CI 5825
Non-Fiction Film and Video
Fall, 2013
 


Instructor: Jeff Goodman
Office: EDH 118-D
Office Phone: 262.2176
Home Phone: 828.675.9061
E-mail Address: goodmanjm@appstate.edu
 
Goals and Objectives
Schedule and Due Dates
Evaluation

Course Description:
Students view and analyze a variety of non-fiction films and videos in terms of both form and content.  Emphasis is placed on understanding the wide range of purposes for which non-fiction programs are made, and on examining the variety of techniques used to achieve those purposes.  Students also engage in hands-on experiences capturing reality on videotape as they explore what happens to reality when it is shaped into a film or video.
 

Course Goals:
At the completion of the course, each student will be able to view non-fiction film more critically and to better understand how any program differs from the reality being documented.  In addition, students will gain production and post-production skills and that will help them create compelling non-fiction video programs that communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
 

Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, each student will be able to:

1.  Describe the ways filmmakers distort reality when filming and editing, and explain how some distortion is an inevitable part of the process of making non-fiction film.

2.  Define non-fiction film in terms of those elements that all documentaries have in common.

3.  Describe the ethical considerations that must be faced when creating a non-fictional film or video.

4.  Describe the differences in impact between a fictional and non-fictional film.

5.  Describe the major similarities and differences among modes of documentary programs, and cite examples from each type.

6.  Create documentary video using a variety of stylistic approaches and understand the implications of choices made in pre-production, production and post-production.

7.  Manage the technical tasks required to make non-fiction video.
 

Texts:

There is no comprehensive text for this course. Readings will be handed out in class.


Course Outline:
 
 
Date
Topic and Viewing
Assignment Due
8/22 Modes of Representation
  • Expository: Nanook of the North
  • Observational:  Central Park, Salesman
  • Interactive: Sherman's March
  • Reflexive:  Slow Food Fast Times

 


8/24

 

Viewing: Missing Allen

Introduction to video camcorders

Discuss The Lens, the Eye and the I: Self Portrait Project



8/29 Discussion Circles on Missing Allen Finish Viewing Missing Allen and prepare for Discussion Circles
8/31

Digital video for the web and setting up your web page

 
9/5 Topics and techniques:  the explosion of forms
 
  • The Match that Started My Fire
  • Glass Jaw
  • Moses Pendleton on Moses Pendleton
  • 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould
  • Koyaanisqatsi
  • Microcosmos


Introduction to digital video editing

Sense of Place Due 9/6

9/7
Interview techniques
  • Blues According to Lightning Hopkins
  • Auto Bond
  • Interview with Erol Morris
  • Vernon Florida
Gathering live audio and interviewing
 
9/12

Discussion Circles on Always for Pleasure

Discuss Ten Images Assignment: A Sense of Place

View Always for Pleasure and prepare for Discussion Circles
9/14 Documenting already structured reality:
concerts, lectures
  • Don't Look Back
  • Sympathy for the Devil
  • Pred Fest footage
  • Video conference footage
 
9/19 History of Cinéma Verité Ten Images Assignment: A Sense of Place due

9/21

In-class Cinéma Verité experience

 
9/26

Discussion Circles on Born Into Brothels

Discuss Interview assignment

View Born into Brothels and prepare for Discussion Circles
9/28 Documenting conflict
  • Fast Food Women
  • Harlan County USA
 
10/3

Introduce Final Project

Structuring Documentary:

  • 42 Up
  • Spellbound
  • Dr. Death
  • Cheeks
  • March of the Penguins
Interview assignment due

10/5
Documentary and history
  • Times of Harvey Milk
  • The Films of Ken Burns
  • Radio Bikini
10/10

Discussion Circles on Mighty Times: the Children's March or To Towns of Jasper

Discuss Final Project Ideas

View Mighty Times: the Children's March or Two Towns of Jasper (TBA) and prepare for Discussion Circles
10/12

Documentary as personal exploration
  • My Father Sold Studebakers
  • Sherman's March
  • Same River Twice 

 

 
10/17 Finish Same River Twice and discuss Final Project Groups/ Topics Chosen
10/19 No Class: Fall Break  
10/24
Documenting the Human Soul
  • Grizzly Man
  • Speedo
  • The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg
  • Be Here to Love Me
  • Hearts of Darkness
 
10/26 Persuasion and Point of View
  • Miss or Myth
  • Power
  • Bowling for Columbine

10/31
Discussion Circles on My Country, My Country

Detailed Treatment for Final Project Due

View My Country, My Country (October 25, 9 pm on PBS) and prepare for Discussion Circles: NO WRITING IS DUE.

11/2 Propaganda and the News
  • From "The Eternal Jew"
  • Fear and Favor in the Newsroom
  • Outfoxed
  • Panama Deception
  • Control Room
 

11/7
Discussion Circles on Six O'Clock News View Six O'Clock News and prepare for Discussion Circles
11/9 Mediated Reality
  • Winged Migration
  • 20 Dates
  • "Reality" TV programming
  • Clips
 

11/14
Discussion Circles on Yes Men View Yes Men and prepare for Discussion Circles
11/16 Documentary and change
  • Paradise Lost 2
  • Thin Blue Line
 
11/21

Discussion Circles on Paradise Lost
 

View Paradise Lost and prepare for Discussion Circles
11/23 No Class: Thanksgiving
11/28 Documenting art and live events
  • Press On
  • Don't Look Back
  • Mystery of Picasso
  • The Year of the Horse
  • New York Doll
  • Monterey Pop
Raw footage for Final Project due
11/30 Strategies for Editing Documentary Work on final projects
12/5 Strategies for Editing Documentary Work on final projects

Final Presentations: 
Friday, December 8, 2006 from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Final Projects due

 



Evaluation:

A. Production projects. (40%) During the semester, you will complete three small production projects and one longer piece. The smaller production projects will each count for one grade. The longer piece will be graded at three stages -- treatment, raw footage, final edit -- with the treatment and raw footage counting for one grade each and the final edit counting for three. The projects will be graded on a three point scale according to the following criteria:

Three points if your project: Two points if your project: One point if your project:

B. Viewings/ Discussion Circles (40%) Over the course of the semester, you will be asked to view eight films outside of class and come to class prepared to play an assigned roll in discussing them. Films will be on reserve in the Media Lab to be viewed there, though some are available from the library for check-out or may be rented. You will turn in your word processed notes that indicate your preparation for the discussion. These will be graded on the following criteria:

Three points if your preparation and participation: Two points if your preparation and participation: One point if your preparation and participation: You will receive sixteen grades; the total will determine your grade for components A and B of the course:

40-48 points = A
36-40 points = A-
32-36 points = B+
28-32 points = B
24-28 points = B-
20-24 points = C+
16-20 points = C
12-16 point = D
<12 points = F


C. Class preparation, participation and attendance. (20%) The discussions and interactions that take place in the classroom are an important part of this course. At times you will be asked to read, write or view something outside of class in order to be prepared for a discussion or activity. Class participation will also include oral and written feedback on other students' work. Since there are a number of activities that we will do as a class that will be difficult to make up if you are absent, it is important that you make every effort to come to every class. Please tell me if you know in advance that you are going to miss a class so I can fill you in on what you need to do. Missing class without contacting me, or missing class frequently (even if you let me know) will lower your final class grade up to one-half a letter grade for each class missed (e.g. B to a B-, B- to a C+ etc.).

A final note on grades: Education is not about grades but about learning. However, learning requires feedback, and an evaluation component in education is one way to give feedback. Still, I consider your grade only a part of this feedback; in many cases, you will learn more from the specific written or verbal evaluation of your work. If you are not happy with your grade on any project in this course, I encourage you to rework it and resubmit it. In addition, since it is my goal to help create the best learning environment possible, I strongly encourage you to give me feedback about the class as we go.
 



Note for Graduate students in section 5950. The required projects for this course are the same for you, though more will be expected of you as you meet these requirements. For instance, both your production work and your written work will be held to a higher standard for evaluation, and you will be expected to take more leadership in group work.