Documentary
Keywords |
Classification |
Keyword |
OFICIAL |
Visual Arts |
OFICIAL |
Communication Sciences |
Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S
Cycles of Study/Courses
Acronym |
No. of Students |
Study Plan |
Curricular Years |
Credits UCN |
Credits ECTS |
Contact hours |
Total Time |
MM |
23 |
Syllabus |
1 |
- |
6 |
45 |
162 |
2 |
Teaching language
Suitable for English-speaking students
Objectives
Provide students with fundamental knowledge about the aesthetics and techniques of the documentary form:
- Learn and apply the aesthetics and techniques of the documentary form
- Create video projects employing a non-fiction, documentary approach
- Use screenings, discussions and reading to stimulate the student ability to tackle their own documentary projects
- Pitch his/hers documentary project
- Make a production folder for his/hers documentary
- Make an electronic press kit for his/hers documentary
Learning outcomes and competences
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
- Create video projects employing a non-fiction, documentary approach
- Pitch a documentary
- Make a production folder
- Make an electronic press kit
Working method
Presencial
Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)
Although it’s not mandatory, is expected that students already had some practice with shooting and editing.
Program
- Brief introduction to the history of documentary
- Pitching
- Introduction to story
- Pre-production: introduction to the production folder (synopsis, treatment, script, schedule, production lists, budget and contracts)
- Introduction to camera and audio
- Directing – elements and grammar
- Documentaries genres
- Production
- Post-Production: editing theory and editing software
- Distribution: electronic press kit (biographies, scene pictures, poster)
Mandatory literature
Michael Rabiger;
Directing the Documentary
Anthony Q. Artis;
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production, Routledge, 2014. ISBN: 978-0240824154
Christopher Vogler;
Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
Robert McKee;
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting
Teaching methods and learning activities
These theoretical and practical classes provide an introduction to the documentary form and provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding, language and appreciation for the aesthetics, history, theory and techniques of non-fiction film. Each student will individually make a 3-minute documentary and will also take part in the making of a 10-minute documentary with his/hers classmates.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation without final exam
Assessment Components
Designation |
Weight (%) |
Participação presencial |
50,00 |
Trabalho de campo |
50,00 |
Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
Designation |
Time (hours) |
Elaboração de projeto |
52,00 |
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese |
20,00 |
Estudo autónomo |
45,00 |
Frequência das aulas |
45,00 |
Total: |
162,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Do not exceed the maximum number of absences and participate actively in the development of the proposed documentaries, pitch, production folder and electronic press kit.
Students with worker statute or equivalent are exempted from classes but must present the progress of their work, and should make their presentation together with ordinary students.
In each evaluation topic, the student should obtain a grade equal ou higher than 10.
Calculation formula of final grade
The final mark is calculated by the following formula:
FM = ID * 30% + P * 10% + PF * 5% + GD * 40% + EPK * 5% + C * 10%
Legend:
ID: Individual documentary
P: Pitch
PF: Production folder
GD: Group documentary
EPK: Electronic press kit
C: Participation in class
Classification improvement
The final grade can only be improved in a new edition of the course.