Pennsylvania State University 3 credits COMM
Advanced exploration of documentary production techniques and aesthetics through the completion of a short video project abroad. COMM 437A Advanced Documentary Production Abroad (3) This course is designed to enable students to produce portfolio-quality work while bringing together ideas, processes, practices, and theories in the service of documentary production. Working in small crews with others from the class and using sophisticated production equipment, students will write and produce short digital video projects. While exploring the history, conventions and theory of the documentary film form, students will develop and produce a 3-9 minute video work to be filmed abroad either during the Spring Break, in the middle of Maymester or over the Thanksgiving Break (depending on the semester offered). Upon return from their time abroad, students will edit and screen their final projects. Utilizing a workshop structure, class time will be focused on discussion and analysis of the challenges faced by individual productions as well as on providing the support, guidance, and critique necessary for a successful production. Particular emphasis is given to the traditions of social criticism. The history of documentary form is illustrated by comparing the work of the American "Direct Cinema" style embodied in the work of Drew Associates to the French "Cinema Verite" style developed by Jean Rouch. The evolution of these styles into what we now just refer to as "Verite" filmmaking is put into practice through a series of exercises that incorporate a variety of points of view.Analysis of the above works, as well as examples from Barbara Kopple, Errol Morris, and Frederick Wiseman, provide students with a springboard to develop their own style, vision, and personal creative voice. An examination of Bill Nichols taxonomy of non-fiction film classification further contextualizes aesthetic and theoretical issues for students. A series of lectures, discussions, readings, and screenings move students through the personal and collaborative process of documentary production.
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