Calendar
WEEK 1:
Tue. 1/8
In class:
Discuss Syllabus.
Discuss Documentary Scene Presentation assignment.
Sign up for Documentary Scene Presentations.
Discuss Short Documentary/Video Essay Assignment.
Thur. 1/10: Visit The Film Lab
Due: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. Directed by Scott Boehm and produced and edited by Peter Johnston, 11 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Kirsten Sorensen et al. “Guidelines for producing a documentary short.”
In class:
We will meet at the MSU Film Lab and learn about borrowing equipment and talk to Peter Johnston about the film.
Discussion of short documentary as a genre.
In class:
Discuss Syllabus.
Discuss Documentary Scene Presentation assignment.
Sign up for Documentary Scene Presentations.
Discuss Short Documentary/Video Essay Assignment.
Thur. 1/10: Visit The Film Lab
Due: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. Directed by Scott Boehm and produced and edited by Peter Johnston, 11 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Kirsten Sorensen et al. “Guidelines for producing a documentary short.”
In class:
We will meet at the MSU Film Lab and learn about borrowing equipment and talk to Peter Johnston about the film.
Discussion of short documentary as a genre.
WEEK 2:
Tue. 1/15:
Due: Motherhood on the Screen: An Exploration of Wounds Opened and Closed Through Home Video by Alexandra Hidalgo, 23 minutes (2016). Link on course Google drive.
V Renée. “Learn (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Shooting Better B-Roll.”
Maryl Ayres. “How to Create a Visual Story with B-roll.”
Read Short Documentary/Video Essay Assignment.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Discuss Video Essays as a genre.
Thur. 1/17: Bring your camera
Due: Eskimo Artist: Kenojuak by John Feney, 19 minutes (1963).
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice filming B-roll.
Due: Motherhood on the Screen: An Exploration of Wounds Opened and Closed Through Home Video by Alexandra Hidalgo, 23 minutes (2016). Link on course Google drive.
V Renée. “Learn (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Shooting Better B-Roll.”
Maryl Ayres. “How to Create a Visual Story with B-roll.”
Read Short Documentary/Video Essay Assignment.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Discuss Video Essays as a genre.
Thur. 1/17: Bring your camera
Due: Eskimo Artist: Kenojuak by John Feney, 19 minutes (1963).
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice filming B-roll.
WEEK 3:
Tue. 1/22: Bring your camera
Due: Encounters at Kwacha House - Halifax by Rex Tasker, 18 minutes (1967). Find in: MSU Library’s Black Studies in Video.
Noam Kroll. “How to Shoot with Natural Light: 10 Tips.”
Eskild Fors. “Natural Light! Easy Lighting for Video and Film.”
Video Upskill. “How to film using natural light indoors.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice experimenting with natural light.
Practice filming a scene.
Thur. 1/24: Bring your camera
Due: Embodied Encounters: A Case for Autobiographical and Haptic Filmmaking by Anne von Petersdorff, 22 minutes (2012).
Come up with three possible topics for your Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Michael Moore. “Michael Moore’s 13 Rules for Making Documentary Films.”
Curtis Juff. “Getting the Best Sound from Your Shotgun Mic.”
“Sound recording tips: how to record location sound in film and video production.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Share possible topics for your Short Documentary/Video Essay
Choose your partner for the Short Documentary/Video Essay
Practice filming a scene.
Due: Encounters at Kwacha House - Halifax by Rex Tasker, 18 minutes (1967). Find in: MSU Library’s Black Studies in Video.
Noam Kroll. “How to Shoot with Natural Light: 10 Tips.”
Eskild Fors. “Natural Light! Easy Lighting for Video and Film.”
Video Upskill. “How to film using natural light indoors.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice experimenting with natural light.
Practice filming a scene.
Thur. 1/24: Bring your camera
Due: Embodied Encounters: A Case for Autobiographical and Haptic Filmmaking by Anne von Petersdorff, 22 minutes (2012).
Come up with three possible topics for your Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Michael Moore. “Michael Moore’s 13 Rules for Making Documentary Films.”
Curtis Juff. “Getting the Best Sound from Your Shotgun Mic.”
“Sound recording tips: how to record location sound in film and video production.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Share possible topics for your Short Documentary/Video Essay
Choose your partner for the Short Documentary/Video Essay
Practice filming a scene.
WEEK 4:
Tue. 1/29: Bring your camera
Due: Horse Drawn Magic by Dorothy Todd Hénaut, 27 minutes (1979).
Peter Biesterfeld. “Documentary Interview Tips.”
Oakley Anderson-Moore. “What I Learned After Conducting 40+ Interviews for My First Feature Documentary.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice filming an interview.
Thur. 1/31
Due: No Class. University Closed Due to Weather.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Give Short Documentary/Video Essay Planning Presentation #1.
Due: Horse Drawn Magic by Dorothy Todd Hénaut, 27 minutes (1979).
Peter Biesterfeld. “Documentary Interview Tips.”
Oakley Anderson-Moore. “What I Learned After Conducting 40+ Interviews for My First Feature Documentary.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Practice filming an interview.
Thur. 1/31
Due: No Class. University Closed Due to Weather.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Give Short Documentary/Video Essay Planning Presentation #1.
WEEK 5:
Tue. 2/5: Bring your camera
Due:
Lessons from a School Shooting: Notes from Dublane by Kim A. Snyder, 22 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
Faith Fuller. “Top 10 Video Interviewing Tips.”
The Slanted Lens. “Shooting a Documentary Style Interview: Video Tutorial.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentations.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Planning Presentation #1: What topic(s) are you thinking about? Who would you interview and how do you contact them? What are the difficulties you envision? What are the benefits of this topic?
Thur. 2/7:
Due: The Principles of Feminist Filmmaking by Alexandra Hidalgo, 28 minutes (2017).
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Give Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2.
Discussion of releases.
Fri. 2/8: Begin shooting your short documentary/video essay.
Due:
Lessons from a School Shooting: Notes from Dublane by Kim A. Snyder, 22 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
Faith Fuller. “Top 10 Video Interviewing Tips.”
The Slanted Lens. “Shooting a Documentary Style Interview: Video Tutorial.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentations.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Planning Presentation #1: What topic(s) are you thinking about? Who would you interview and how do you contact them? What are the difficulties you envision? What are the benefits of this topic?
Thur. 2/7:
Due: The Principles of Feminist Filmmaking by Alexandra Hidalgo, 28 minutes (2017).
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Give Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2.
Discussion of releases.
Fri. 2/8: Begin shooting your short documentary/video essay.
WEEK 6:
Tue. 2/12: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City by Elise Conklin and Liv Larsen, 27 minutes (2016). Find in MSU Library’s Kanopy.
“See What’s Possible with Premiere Pro.”
Caleb Ward. “How to Set Audio Levels for Video.”
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2: Who are you going to be interviewing, when, and where? What are your plans for B-roll and scenes? What are the difficulties you envision with this project? If you’re doing a video essay, what sources do you plan to cite?
Read sample release.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2
TechMindBlow. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 – Basic Editing Introduction Tutorial.”
Linda.com. “Premiere Pro Tutorial: The Paste Attributes Option Dialogue.”
Thur. 2/14:
Due: Allegedly Accounted For by Autumn Laws, 23 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Prepare at least two questions for Autumn about her video essay and her experience making it.
Draft of interview questions for Short Documentary.
Draft of narration text for Video Essay
In class: Skype with Autumn Laws.
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2
Workshop Interview Questions/Video Essay Narration
O’Reilly Video Training. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Tutorial: Generate Effects: Infiniteskills.”
CleaverFilm FX. “How to Mix Audio in Adobe Premiere.”
USG. “Video Text Tutorial – Premiere Pro.”
Due: From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City by Elise Conklin and Liv Larsen, 27 minutes (2016). Find in MSU Library’s Kanopy.
“See What’s Possible with Premiere Pro.”
Caleb Ward. “How to Set Audio Levels for Video.”
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2: Who are you going to be interviewing, when, and where? What are your plans for B-roll and scenes? What are the difficulties you envision with this project? If you’re doing a video essay, what sources do you plan to cite?
Read sample release.
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2
TechMindBlow. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 – Basic Editing Introduction Tutorial.”
Linda.com. “Premiere Pro Tutorial: The Paste Attributes Option Dialogue.”
Thur. 2/14:
Due: Allegedly Accounted For by Autumn Laws, 23 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Prepare at least two questions for Autumn about her video essay and her experience making it.
Draft of interview questions for Short Documentary.
Draft of narration text for Video Essay
In class: Skype with Autumn Laws.
Short Documentary Planning Presentation #2
Workshop Interview Questions/Video Essay Narration
O’Reilly Video Training. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Tutorial: Generate Effects: Infiniteskills.”
CleaverFilm FX. “How to Mix Audio in Adobe Premiere.”
USG. “Video Text Tutorial – Premiere Pro.”
WEEK 7:
Mon. 2/19: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Zion by Floyd Russ, 10 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
Peter Knegt. “So You Want To Make a Documentary: Tips from First-Time Filmmakers at Hot Docs.”
Alexandra Hidalgo. “Six Tips for Making a Micro-Budget Feature Film You Can Be Proud Of.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Wed. 2/21:
Due: Marie’s Dictionary by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, 9 minutes (2015).
Bring short section of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique
In class:
In-class critique of Short Documentary/Video Essay section.
Due: Zion by Floyd Russ, 10 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
Peter Knegt. “So You Want To Make a Documentary: Tips from First-Time Filmmakers at Hot Docs.”
Alexandra Hidalgo. “Six Tips for Making a Micro-Budget Feature Film You Can Be Proud Of.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Wed. 2/21:
Due: Marie’s Dictionary by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, 9 minutes (2015).
Bring short section of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique
In class:
In-class critique of Short Documentary/Video Essay section.
WEEK 8:
Tue. 2/26: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Fight by Jessica Kukla and Zoë Kissel, 9 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Richard Stupart. “12 Lessons Learned Shooting a Short Documentary.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay in class.
Thur. 2/28: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Every Word Is a Prayer by Cat Jennings, 14 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Prepare at least two questions for Cat about her video essay and her experience making it.
Michael Maher. “12 Video Editing Tips for Cutting a Documentary.”
In class: Visit from Cat Jennings.
Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay in class.
Due: Fight by Jessica Kukla and Zoë Kissel, 9 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Richard Stupart. “12 Lessons Learned Shooting a Short Documentary.”
In class: Documentary Scene Presentation.
Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay in class.
Thur. 2/28: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Every Word Is a Prayer by Cat Jennings, 14 minutes (2018). Link on course Google drive.
Prepare at least two questions for Cat about her video essay and her experience making it.
Michael Maher. “12 Video Editing Tips for Cutting a Documentary.”
In class: Visit from Cat Jennings.
Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay in class.
WEEK 9:
Tue. 3/5: NO CLASS. Spring Break
Thurs. 3/7: NO CLASS. Spring Break
Thurs. 3/7: NO CLASS. Spring Break
WEEK 10:
Tue. 3/12: NO CLASS. Conference on College Composition and Communication.
Thurs. 3/14: Tue. 11/1: NO CLASS. Conference on College Composition and Communication.
Thurs. 3/14: Tue. 11/1: NO CLASS. Conference on College Composition and Communication.
WEEK 11:
Tue. 3/19
Due: Precious by David Kyaw Thet Aung, 17 minutes (2013). Find in: MSU Library’s Kanopy.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Draft 1 Due
In class: Show Draft 1 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique.
Thur. 3/21
Due: Butch Rhetoric: queer masculinity in rhetoric and composition by Casey Miles, 8 minutes (2015).
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Surfaced Studio. “Working with Audio on Adobe Premiere Pro.”
Due: Precious by David Kyaw Thet Aung, 17 minutes (2013). Find in: MSU Library’s Kanopy.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Draft 1 Due
In class: Show Draft 1 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique.
Thur. 3/21
Due: Butch Rhetoric: queer masculinity in rhetoric and composition by Casey Miles, 8 minutes (2015).
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Surfaced Studio. “Working with Audio on Adobe Premiere Pro.”
WEEK 12:
Tue. 3/26:
Due: Life on the Line: Coming of Age Between Nations by Jen Gilomen and Sally Rubin, 27 minutes (2014). Find in: MSU Library’s Kanopy.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Thur. 3/28: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Period End of Story by Rayka Zehtabchi, 26 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
BBC. “Opening and Closing Credits.”
August Miller. “Short Film End Credits.”
“Contact – End Credits.”
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Discussion about the right format for beginning and end credits.
Due: Life on the Line: Coming of Age Between Nations by Jen Gilomen and Sally Rubin, 27 minutes (2014). Find in: MSU Library’s Kanopy.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Thur. 3/28: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Period End of Story by Rayka Zehtabchi, 26 minutes (2018). Available on Netflix.
BBC. “Opening and Closing Credits.”
August Miller. “Short Film End Credits.”
“Contact – End Credits.”
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Discussion about the right format for beginning and end credits.
WEEK 13:
Tue. 4/2: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Forever, Chinatown by James Q Chan, 32 minutes (2016). Find in: MSU Library’s Art Manhattan Film Collection.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
RiverCityGraphix. “Premiere Tutorial: Animate Objects (Images, Text, and Video)-HD-”
Ben Halsall. “Premiere Pro: Animate the Scale, Location & Rotation of Images Using Keyframes.”
Thur. 4/4: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Premiere Pro Tips. “Rolling Credits Tutorial – Adobe Premiere Pro.”
Due: Forever, Chinatown by James Q Chan, 32 minutes (2016). Find in: MSU Library’s Art Manhattan Film Collection.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
RiverCityGraphix. “Premiere Tutorial: Animate Objects (Images, Text, and Video)-HD-”
Ben Halsall. “Premiere Pro: Animate the Scale, Location & Rotation of Images Using Keyframes.”
Thur. 4/4: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Premiere Pro Tips. “Rolling Credits Tutorial – Adobe Premiere Pro.”
WEEK 14:
Tue. 4/9
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Draft 2 Due.
In class: Show Draft 2 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique.
Thur. 4/11: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Cinecom.net “Cinematic Film Look in Premiere Pro Tutorial.”
O’Reilly Video Training. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Tutorials: Editing Audio: Infiniteskills.”
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Short Documentary/Video Essay Draft 2 Due.
In class: Show Draft 2 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique.
Thur. 4/11: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Cinecom.net “Cinematic Film Look in Premiere Pro Tutorial.”
O’Reilly Video Training. “Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Tutorials: Editing Audio: Infiniteskills.”
WEEK 15:
Tue. 4/16: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Thur. 4/18: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
I Am Your Ex. “Premiere Pro Tutorial: How to Do Color Correction/Film Look.”
Lynda.com “Premiere Pro CS6: Working with Audio.”
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
Thur. 4/18: Bring Footage to Edit
Due: Work on Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Work on editing Short Documentary/Video Essay.
I Am Your Ex. “Premiere Pro Tutorial: How to Do Color Correction/Film Look.”
Lynda.com “Premiere Pro CS6: Working with Audio.”
WEEK 16:
Tue. 4/23
Due: Complete version of Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Show Complete Draft of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique Part 1.
Thur. 4/25
Due: Complete version of Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Show Draft 2 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique Part 2.
Sun. 4/28
Due: Short Documentary Final Draft, Twitter and Facebook Pages, and Distribution Plan by 11:59pm.
or
Video Essay Final Draft, Introduction, and Journal Submission Rationale by 11:59pm.
Due: Complete version of Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Show Complete Draft of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique Part 1.
Thur. 4/25
Due: Complete version of Short Documentary/Video Essay.
In class: Show Draft 2 of Short Documentary/Video Essay for in-class critique Part 2.
Sun. 4/28
Due: Short Documentary Final Draft, Twitter and Facebook Pages, and Distribution Plan by 11:59pm.
or
Video Essay Final Draft, Introduction, and Journal Submission Rationale by 11:59pm.