Special Topics Title:  Short Documentary Production -  Over the course of the semester, five teams of three students will develop a short(3 to 7-minute) documentary. The subject of the documentary will be established by the second day of class. Attention will be given in choosing a subject to what topics may be of interest to a Public Television affiliate. Students are encouraged to choose an issue which is ongoing, and is being discussed in the media. At least part of the short documentary will involve a critique of mainstream media’s
demonstrable handling of the issue. Students will learn all phases of preproduction, production, post-production, and promotion of their short documentary. Reading, viewing, and critiquing short documentaries, class discussions, group critiquing of each team’s work, and written critiquing will also be required throughout the semester. Upon determining the subject of their short
documentary, students will begin writing a treatment in which they describe the story they will tell, and how they plan to tell it. Once their writing has been refined
to a point of producing a suitable treatment, an outline of shooting the film, research, and an optional task of storyboarding will begin (along with other preproduction tasks). Students will then begin producing, and directing, using the available cameras, as well as lighting for interviews, and sound recording. Editing may begin, as is often the case, before production is completely done. More than half the semester will involve editing on the suites provided in the CMN media lab. The primary goal in producing these short documentaries is learning the process
of producing a short documentary. Additional goals include possible airing on NHPTV, if the docs meet their production standards and contain subject matter that is likely to be of interest to their audience. Co-majors are welcome in this course as well, and there are many suitable subjects that would be of interest if focused upon in a short documentary video.