Documentary

**What is a Documentary?**
1**. What are the four goals of a documentary?**

To thoroughly document a particular subject in order to preserve a knowledge or to inform viewers of a certain occurrence or happening.

To reveal something about the subject

To allow the viewer to experience what it's like to be the subject (whether it's someone diving out of an airplane or a homeless person)

To advocate on behalf of the subject

2. According to the website what is some of the appeal for the viewer of a documentary?

3. Briefly summarize the 6 modes of the documentary. expository observational reflexive first person poetic TV spin offs

1. How do documentaries "...reflect the attitudes, ideas, interests, even the prejudices of the filmmakers." 2. Give five examples of types of shots that refer to the size of the subject within a frame. 3. What is the difference between a cutaway and a cut-in? 4. Decribe the relationship between an over-the-shoulder shot and a complementary shot. 5. What does the audio term "MOS" mean and where did it originate?
 * The ABC's of Documentary Cinema**


 * 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? 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? 3. Why is it effective to show people in action and interacting with each other? 4. Why is it important for a good documentary to have a clear perspective? 5. What kinds of things can a documentary filmmaker do to research a topic? 6. How can your audience enfluence your approach to your documentary? 7. Why must a filmmaker clearly organize his/her approach before filming?

//"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? 9. What is a shooting plan? What must be considered in creating a shooting plan?

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? 2. What is the purpose of a pre-interview? 3. How can location contribute to the impact of an interview? 4. What can an interviewer do to avoid having their questions appear in the documentary? 5. What is considered common practice in frameing the interviewee? 6. What other shot should a filmaker gather during an interview?
 * Shooting The Documentary**

1. What is the purpose of the Shot Log? 2. What is the benefit of making transcriptions of all the interviews? 3. What is a "problem-solution" structure? 4. What is the purpose of the Rough Cut? 5. Typically, what types of shots are cut from the final product? 6. What are some elements of good and bad narration?
 * Putting It All Together**