Documentary

1. What are the four goals of a documentary? To preserve the knowledge of a subject, to reveal something about the subject, to allow the viewer to experience what it is like to be the subject, to speak for the subject.
 * What is a Documentary?**

2. According to the website what is some of the appeal for the viewer of a documentary? Some appeal come from allowing the viewer to enter another world, and from allowing the viewer to think about things they normally do not in an average day.

3. Briefly summarize the 6 modes of the documentary. Exspository: Address the audience directly and uses narrator. Observational: Uses no narrator and is more self-explanatory. Allows audience to interperet subjects words for themselves. Reflexive: Reflect on film making process and are constructed around the making of the documentary. First Person: Focuses on the filmmaker own situation for self-revelation. Poetic: More about revealing something than defending an argument. TV Hybrid: Less of documentary and more of a "reality tv show" such as Survivor or "Cops".

1. How do documentaries "...reflect the attitudes, ideas, interests, even the prejudices of the filmmakers." Only items and objects that reinforce the filmmakers own beliefs are shown.
 * The ABC's of Documentary Cinema**

2. Give five examples of types of shots that refer to the size of the subject within a frame. Wide Shot, Long Shot, Wide Angle, Master Shot.

3. What is the difference between a cutaway and a cut-in? Cut in goes towards the action while cut away goes away from action.

4. Decribe the relationship between an over-the-shoulder shot and a complementary shot. Over the should is over the shoulder view of one character while a complimentary shot reverses between 2 subjects.

5. What does the audio term "MOS" mean and where did it originate? it means "silent" and it comes from German directors in early hollywood.


 * Preparing to FIlm**

//"It is extremely important for us to be clear about what we're trying to say, why we're trying to say it, and then work out a way to say it. Half of what a documentary is can be more about your attitude to the subject than the subject itself."// (Michel Grigsby and Nicholas McClintock, "The State We're In." Dox. 6, 6-10)

1. How will your attitude about a subject contribute to the content of the film? If the filmmaker feels strongly about the subject

2. Why might it be important for a filmmaker to be clear about what he/she is saying and why he/she is saying it? So the viewer can fully grasp the concept of the subject.

3. Why is it effective to show people in action and interacting with each other? Because a picture is worth a thousand words and helps reinforce the subject.

4. Why is it important for a good documentary to have a clear perspective? So that the message is reaching the audience clearly.

5. What kinds of things can a documentary filmmaker do to research a topic? Talk to experts, read papers and official reports/documents and talk to other people to see how much they know.

6. How can your audience enfluence your approach to your documentary?

7. Why must a filmmaker clearly organize his/her approach before filming? So the final product is a clear message and so that there are no loose or weak explanations.

//"By creating a plan, the filmmaker organizes his/her general vision, using ideas suggested by research, to formulate a more precise structure for the filming - even a list of sequences to be shot.//"

8. When might a documentary filmmaker use storyboards? When planning shots, locations, and scenes to help keep organized.

9. What is a shooting plan? What must be considered in creating a shooting plan? A guide that explains the sequences and what happens in each shot.

1. Describe the following jobs with regards to documentary film making: Director, Assistant Director, Production Manager, Camera Operator, Sound Recordist, Gaffer, Best Boy, Grip, Picture Editor, Foley Artist.
 * Essentials**

1. What is a shooting schedule? Schedule of when and where the shooting will take place. Also handles crew and equipment schedules.
 * Shooting The Documentary**

2. What is the purpose of a pre-interview? To make the interviewed person more at ease and to let them know the topic and how they will be contributing

3. How can location contribute to the impact of an interview? It sets the mood and atmosphere of the interview which is crucial to setting.

4. What can an interviewer do to avoid having their questions appear in the documentary? Makes sure that the answers are complete and can stand on their own as statements.

5. What is considered common practice in frameing the interviewee? To switch which third of the screen the person appears on to provide variety.

6. What other shot should a filmaker gather during an interview? To move between subjects to continue the conversation.

1. What is the purpose of the Shot Log? To summarize each scene with time and descriptions.
 * Putting It All Together**

2. What is the benefit of making transcriptions of all the interviews? So the editor can refer back to them and to proove that is what they actually said.

3. What is a "problem-solution" structure? Presents issue, outlines approaches, and finds solution.

4. What is the purpose of the Rough Cut? To see how well the video and sound blend together.

5. Typically, what types of shots are cut from the final product? The shots that contribute the least to the overall production.

6. What are some elements of good and bad narration? Good narrations sets the scene and allows viewer to make own judgement while bad narration tells viewer what to feel.

25/30