documentary Assignment
Nine-week Assessment*
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1)
Screen the documentary,
The Town That Was (2007)
(Click
here to read what happened to John after the film.)
2)
Respond with a documentary of your own production.
For this assignment you will
plan, direct, shoot, and edit a single-camera mini-documentary video. The
finished product should be a minimum of twenty minutes long and ethically
present either an informative or persuasive message appropriate to the subject
matter. Examples include a biography of someone you know (i.e., family
member, community figure, or someone with potential interest to a general
audience); an informational piece on a worthwhile community organization
or institution; a nature appreciation piece; or a persuasive
documentary presenting a particular perspective regarding an issue of moral
or social justice. Regardless of the type of documentary you choose, it needs to
contain the following elements (rubric to follow):
-
a narrator's voice (off-screen)
-
personal interviews
-
at least three audio segues designed to enhance continuity
-
use of background music
-
use of panning or zooming on freeze frames
-
use of still photographs
-
use of on-screen text (including title and names of person(s)
appearing)
-
titles/credits
The assignment will unfold in
three stages.
(1) Preproduction: You
will prepare the preproduction elements of your project (see below), which
include a clear and detailed typed proposal and accompanying storyboard
for shooting and editing. Details of recording or obtaining desired audio
elements should also be discussed.
(2) Production: After
submission and approval of this proposal you will film the visual component of
your video and record or otherwise obtain the audio component of your video.
This stage should emphasize visual literacy, artistic creativity, and motivated
camera and audio recording work. After filming and initial audio recording,
you will present examples of your raw footage to the class, along with a
discussion for editing (draft assignment).
(3) Postproduction:
Finally, you will edit your video with Windows Movie Maker and master to WMV.
The visual and audio aspects should reinforce one another and foster a
meaningful viewing experience. The due date for the completed assignment is
12/22, the final day of the first semester. Presentations will follow return to
school second semester.
Individual Assignments
·
Typed proposal (save as “proposal” to your Documentary folder):
Due 10/27 (you have one week)
·
Storyboard: Due 11/10 (you have two weeks)
·
Random but multiple Progress grades: Randomly
checked
·
Draft assignment (5 minutes and scenes minimum, all assets saved to
Documentary folder): Due 12/1 (you have three
weeks)
·
Final draft (.wmv, saved to Documentary folder):
Due 12/22 (you have three weeks) This is your
Nine-weeks Assessment Grade
Based
on:
http://academic.regis.edu/jgschwin/425minidoc.htm
* This is a major, nine
weeks-long assignment. On days you are not working on the HSTV Newscast, you are
expected to work on this project. Mrs. Janes will regularly check on your
progress. If you are not making progress, you are not earning progress credit.
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