Tag Archives: Assignments

Screening Discussion & Film Journal

This assignment is based on in-class film critiques and responses in your film journal. The Film Critique will be partially graded by your film presentation.

For the Journal, you can create your film journal as a blog, or submit it electronically through Canvas.

In response to a film we watch in class, write a reflection piece. You can

  • choose a particular passage that you felt important and expand upon it,
  • focus on a technical, artistic or directorial choices in your response,
  • discuss the documentary in relation to the development of character or story,
  • discuss the documentary in relation to the issues it raises and the questions it poses.

You must write a response to at least 3 films we watch during the term in your journal.

The other 10% will be based on in-class participation, and peer reviews of your classmates works-in-progress.

DUE DATE: April 14th / Ongoing through Term

GRADE: 20%

The PITCH

This will be in-class pitch of your work in progress or rough cut. You will pitch the project to the class, focusing on elements of story, stage, and character development. We will follow the model of public pitching as done by some of the most important documentary film festivals in the world.

The class will be divided into juries that will give feedback on the pitch and overall project with suggestions for going forward.

During the pitch you can also request specific help with difficult areas or feedback on specific questions.

DUE DATE: March 24 (in class)

GRADE: 15%

Project Treatment

TREATMENT

BRIEF LOGLINE


In a concise 2-3 sentences provide a description of your film that cites location, characters  or subjects, mission and stakes as applicable.

SUMMARY OF TOPIC (1-2 PAGES)


Briefly provide contextual information to acquaint the reader to the subject, advising why  the topic is critical and why such a film is needed now. Explain any global relevance for the  contemporary social issues addressed. Describe why you are the best person to tell this story. Please be concise.

NARRATIVE SYNOPSIS (1-2 PAGES)


Clearly communicate the story your film will tell.

•Who are the characters and what is their  journey?
•What might be different for them from the beginning to the end?
•What is the  central question your film will answer?
•Consider narrative arc, point-of-view, and use of  artistic elements.

Proposals MUST convey a vision for a finished film.

Development proposals that have not yet identified possible characters or  subjects, locations or are unable to unable to articulate the narrative framework or the story’s central  question will not be considered.

DUE DATE: FEB 25th

GRADE:  25%

 

Production Plan & Reflection

This first assignment will be a Research and Production plan. This will be the basic underlying document for the documentary you will create over the term.

The fist step will be to find a topic/character/issue/approach you want to explore.

Start looking by looking around you.

What stories excite you?

Do you have a story to tell?

Do you know an interesting character?

Do you have personal connections to an interesting story?

The Production Plan should include these elements:

  1. Who, What, Why, Where and How?
  2. Write a short, 2-3 line description on what your documentary will be about.
  3. Write a brief reflection on why you have chosen this story and why you are a good person to tell it (special access, personal experience, etc)
  4. What research do you need to do. Research is the most important phase of planning your project. You must do more than look through the internet, or news reports, even though it is a good place to start. Doing in-person research, visiting the sites and people you want to film, meeting related experts in the field, etc, is an important part of the process.
  5. Finally, include a production schedule to organise your time over the term.

 

DUE: Feb 4, 2016

WEIGHTING: 15%