Documentary Film 1 (15 cr)

Objective

The students are familiar with the history, theory and different types of documentary film and understand the special narrative characteristics of documentary film. The students are familiar with different documentary structures and understand their narrative characteristics. The students know the ethical principles and regulations related to their work and can apply them in practical situations. The students can do background research on their subject and use it to develop a small-scale documentary script. They can present their subject both orally and in writing. They are familiar with intellectual property legislation and the holders of intellectual property rights in documentary productions and can take into account the guidelines for using works of of other intellectual property rights holders in the production. The students can make appropriate performer contracts and get shooting permissions. They can break down the script into a budget, production plan and shooting schedule. The students are familiar with the workflow of a documentary production. The students can compose a image and sound plan and choose appropriate equipment for the production. They can compose a storyboard and sound plan based on the script and choose appropriate equipment. They can present and justify their own views of artistic content and the execution of production to other members of the production team.

Content

- History, theory and dramaturgy of documentary film.
- Genres and modes of documentary film.
- Producing ideas for a documentary.
- Background research, development, script and presentation of a documentary.
- Giving and receiving feedback.
- Intellectual property rights and related contracts.
- Performer contracts and shooting permits.
- Image and sound planning of a documentary.
- Professional ethics and legislation.

Location and time

Spring 2025.

According to Schedule

Materials

Jouko Aaltonen: Seikkailu todellisuuteen.


Kevin Lindenmuth: The Documentary Moviemaking Course : The Starter Guide to Documentary Filmmaking
Kelly Anderson & Martin Lucas: Documentary Voice & Vision
Jouko Aaltonen: Todellisuuden vangit vapauden valtakunnassa
Bill Nichols: Introduction to Documentary, Third Edition
Jonathan Kahana & Charles Musser: The Documentary Film Reader : History, Theory, Criticism
David Saunders: Documentary
Susanna Helke: Nanookin jälki
Timo Korhonen: Hyvän reunalla
Jacob Bricca: Documentary Editing

Teaching methods

Lectures, literature, assignments and project. Docpoint festival.

Employer connections

Possible guests from working life.

Exam schedules

On-line Exam
26.2.

International connections

No

Completion alternatives

Prior recognition negotiable

Student workload

Lähiopetus 110h
Tehtävät 100h
Tentti ja kirjallisuus 40h
Dockpoint 50h
Dokumentin ideointi ja pitchaus 70h

Osallistuminen kontaktiopetukseen vähintää 80%, tehtävien suoritus vähintään 100%

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students have acceptable participation in class and complete the assignments to a satisfactory standard. They are familiar with the school production environment and are able to some degree use technical equipment and the reservation system. They can do satisfactory preliminary research on their subject and use it to write a small-scale script. They know how to present the topic of their film both in writing and orally. They can produce a satisfactory storyboard and sound design plan and recognize pieces of proper equipment for their production. They are familiar with the key legislation and immaterial property rights related to documentary productions, as well as with the ethical principles and regulations related to their work.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students actively participate in class and complete the assignments to a good standard. They are familiar with the school production environment and are able to use technical equipment and the reservation system. They can do good preliminary research on their subject and use it to write a small-scale script. They know how to present and argue the topic of their film both in writing and orally. They can produce a storyboard and sound design plan and choose proper equipment for their production. They are familiar with the key legislation and immaterial property rights related to documentary productions, as well as with the ethical principles and regulations related to their work.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students actively participate in class and complete the assignments to an excellent standard. They master the school production environment and are able to use technical equipment and the reservation system. They can do good preliminary research on their subject in a versatile way, and use it to write a small-scale script. They know how to present the topic of their film both in writing and orally and argue for their own views related to the production and artistic approach. They can produce a storyboard and sound design plan and choose various proper equipment for their production. They are familiar with the key legislation and immaterial property rights related to documentary productions, as well as with the ethical principles and regulations related to their work.

Assessment methods and criteria

Continuous Assessment
Exam
Learning Assignments
Self Assessment
Lecturer Assessment
Attendance

Qualifications

Fiction Film 1 or or similar competences