Documentary filmmaking

About this course

Participants examine how to identify a documentary’s focus, research a story and prepare efficiently for a shoot. The course considers how ideas can be translated into visual sequences and speech, alongside essential camera skills, camera positions and interview recording. A short in-class exercise provides material for an introduction to assembling footage in a professional editing package. Teaching combines discussion of documentary processes with practical work on filming and editing.

What you'll learn

• Define a documentary idea and identify the important elements of its story
• Plan and prepare a documentary shoot
• Use essential camera skills and camera positions to record footage
• Record an interview
• Assemble filmed material using an editing package

Is this course right for you?

The course is listed as suitable for all levels, so it may accommodate learners with different degrees of prior experience. Participation includes planning, filming a short class exercise and working with recorded material for editing.

• Suitable for learners at all stated levels
• Includes practical filming and editing activity during class

Before you go

• Removable storage, such as a portable hard drive or USB stick, may be purchased to keep course data, although participants have an account in class for storing work.
• A PC-formatted portable hard drive or USB stick can be read by Apple Mac computers but cannot be written to.
• Hand-outs are provided.
• Books related to filmmaking and editing may be purchased if desired.