Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is one of three video production courses and provides an introduction to documentary video making

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

• Develop project ideas, treatments, and other pre-production materials, and produce an idea as a high quality finished video product.
• Set up and use professional video recording gear, lighting and audio recording equipment at an intermediate level in the field for documentary production.Use the different roles of a production crew appropriately to produce a documentary video.
• Edit digital media at an intermediate level using industry standard non-linear editing software.
• Evaluate digital video projects, identify items for improvement, and implement changes.

Materials will be presented via lectures, demonstrations, screenings, and reading assignments. Students will learn and demonstrate their abilities through hands-on assignments and practical exams. Guest speakers will provide students with exposure to the local professional documentary production community.

Student fulfillment of expected outcomes will be assessed using:
-video and audio assignments;
-written quizzes;
-written assignments;
-practical exams in which the student demonstrates hands-on skills and abilities;

The following technologies, skills, and concepts will be covered and/or demonstrated:

1. DEVELOPING A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT
1.1. Proposal
1.2. Treatment
1.3. Script (2-column format)
1.4. Budget
1.5. Copyright clearance
1.6. Releases
2. DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION CREW
2.1. The responsibilities and techniques of documentary crew members: camera operator, sound recordist/boom operator, production assistant, and director.
2.2. Refining efficient and effective communication on the set.
3. CAMERAS IN A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION
3.1. Review of camera components, controls, and use;
3.2. Review of camera support and their use;
3.3. Visual composition for documentary;
3.4. Setting-up and using a camera for field documentary production;
3.5. Current and emerging video camera technologies;
3.6. Techniques for handheld videorecording.
4. AUDIO IN A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION
4.1. Microphones used for documentary field production;
4.2. Microphone placement;
4.3. Integration of audio with a video camera;
4.4. Setting optimal audio levels;
4.5. Using a field audio mixer;
4.6. Current and emerging audio production technologies;
5. LIGHTING FOR DOCUMENTARY
5.1. Review of lighting instruments and their use;
5.2. How to use and control available light;
5.3. Three-point lighting for field production.
6. DOCUMENTARY INTERVIEWS
6.1. The uses of interviews in documentary;
6.2. Preparing for interviews;
6.3. Interacting with interviewees;
6.4. Conducting the interview.
7. NONLINEAR EDITING & POST-PRODUCTION
7.1. Review of nonlinear editing basics;
7.2. Post-production workflows;
7.3. Techniques for organizing, managing, backing-up, and archiving media;
7.4. Editing and concepts and techniques for the documentary project.
8. DELIVERY/DISTRIBUTION
8.1. Review of distribution options (broadcast, DVD, Internet);
8.2. Current and emerging distribution technologies.