Department of Communication Studies

Fall 2009

COMM 390-001 TV Direction: Documentary
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/jalobaidi/
http://blackboard.bridgew.edu
Tuesday, TV Studio RCC120

Contact Information

    Office Hours

Course Description
This course deals with elements of television direction including script, storyboard, composition, framing, lighting, camera operation, music and audio, sound effects, and visual elements. Students will produce short documentaries and learn the process of directing a documentary film. Procedures and plans for Preproduction, production, and postproduction will be covered as well.

Required Textbooks
Directing the Documentary, Michael Rabiger, Focal Press (5^th Ed, 2009).
Documentary Filmmaking: A Contemporary Field Guide, John Hewitt & Gustavo Vazquez, Oxford, 2000.

Goals
Students will learn by practice the difference between fiction and nonfiction films. This course also enables them to understand and exercise the techniques of production and distribution venues.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course students will know:
-how to make visual style decision concerning the best aesthetic approach.
-Using the most useful editing techniques to deliver a powerful documentary film in an interesting and meaningful format.
-how to be especially clear on the legal issues.

Production Deadlines
Sept 21:  Submission of one page proposal for a documentary film. The subject-matter should be of social, political, cultural, educational, and/or environmental importance.
Sept 28: A preshooting script , budget, shooting’s schedules, equipment need, and crew.
Nov 23-30: Postproduction.
Dec 7: Visual and audio fine-tuning.
Dec 10: Final Screening of films, and submission of Production Book.

Course Assignments and Preparations
Discussion Board: Friday at 10:00pm: You must post no less than 600-word every Wednesday commenting, answering, or elaborating on an issue posted by the instructor.

Chapters’ Reading and Critical Review: Monday at 4:00pm. You are asked to write two pages of critical review of the assigned chapter. The focus is on the main concepts and leading points. We won’t be able to discuss everything in the textbooks, so you need to engage the material through the critical prism of summarizing the information in the text. 

Production: Each student will produce up to 15-minute documentary film. You are responsible of this production from preproduction stage, through the actual production, and up to the postproduction and distribution.

Equipment: Students are strongly encouraged to bring their video cameras and laptops to facilitate their production. Please contact Professor James Moore, should a need arise for borrowing equipment from the department.

DVDCAM Tapes and DVDs: You will need three DVDCAM tapes; two for production, and one for postproduction and final, and two DVDs to burn two copies; one for final project, and one for yourself.  It is your responsibility to purchase tapes and DVDs.

Music and Sound Effects: Copyrights and music acquisitions requirements must be observed and applied.

Production Book: Using a binder and sketchbook is great idea. It includes: drafts of proposals, draft of scripts, shooting scripts, sketches, budgets, locations’ reports, shooting schedules, equipment reservations, production stages; preproduction, production, and postproduction.

Polices
-No late papers, or production assignments will be accepted. Please give yourself some time so you have a cushion for unforeseen circumstances. Please see the course syllabus for the deadlines.
-This course is designed that failing to complete the production of a short documentary film will wreck your grade and fail the course.
-No INCOMPLETE grade for this course.
- Late production is not accepted.
-Avoid plagiarism by not using other people work without acknowledgment.  Trust is great value, but verify is essential principle.
- Email: Your official BSC “@bridgew.edu” address is the only address to be used for all course email correspondence. 

- Blackboard: Class will utilize several aspects of Blackboard in this class.  The syllabus and assignment handouts will be available for download there. Course announcements will be posted there.  Up-to-date grades will be posted and calculated there.  You have your own individual page where you will drop your assignments.  To access it, you need to login to blackboard, Communication, Group pages, your name, file Exchange, and submit your work. If you need help please call 508-531-2555.
-Announcements: Students are asked to check the announcements on blackboard for updates.

Grading System and Policy
Note: A grade of C or higher is required for this class and all Communication Studies classes.
A — Superior; B — Good; C — Satisfactory; D — Poor; F — Failure.

Schedule of Events

Thank you!

Last updated
09/11/2009
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