Film Media Theater 340DC - Advanced Courses in Production and Practice: 'Documentary Production'

In this hands-on course intended for advanced film/media students, we will explore contemporary documentary forms through readings, screenings, discussions, and practice. The course will cover the span of documentary storytelling as students develop production skills in research and writing, interviewing, camera and sound recording, and editing. We will also model the professional strategies documentarians use to fund and distribute their work, putting together film proposals and pitch decks. Students will practice pitching their film ideas to the class. While this is primarily a production course, in which students will produce short films, we will also read key texts and view select contemporary films to investigate what a documentary can be -- investigative, personal narrative, experimental, or social advocacy tool. Screenings and readings will ultimately inform our process and approach. The course will explore ethical concerns associated with documentary film including issues of privacy, representation, truthfulness, and objectivity. Collaboration is encouraged.

This course is limited to FMT majors/minors and Nexus in Journalism only.; Prereq: FMT-240VP.