MINI-DOCUMENTARY
What is a Documentary?
Non-fiction stories
Represent reality....you are not normally creating fictional
elements...or manipulating reality
Early form of film making
How to Prepare
Students need to understand their purpose and view
documentaries
Watch A&E, History Channel, Discovery, View Sample in Class
Ask Yourself
Is this a story that interests me?
Is it filmable?
Is it visual?
Can the story be told in a short film?
Does the story have inherent dramatic value?
Elements Necessary for a Basic
Documentary
Narrative: (Third-person voice-over, First person, Interviews
, Mixed)
Cover video or B-roll
Titles, graphics
Music, sound effects
Scripts
How to Begin
Decide on a Topic
Biography
Event
Issue
Issue? Ask each person the same four questions
Build a script around these interviews
Or - get two sides to a controversial topic through interviews
Create a script which introduces the topic, presents each
side, and provides a summary
Putting it on Paper
In this case, you must realize that it is very difficult to
write a script before you begin the project
BUT YOU STILL MUST PLAN; Prepare by writing outlines, lists,
idea sentences
Be ready to constantly revise and rewrite
Good scripts are not written......they are rewritten!!
Shooting the Video
Shoot 10-20 times more footage than you need - as ideas change
or expand, you have more raw video to work with
Shot footage at a variety of different angles for different
effects
Use different levels of action
The average shot should be 4 seconds
Editing
Tell the story in the briefest manner possible
Eliminate redundancies
Keep the pace up
Keep the editing simple.... cuts, dissolves... beware of lots
of effects. (DONT OVERDO IT!)
OTHER NOTES
As with our other projects, we will have to work in groups.
This is our final project.
The deadline for completing this project is THURSDAY DEC. 19th.
We will be having a FILM FESTIVAL on the
20th. The best documentary will win a PRIZE.
And as always. . .
HAVE FUN &
BE CREATIVE
DOCUMENTARY PROJECT RUBRIC
| |
Excellent
10 pts |
Good
8 pts |
Fair
6 pts |
Needs Improvement
4 pts |
Poor
2 pts |
No Effort
0 pts |
Mini-documentary Content
|
Excellent
Documentary is 510 minutes in length and clearly
and effectively tells the real story on a topic
that engages multiple audiences. The documentary
topic is clearly and fully researched, tells
multiple sides of the story, and the interviews
support the content. The documentary is engaging and
uses still images.
|
Good
|
Fair
Documentary is 510 minutes in length and includes
still images. The documentary story uses research
and interviews to support the content and engages
multiple audiences.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
Absent, incomplete, or unfocused.
|
No Effort
|
Research
|
Excellent
Project is well researched with sufficient evidence
to give a convincing argument.
|
Good
|
Fair
Project contains a few facts but needs more evidence
to add to the credibility of the case.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
Project shows little evidence of research. Project
does not include enough facts or diverse sources to
be credible as more than opinion.
|
No Effort
|
Information
|
Excellent
The team's video documentary is very informative.
Information is not biased, but fair and balanced.
All information is correct and credited
appropriately.
|
Good
|
Fair
The team does not cover all of the required criteria
and is not detailed in presenting their information.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
The team does not cover any of the required
material. Their video documentary is not detailed or
informative. The information that is presented is
irrelevant.
|
No Effort
|
Technical
|
Excellent
The documentary includes purposeful shot, camera
angle, and editing choices and each has a clear
impact on the mood of the film. The documentary
includes music, voice-over, and sound. It is hosted
online and on the group site.
|
Good
|
Fair
The documentary uses different shots and angles, but
the effect doesn't seem purposeful. Includes music
and sound, but is garbled or difficult to hear.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
The documentary contains many shots and edits that
make viewing difficult. Sound is inaudible in places
or too garbled to be heard accurately.
|
No Effort
|
Creativity
|
Excellent
The team presents their video documentary in an
extremely unique, original, and creative way. It
catches the viewer's attention and holds their
interest.
|
Good
|
Fair
The team presents their video documentary in a basic
way that tries to capture the viewer's attention.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
The team's video documentary is not presented in an
original or creative way. The information is read to
the viewers and fails to present the information in
an interesting format.
|
No Effort
|
Organization
|
Excellent
The team's information in the video documentary is
organized and flows. The transitions are smooth and
the material is easy to comprehend. The video
documentary ranges from 3-5 minutes in length.
|
Good
|
Fair
The team's information in the video documentary has
a general order and flow. The material is presented
in a difficult manner. The video is either too short
or too long by more than is necessary or agreed
upon.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
The team's information is not organized in any
manner and lacks a flow of conversation. The
terminology used to present the material is
unfamiliar to the viewer. The video is less than a
minute long
|
No Effort
|
Deadline and Essays
|
Excellent
Finished project turned in before or on deadline.
(Individual essays are turned in on time and reflect
appropriately on work done.)
|
Good
|
Fair
Finished project turned in before or on deadline.
Individual essays are turned in, but do not reflect
appropriately on work done.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Poor
Finished project is turned in late.
|
No Effort
|
