DOC 122 | ART OF DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course explores the variety of styles and concerns that shape documentaries. Students will learn the evolution of unique voices and influences in documentary. The course will examine the broad range of documentary practices from the earliest actualities to contemporary documentary media through weekly screenings. PREREQUISITE(S): NONE.
DOC 224 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION I | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This introductory hands-on course introduces and explores a wide variety of documentary styles and techniques. Through screenings of classic and contemporary films, lecture, and discussion, students learn different styles of documentary storytelling and visualization and apply these to four exercises over the quarter. Every student will rotate through crew roles and produce, direct, shoot, and record sound.
DOC 305 | DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The course is designed to further develop the skills needed for creating compelling and dramatic non-fictional storytelling. The class will investigate various approaches to documentary and analyze the basic narrative principles in various media. Regular viewing of documentary films will encourage discussion on topics of finding original stories, development of narratives, developing characters, story structure, the ethics of representation, and the question of "what is truth?" Students will create a proposal for a documentary film.
DOC 312 | EDITING THE DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Editing the Documentary will expose students to the specialized post production workflow of documentary film. Utilizing a workshop atmosphere in combination with lectures and projects, students will gain an appreciation of the art and craft of documentary film editing. This course will cover an overview of current documentary trends and styles, explore various workflows to find the story in documentary footage, the ethical role of editor in shaping the stories of real people and events, how to apply the visual language of fiction to documentary film, use of archival media in a contemporary way, how to structure the story scene to scene and where to start and end the story.
POST 110 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 324 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION II | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Through this course students experience all stages of making a documentary film, including developing an idea, writing a proposal, pre-production, production and post-production. Students work in teams to produce a short documentary. Students also analyze and discuss contemporary documentary films to inform their choices.
DOC 326 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The course will cover the key areas of producing for documentaries, which encompasses pre-production, production, marketing, fundraising, and community outreach and engagement. Students will gain knowledge of the ways in which producers engage with writers, directors, editors, grant making institutions, individual donors, festival marketplaces, exhibitors and broadcasters. This course will be project-based and include developing a fundraising and distribution plan, identifying audiences, grant writing and developing a proposal.
DOC 224 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 333 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION SOUND WORKSHOP | 2 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course will give the student the confidence and technical skills to operate a documentary sound kit in dynamic shooting situations. This course will focus on applied sound recording techniques specific to the documentary format, including short and feature film projects. The students will record audio in controlled and uncontrolled situations while exercising the skills required in pre-production, production, and post-production of advanced documentary films. Students will evaluate their sound quality and troubleshoot various real life scenarios to connect to practical solutions.
DOC 339 | TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION WORKSHOP | 2-2.25 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This class will be a hands on workshop exploring a film production process or technique that has had a significant influence on the development of non-fiction storytelling and expression. Students will create short documentaries on topics of their choosing, utilizing and incorporating the method being taught. Specific topics will vary with each quarter. Classes will consist of lectures, screenings, in-class production, discussion and analyses, culminating in creative assignments. Students are encouraged to explore their individual creative voice and to use this knowledge to stimulate original work in their areas of interest.
DOC 224 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 352 | DOCUMENTARY CINEMATOGRAPHY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course focuses on the language, practice and art of visual storytelling in the documentary form. Students will examine the cinematographer's role in the ideation, shooting and editing of non-fiction film content. Through a series of screenings, lectures, experiential exercises, and class discussions, students will better understand the history and practice of cinematography as it pertains to story, character and structure - all through the prism of documentary. PREREQUISITE(S): None.
DOC 372 | DOCUMENTARY LAW AND ETHICS | 2-2.25 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Students will explore the legal and ethical issues that can arise in the course of documentary and non-fiction media production. The course will discuss standards and practices; decision making and creative control; archival footage and its fair use; legal requirements and implications; the question of informed consent; and ethical issues ranging from paying subjects, staging and reenactments, to sale and resale footage. Case studies of selected documentary films will be presented and analyzed by the class. (2 credit quarter hours)
DOC 224 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 380 | FILMING WITH CHANGE AGENTS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This practicum class works with community partners and collaborators to create films with a clear and strong call to action.
DOC 382 | THE PERSONAL DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This class is designed to help students identify their personal voices through a variety of techniques, styles and tools of non-traditional documentary film making. Students explore their relationships to their subject matter and express themselves in creative and authentic ways through video. Although the class is process oriented, students are expected to finish a short personal documentary and to develop a proposal for future work.
DOC 224 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 384 | ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This advanced course in documentary production is designed for students who already have experience with making documentaries. In this course, each student will direct and produce a substantial short subject documentary or develop a long-form non-fiction project with worksample. Topics covered will include choice of subject matter, filmmaker's POV, dramatic structure, proposal writing, and a variety of technical, aesthetic, practical, and ethical concerns related to creating professional documentary projects.
DOC 396 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This class will be an in-depth examination of a documentary filmmaker, film movement, production style or technique that has had a significant influence on the development of documentary storytelling and expression. Through lectures, screenings, readings, discussions, and creative assignments, students will analyze the distinctive traits of the selected topics within the broader context of cinema history and culture and apply them to their own projects. Specific topics will be selected by the instructor and will vary with each quarter.
DOC 399 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1-8 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Variable credit. PREREQUISITE(S): Consent of dean.
DOC 405 | NON-FICTION STORYTELLING | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The course is designed to further develop the skills needed for creating compelling and dramatic non-fictional storytelling. The class will investigate various approaches to documentary and analyze the basic narrative principles in various media. Regular viewing of documentary films will encourage discussion on topics of finding original stories, research and development of narratives, developing characters, story structure, the ethics of representation, and the question of "what is truth?" Students will create a proposal for a documentary film.
DOC 412 | EDITING THE DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Editing the Documentary will expose students to the specialized post production workflow of documentary film. Utilizing a workshop atmosphere in combination with lectures and projects, students will gain an appreciation of the art and craft of documentary film editing. This course will cover an overview of current documentary trends and styles, explore various workflows to find the story in documentary footage, the ethical role of editor in shaping the stories of real people and events, how to apply the visual language of fiction to documentary film, use of archival media in a contemporary way, how to structure story scene to scene and where to start and end the story.
DOC 414 | INTRO TO DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This introductory hands-on course introduces and explores a wide variety of documentary styles and techniques. Through screenings, lecture, and discussion, students learn different styles of documentary storytelling and visualization and apply these to three exercises over the quarter. Every student will rotate through crew roles and produce/direct, shoot, and record sound.
DOC 424 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Through this course students experience all stages of making a documentary film, including developing an idea, writing a proposal, pre-production, production and post-production. Students work in teams to produce a short documentary. Students also analyze and discuss contemporary documentary films to inform their choices.
DOC 426 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCING | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The course will cover the key areas of producing for documentaries, which encompasses pre-production, production, marketing, fundraising, and community outreach and engagement. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of the ways in which producers engage with directors, editors, grant making institutions, individual donors, festival marketplaces, exhibitors and broadcasters. This course will be project-based and students will develop a proposal for a documentary, identify target audiences, identify relevant funding organizations and foundations, write grants, and develop a fundraising and distribution plan .
DOC 414 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 433 | DOCUMENTARY SOUND WORKSHOP | 2 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course will give the student the confidence and technical skills to operate a documentary sound kit in dynamic shooting situations. This course will focus on applied sound recording techniques specific to the documentary format, including short and feature film projects. The students will record audio in controlled and uncontrolled situations while exercising the skills required in pre-production, production, and post-production of advanced documentary films. Students will evaluate their sound quality and troubleshoot various real life scenarios to connect to practical solutions.
DOC 439 | TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION WORKSHOP | 2-2.25 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This class will be a hands on workshop exploring a film production process or technique that has had a significant influence on the development of non-fiction storytelling and expression. Students will create short documentaries on topics of their choosing, utilizing and incorporating the method being taught. Specific topics will vary with each quarter. Classes will consist of lectures, screenings, in-class production, discussion and analyses, culminating in creative assignments. Students are encouraged to explore their individual creative voice and to use this knowledge to stimulate original work in their areas of interest.
DOC 452 | DOCUMENTARY CINEMATOGRAPHY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course focuses on the language, practice and art of visual storytelling in the documentary form. Students will examine the cinematographer's role in the ideation, shooting and editing of non-fiction film content. Through a series of screenings, lectures, experiential exercises and class discussions, students will better understand the history and practice of cinematography as it pertains to story, character and structure - all through the prism of documentary. PREREQUISITE(S): None.
DOC 460 | INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course will introduce the evolving media form of interactive non-fiction storytelling. Students will examine the historical context of the genre, analyze the advantages and effectiveness of one media form over another, and explore current production styles and techniques of transmedia and interactive narratives. Students will create individual and group projects revolving around a contemporary theme utilizing different forms of media including film, audio, photography, animation, illustration, writing, and game design.
DOC 472 | DOCUMENTARY LAW AND ETHICS | 2-2.25 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Students will explore the legal and ethical issues that can arise in the course of documentary and non-fiction media production. The course will discuss standards and practices; decision making and creative control; archival footage and its fair use, legal requirements and implications; the question of informed consent; and ethical issues ranging from paying subjects, staging and reenactments, to sale and resale footage. Case studies of selected documentary films will be presented and analyzed by the class. (2 quarter hours)
DOC 480 | FILMING WITH CHANGE AGENTS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This practicum class works with community partners, non-profit organizations, and other collaborators to create films with a clear and strong call to action.
DOC 482 | THE PERSONAL DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This class is designed to help students identify their personal voices through a variety of techniques, styles and tools of non-traditional documentary filmmaking. Students explore their relationships to their subject matter and express themselves in creative and authentic ways through video. Although the class is process oriented, students are expected to finish a short personal documentary and to develop a proposal for future work.
DOC 414 is a prerequisite for this class.
DOC 484 | ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This advanced course in documentary production is designed for students who already have experience with making documentaries. In this course, each student will direct and produce a substantial short subject documentary or develop a long-form non-fiction project with worksample. Topics covered will include choice of subject matter, filmmaker's POV, dramatic structure, proposal writing, and a variety of technical, aesthetic, practical, and ethical concerns related to creating professional documentary projects.
DOC 496 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This class will be an in-depth examination of a filmmaker, film genre, film movement, or film production technique that has had a significant influence on the development of non-fiction storytelling and expression. Through lectures, screenings, readings, discussions, critical writing assignments, and/or creative projects, students will analyze the distinctive traits of the selected topic within the broader context of documentary history and culture. Specific topics will be selected by the instructor and will vary with each quarter. Classes will consist of lectures, screenings, in-class discussions, analyses, as well as creative assignments. Students are encouraged to explore their individual creative "voice" and to use this knowledge to stimulate original work in their areas of interest.
DOC 599 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1-8 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Independent study form required. PREREQUISITE(S): Consent of instructor. (variable credit)
DOC 701 | THESIS CONTINUATION | 0 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Non-credit. Students admitted to MFA program who have completed all the required coursework and who are regularly using the facilities of the University for thesis production and/or post-production are required to be registered each quarter of the academic year until the thesis and defense have been completed.