The aim of Documentary Film Workshop is to work in an original documentary project, going through all production stages: research, idea and storyline; production plan; shooting and editing; distribution and exhibition.



This free choice course is primarily oriented towards practice, and belongs of the third year of the undergraduate programme of Audiovisual Communication (Minor: “Audiovisual Production and filmmaking”).



Documentary Film Workshop is related with theoretical and practical courses offered within our programme, such as Audiovisual Language, Audiovisual Narrative, Documentary Film Aesthetics, Scriptwriting II (non-fiction), and Filmmaking I and II. Students will apply theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in previous years through the production of several documentary works.

Learning outcomes:



1. Researching a topic for a documentary and find aesthetic references

2. Writing a script and elaborate an aesthetic and narrative apporach

3. Plan the production

4. Filming

5. Editing and postproduction

6. Presenting the finished film



At the end of the course you will be able to:

- Identify different documentary styles and techniques

- Translate an idea about your reality to an audiovisual representation

- Organize a film production from script to projection





Competences included in the the Audio-visual communication degree report (original text in Spanish from the ANECA report):



Basic and general:



G006 - Develop skills and abilities related to participation, management and optimization of teamwork, applying informed criteria to decision-making and evaluation of results.

G007 - Apply skills and use techniques, technologies and resources to the development of audiovisual communication and information contents and processes.

G008 - Plan and design strategies aimed at identifying objectives and planning actions in the context of the development of audiovisual communication and information contents and processes.

G009 - Acquire knowledge and experience of professional environments and routines in the field of audiovisual communication.

CB2 - That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within

their area of study

CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

CB4 - Students should be able to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.

CB5 - That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy



Transversal competences:



CT1 - Autonomy and self-regulation.

CT6 - Innovation and entrepreneurship.

CONTENTS (THEORY AND PRACTISE)



1. Pre-production: Researching and developing the idea

2. Audio-visual language, documentary modes and styles

3. Documentary production (filmmaking and editing)

4. Documentary screen writing and narrative

5. Production (pitching, budget, financing plan)

6. Distribution, exhibition and commercialization

METHODOLOGY



This workshop combines theoretical and practical classes. The student must apply theoretical concepts in his/her film practice. The project-led learning process in based on both individual assignments and collaborative work.

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 100

ASSESSMENT SYSTEM



1. CONTINUAL ASSESSMENT

Course grades will be based on practical assignments developed through the semester.

Both the process and the results will be taken into account for final assessment.



Breakdown of the weight for each component of the final grade:



Minor assignments: 50%

Final short documentary: 50%



If the student cannot follow continual assessment (for justified reasons) there is a possibility to opt for the FINAL EVALUATION.



FINAL EVALUATION OPTION:



Students who cannot follow regular classes and/or participate in the continuous evaluation system can be assessed in a final exam. The grade of this exam will be 100% of the final grade.

Students willing to choose this option should discuss it with the professor. Deadline and procedure: According to art. 8.3. of the Regulation of Student Evaluation, students willing to abandon the option of continuous evaluation and opt for a single final exam must write a letter of resignation within the first 9 weeks of the semester.



RESIGNATION TO THE EXAM (ABSENCE FROM EXAMINATIONS):

According to art. 12.2. of the Regulation of Student Evaluation, students can resign to do the exam and directly take the exam of the second call if they notify the professor one month before the end of classes. An official resignation letter must be presented to the professor of this course.





*This assessment system will be applied both face-to-face and/or non-face-to-face, in the event that the situation demanded.

EXTRAORDINARY EXAMINATION



In the extraordinary examination, the student will have to fulfil the requirements for the FINAL EVALUATION option (see above). It is recommended to attend office hours during the development of project in order for the professor to follow the learning process.

MATERIALS OF OBLIGATORY USE:

Materials available on the online platform “egela” (moodle): https://egela.ehu.es/ (you can access with your LDAP name and password).

Basic bibliography

DE JONG, Wilma; KNUDSEN, Erik; and ROTHWELL, Jerry (2012) Creative Documentary. Theory and Practice (Pearson Education Limited/Longman).

In-depth bibliography

NICHOLS, Bill (2010) Introduction to Documentary (Indiana University Press: Bloomington)
RABIGER, Michael (1987) Directing the Documentary (Focal: Boston)
ROSENTHAL, Alan (1996) Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos (Southern Illinois University Press: Carbondale)
VALLEJO, Aida, and WINTON, Ezra (eds.) (2020) Documentary Film Festivals Vol 1: Methods, History, Politics. Palgrave MacMillan: Cham, Switzerland.
VALLEJO, Aida, and WINTON, Ezra (eds.) (2020) Documentary Film Festivals Vol 2: Changes, Challenges, Professional Perspectives. Palgrave MacMillan: Cham, Switzerland.
WINSTON, Brian (2013) The Documentary Film Book (BFI: London)

En castellano:
ADELMAN, Kim (2001). Cómo se hace un cortometraje. Barcelona: Ed. Robinbook.
BARNOW, Eric (2002): El documental. Historia y estilo. Barcelona: Gedisa.
LEON, Bienvenido (2008): Dirección de documentales para televisión: guión, producción y realización. Iruñea: Eunsa.
NICHOLS, Bill (1997) La representación de la realidad. Cuestiones y conceptos sobre el documental. Barcelona: Paidós.
WEINRICHTER, A. (Ed.) La forma que piensa. Tentativas en torno al cine-ensayo. Pamplona: Colección Punto de Vista.

Journals

REVISTAS ACADÉMICAS:
Studies in Documentary Film: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsdf20
Doc On-line: http://www.doc.ubi.pt/
Cine Documental: http://www.revista.cinedocumental.com.ar/
Images Documentaires: http://www.imagesdocumentaires.fr

Web addresses

REVISTAS Y WEBS ESPECIALIZADAS:
DOX magazine. http://www.doxmagazine.com/
POV magazine. http://povmagazine.com/
Blogs&Docs. www.blogsandocs.com/
http://www.documentary.org
http://apordoc.org
http://www.docacine.com.ar/revista.html
http://www.documentaryreview.net/
http://www.thedocumentaryblog.com/

FESTIVALES:
Festivales de Euskal Herria: https://www.ehu.eus/ehusfera/ikerfests/calendario/2019-2/
Festivales de cine documental: https://www.ehu.eus/ehusfera/researchondocumentaryfilm/festivals/

PLATAFORMAS DE VOD (video a demanda):
DocAllianceFilms: https://dafilms.com/
Filmin: https://www.filmin.es/