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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TVD057A
Course Title (CB02)
Nonfiction Workshop I: The Documentary
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2021
Course Description
This course will cover the nonfiction concepts, principles, and techniques as related to the production of a documentary video. The historical roots in nonfiction film and television with an emphasis on production work in documentary formats will be examined.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is intended to meet the requirement of the AA degree and certificates in Film/TV: Production and is a CSU transferable undergraduate course. This course meets student demand in the area of nonfiction and documentary production. Skills learned in this course will include research, preproduction, interviewing, camera, editing, and aesthetics specifically related to nonfiction work.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours3.57.0
Laboratory Hours1.50.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
42.0
Laboratory
18.0
Total
60.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
84.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
84.0

Prerequisite(s)

F/TV D020.

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Assigned weekly reading from primary texts.
  2. Written proposal package for documentary video project: including concept, treatment, and production schedule.
  3. Edited documentary projects.
  4. Weekly shooting exercises on assigned topics.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Final exam based on assigned reading, in class discussions, and lecture topics that demonstrates analysis of concepts learned in the course
  2. Evaluation of written and in-class presentation of documentary proposal based on pre-production tasks completed, project research, and ability to articulate the story the student is telling
  3. Evaluation and critique of weekly video assignments demonstrating application of documentary directing, lighting, camera, editing, and sound techniques

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Video recording media, cameras, lighting, sound gear, and additional supplies needed for individual projects
Essential College Facilities:
  • Nonlinear editing facilities, sound editing facilities

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Rabiger, Michael. "Directing the Documentary." 6th ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2014.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Artis, Anthony Q. "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down and Dirty DV Production." 2nd edition. New York: Routledge, 2014.
Bernard, Sheila Curran. "Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen." 4th Edition. Routledge, 2015.
Bruzzi, Stella. "New Documentary." 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2006.
Dancyger, Ken. "The Technique of Film and Video Editing." 6th Edition. Routledge, 2018.
Honthaner, Eve Light. "The Complete Film Production Handbook," 4th ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2010.
Long, Ben and Sonja Schenck. "The Digital Filmmaking Handbook." 6th ed. Routledge, 2017.
McLane, Betsy A. "A New History of Documentary Film." 2nd Edition, Continuum, 2012.
Nichols, Bill. "Introduction to Documentary." 3rd Edition, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2017.
Rosenthal, Alan. "Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos." 5th ed. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2015.
Rosenthal, Alan and John Corner, ed. "New Challenges for Documentary." 2nd ed. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005.
Stubbs, Liz. "Documentary Filmmakers Speak." New York: Allworth Press, 2002.
Trump, Maxine. "The Documentary Filmmaker's Roadmap: A Practical Guide to Planning, Production and Distribution." 1st Edition. Routledge, 2018.
Winston, Brian and Vanstone, Gail and Chi Wang. "The Act of Documenting: Documentary Film in the 21st Century." Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Recognize, examine, and identify historical roots of nonfiction film and television in a global context.
  • Recognize and identify the varieties of documentary nonfiction film and television.
  • Organize a nonfiction production from concept to preparation for shooting.
  • Practice aspects of nonfiction video production, including camera, sound, editing, interviewing, writing narration, and direction.

CSLOs

  • Research and write a proposal for a documentary production.

  • Demonstrate and apply interviewing techniques in a documentary shoot with proper lighting and sound recording.

Outline

  1. Recognize, examine, and identify historical roots of nonfiction film and television in a global context.
    1. The American romantic tradition of Robert Flaherty.
    2. The early Soviet cinema tradition of Dziga Vertov.
    3. The newsreel and the propaganda film.
    4. The British documentary tradition.
    5. The early American documentary tradition.
    6. The early television documentaries of the 1950s.
    7. Cinema Verite and Direct Cinema.
    8. The modern documentary.
  2. Recognize and identify the varieties of documentary nonfiction film and television.
    1. The event-centered documentary.
    2. The process and journey documentary.
    3. The personal documentary.
    4. Reality television and its influence on the form.
  3. Organize a nonfiction production from concept to preparation for shooting.
    1. The research process including pre-interviews.
    2. The documentary treatment.
    3. The preparation to shoot.
    4. Equipment selection.
    5. Developing the crew.
  4. Practice aspects of nonfiction video production, including camera, sound, editing, interviewing, writing narration, and direction.
    1. Camera techniques for documentary shooting.
    2. Directing the crew.
    3. Interviewing skills.
    4. Post-production video and audio editing.
    5. Narration and voice-over: writing, recording, and directing talent.
    6. Graphics and titles.
    7. Location sound recording.
    8. Lighting for interviews.
    9. Use of still photographs and archival footage.

Lab Topics

  1. Interviewing Skills and Tips
  2. Camera Operation for Interviews and B-Roll
  3. Documentary Editing Techniques
  4. Balancing Documentary Sound Elements
  5. Lighting for Interviews
  6. Sound Recording in Documentary Shooting
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